The agency said this development could become a significant breakthrough in the case of the missing sabungeros.
On Thursday, July 10, the Department of Justice led a technical site assessment around the vicinity of the Taal Lake as part of the government’s efforts to resolve the case involving the 34 lost sabungeros.
The move was triggered by the recent confession of a certain Dondon Patindongan, who disclosed that the missing persons were reportedly thrown to the body of water.
Joining the DOJ in its efforts were the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).
The department’s spokesperson, Asec. Jose Dominic “Mico” F. Clavano IV, explained that the actual diving operations are set to be conducted tomorrow, July 11.
Instead, the activity today focused on evaluating water conditions, including depth, clarity, and underwater terrain.
“This is not a dive operation yet, we’re here to assess if it’s safe and feasible. We want to ensure all leads are properly validated,” Clavano underscored.
However, later in the evening, it was confirmed that the team was able to discover a white sack containing alleged human remains.
In its statement this evening, the DOJ said that they will formally certify whether the remains are indeed human through proper forensic examination, which will come from either CIDG or the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Should it be indeed belonging to a person, the Justice department will conduct DNA testing to determine if there is a match with any of the families of the missing individuals.
“This discovery could represent a significant breakthrough in the ongoing investigation. While we proceed with caution and diligence, it offers renewed hope that we are closer to uncovering the truth and securing justice for the families of the missing,” the DOJ wrote in its statement.