Investigative Break in Disappearance of Cockfighting Enthusiasts Linked to Volcanic Lake

A shocking claim has emerged regarding the disappearance of 34 cockfighting enthusiasts in the Philippines, with authorities investigating potential murders linked to the infamous Taal Lake, where the bodies might be buried.

Filipino authorities are delving into a startling claim that a group of 34 cockfighting enthusiasts, who vanished three years ago, may have met a grim fate involving murder and disposal in Taal Lake, which envelops an active volcano. The men, all accused of manipulating cockfighting matches, disappeared without any leads in Manila and its adjacent provinces. In an alarming twist, one of the six suspects charged with kidnapping confessed during a televised interview that the victims were strangled and disposed of in the lake.

Cockfighting, a widely followed sport in the Philippines, involves betting on rooster fights where bladed spurs are used, attracting millions of pesos in revenue for the government. During the pandemic, cockfighting shifted to online platforms, known as "e-sabong," due to lockdowns affecting traditional matches. This pivot proved lucrative, raking in about 620 million pesos ($10.8 million; £8 million) monthly in licensing fees. A 2022 Senate probe indicated that daily wagers on these online fights could reach up to 3 billion pesos ($52.4 million; £38.8 million). However, following the disappearance of the men, e-sabong faced intensified scrutiny, ultimately leading to its ban by former President Rodrigo Duterte.

On Thursday, Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla expressed the urgency of the situation, stating that authorities are considering deploying divers to search for possible human remains in the lake. "We can't just let it pass and just let it go. We have to be responsible enough to seek the truth especially in cases like this," he emphasized. Remulla also indicated plans to locate additional witnesses to aid the investigation.

Despite the ban on online gambling activities like e-sabong, traditional cockfighting remains lawful in the predominantly Catholic nation, posing a backdrop of controversy against a corrupt gambling industry. Past investigations have linked online gambling operations to violent criminal activities, leading President Ferdinand Marcos to outlaw Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (Pogos) after uncovering human trafficking and scam operations in the sector.