DOST willing to help search for missing sabungeros' remains in Taal Lake
'Of course makikipag-ugnayan kami sa ibang scientist, sa tingin naman baka may instrument na kakayahan. May pandagat kami na instrumento na pinondohan ng DOST for marine monitoring—para sa mga isda, mga corals, but we will have to find out kung 'yung murky conditions ng Taal Lake kaya pa ng ibang mga camera na mayroon,' said DOST Secretary Renato Solidum at the Saturday News Forum.
(Of course we will be in touch with other scientists. We think there might be instruments that are capable. We have a marine instrument funded by DOST for marine monitoring—for fish and corals—but we will have to find out if other cameras that we have can handle the murky conditions of Taal Lake.)
This, as Solidum said that it's "possible" their bones may still be recovered in the lake.
"Ang buto hindi made-decompose.. 'Yung buto walang pakialam ang decomposition doon, ang laman ang nabubulok lang,' explained Solidum.
(Bones do not decompose. The bone doesn't care about decomposition, only the flesh rots.)
The Philippines government has asked Japan's technical assistance to help the search for dozens of cockfighting participants allegedly killed by rogue police and dumped in a lake south of Manila.
It was whistleblower Julie 'Dondon' Patidongan alias "Totoy" who claimed that the bodies of the 34 missing sabungeros were buried in Taal Lake.
Solidum, meanwhile, said that it would depend on the depth and the 'oxidizing' content of the lake where the bodies were thrown if the remains can be found intact or at a certain level of decomposition.
"'Pag oxidizing, kunwari dito sa lupa, kung iwan mo ang dahon diyan made-decompose yan in time kasi may air ka pa – may oxygen, pag wala nang oxygen hindi na yan made-decompose, mape-preserve so depende 'yan sa lokasyon,' he said.
(When oxidizing, let's say here in the ground, if you leave the leaf there, it will decompose in time because you still have air—there is oxygen. If there is no more oxygen, it will not decompose; it will be preserved, so it depends on the location.)
'Malalim kasi ang lake, mahigit 100 meters yan sa deepest part… So depende. 'Yung organic matter kasi na lumulubog, siyempre hindi maka-penetrate ang sunlight kaya madilim,' added Solidum.
(The lake is deep, over 100 meters at its deepest part... So it depends. Because the organic matter sinks, of course sunlight can't penetrate, so it's dark.)
Located about two hours south of the capital, Taal Lake is home to an active island volcano and spans more than 230 square kilometers with a depth of 172 meters in some places.
Patidongan initially appeared in silhouette in an interview with GMA Integrated News before later revealing himself, saying he feared for his life.
The whistleblower has identified businessman Charlie ''Atong'' Ang as the mastermind behind the disappearances.
Ang has denied all charges and on Thursday filed a lawsuit accusing Patidongan, a former employee, of slander, threats, and conspiracy to commit robbery.
Since his televised appearance, Patidongan has claimed the actual number could be as high as 100. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
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