Tawilis from Taal Lake safe to eat, says BFAR
According to the BFAR, tawilis is a small pelagic fish that usually stays in shallow waters, and feeds on plankton. It also clarified that tawilis, a freshwater sardine, naturally multiplies its population quickly.
'Wala pong dapat ipangamba kasi unang una, itong tawilis, small pelagic fish po siya at ang pagkain niya nga po, 'yung mga planktons na kabilang na diyan 'yung mga plant-based planktons, at hindi po sila masabi nating carnivorous,' BFAR chief information officer Nazzer Briguera said in a report on GMA's '24 Oras Weekend' on Sunday.
(There is nothing to fear because firstly, the tawilis is a small pelagic fish and it feeds on planktons, including plant-based planktons, and we cannot say that it is carnivorous.)
The agency also clarified that other fish such as tilapia and bangus are usually cultured in fish pens, and do not freely swim in Taal Lake.
This comes as sellers in the area have reported a decline in their sales, citing fears of consumers that the fish in the lake may have eaten human remains. They have already clarified that the fish sold in markets were raised by the fisherfolk.
"Totoy," one of the accused in the disappearance of the 34 cockfighters, earlier claimed that their bodies were thrown into Taal Lake after being caught cheating by weakening their own roosters and betting on their opponents' roosters. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News
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5 days ago
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Tawilis from Taal Lake safe to eat, says BFAR
Tawilis fished from Taal Lake are safe for human consumption, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said Sunday, following a whistleblower's claims that the bodies of missing sabungeros, or cockfighters, abducted in 2021 were thrown into its waters. According to the BFAR, tawilis is a small pelagic fish that usually stays in shallow waters, and feeds on plankton. It also clarified that tawilis, a freshwater sardine, naturally multiplies its population quickly. 'Wala pong dapat ipangamba kasi unang una, itong tawilis, small pelagic fish po siya at ang pagkain niya nga po, 'yung mga planktons na kabilang na diyan 'yung mga plant-based planktons, at hindi po sila masabi nating carnivorous,' BFAR chief information officer Nazzer Briguera said in a report on GMA's '24 Oras Weekend' on Sunday. (There is nothing to fear because firstly, the tawilis is a small pelagic fish and it feeds on planktons, including plant-based planktons, and we cannot say that it is carnivorous.) The agency also clarified that other fish such as tilapia and bangus are usually cultured in fish pens, and do not freely swim in Taal Lake. This comes as sellers in the area have reported a decline in their sales, citing fears of consumers that the fish in the lake may have eaten human remains. They have already clarified that the fish sold in markets were raised by the fisherfolk. "Totoy," one of the accused in the disappearance of the 34 cockfighters, earlier claimed that their bodies were thrown into Taal Lake after being caught cheating by weakening their own roosters and betting on their opponents' roosters. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
27-06-2025
- GMA Network
Napolcom begins probe on cops allegedly linked to missing sabungeros
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Cops among those linked to missing sabungeros case
At least 30 people, including police officers, were involved in the kidnapping case of the missing sabungeros, or cockfight enthusiasts, according to alias 'Totoy,' one of the accused. According to Emil Sumangil's exclusive report on '24 Oras' on Tuesday, Totoy will name the alleged involved persons in his affidavit. 'Sa pagkakaalam ko 108 plus 1 sa Lipa Farm at saka sa Siniloan Farm,' Totoy said. 'Estimated ko, mga 10 ang sibilyan o mahigit pa. Yung mga nasa serbisyo, mga 20 yun sila,' he added. (To my knowledge, there are 108 plus 1 at Lipa Farm and at Siniloan Farm. I estimated that 10 are civilians while 20 are in service.) Totoy also said security guards in the cockpit should also be charged since they're the ones who turned over the victims to the uniformed personnel. After the turnover, the uniformed personnel supposedly took the victims to the place where they were killed.) Totoy also said he would include the owner of the property where the missing sabungeros were allegedly buried. 'Pinakitaan nila ako ng video. Dyan lang yan sa Talisay, (Batangas). Palaisdaan po yan. May-ari kasama sa kakasuhan Unipormado yan, yes (pulis),' Totoy said. (They showed me a video. They were buried in Talisay, Batangas. In a fish farm. A case will also be filed against the owner, who is a police officer.) Since Totoy knew he could be traced easily, he transferred from one place to another. The Department of Justice on Monday said it has discussed the enrollment of Totoy into the Witness Protection Program. 'Sa ngayon inaayos lang ang dokumento. Katulad ng sinabi ko sa mga kamag-anak, bago matapos ang buwan siguro sisikapin na ng mga awtoridad na isiwalat na ang lahat,' Totoy said. (We're preparing the documents. Just like what I told the victims' families, authorities will do their best to reveal everything before the month ends.) —GMA Integrated News
