Latest news with #Julie"Dondon"Patidongan
GMA Network
2 days ago
- GMA Network
Taal Lake search for missing sabungeros resumes; local fishers take hit
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has resumed its search for the missing sabungeros in Taal Lake after operations were suspended due to inclement weather. According to Vonne Aquino's '24 Oras' report, PCG technical divers continued with the operations early Sunday but were forced to halt due to sudden downpour. They used a remotely-operating vehicle and an aerial drone to further inspect the search area but yielded no suspicious objects. The local government of Agoncillo, Batangas said the discovery of human remains in the lake—after whistleblower Julie "Dondon" Patidongan pointed to it as the site where the missing sabungeros' bodies were dumped—is affecting the small-scale fisherfolk in the municipality, with public fear driving down demand for tawilis. 'Halos 40% ang binaba ng harvest ng tawilis. Kung konti ang demand, konti rin ang magiging supply,' said Mayor Cinderella Reyes. (The harvest went down by almost 40%. If there is less supply, then there is less demand.) In the town of Talisay, Batangas, fewer fish vendors are selling tawilis, increasing the prices from P80 per kilo to P100 per kilo. Municipal administrator Alfredo Anciato said they are mulling declaring a state of calamity to extend assistance to the affected fishers. 'Sa ngayon, kinukuha namin ang lahat ng data through our municipal agriculture office. Tinatanong namin ang stakeholders kung ano ang epekto sa aming maliliit na mangingisda,' Anciato added. (We are now gathering all data through our municipal agriculture office. We are also asking our stakeholders of the effect to the fisherfolks.) Batangas Governor Vilma Santos, for her part, took to social media to allay fears and to show the public it is safe to consume tawilis. 'Tawilis. Okay. Nothing to worry. With all these issues about our Taal, nothing to worry. Ang Tawilis ay non-carnivorous. Di kumakain ng laman, usually halaman ang kinakain nito,' said Santos. (Nothing to worry. With all these issues about our Taal, nothing to worry. Tawilis are non-carnivorous and they eat plants.) Meanwhile, the Agoncillo municipal government said it is also eyeing the declaration of a state of calamity to repair roads affected by the recent typhoons. — Sundy Locus/BM, GMA Integrated News
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Yahoo
Possible breakthrough in search for dozens allegedly killed by rogue cops
Search teams began scouring a lake south of the Philippine capital Manila on Thursday for dozens of cockfight participants allegedly murdered by rogue police. Just hours later, the Department of Justice issued a statement saying a plastic bag containing what appeared to be "burned human bones" had been recovered from Lake Taal. "This discovery could represent a significant breakthrough in the ongoing investigation," the department said, adding a forensic examination and DNA testing were needed before conclusions could be drawn. Fifteen police officers are under investigation over a spate of mysterious disappearances in 2022 in the country's huge cockfighting industry. The case erupted back into the public consciousness last month with the televised appearance of a witness claiming to know where bodies had been submerged in Lake Taal. As many as 100 people were murdered over their alleged involvement in match-fixing, killed by police moonlighting for an online cockfight operator, according to witness Julie "Dondon" Patidongan who spoke to broadcaster GMA. Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla has since said that "multiple witnesses" could identify the location of those missing in the lake, which spans about 89 square miles. Department spokesman Dominic Clavano said Thursday the preliminary inspection by the coast guard and police was intended to lay the groundwork for future dives. But hours after it concluded, the justice department said searchers had found the bag containing what appeared to be human bones. While the initial probe was conducted far from shore, local media reported the bag was discovered within 10 metres (33 feet) from the shoreline. Filipinos from all walks of life wager millions of dollars on matches every week between roosters who fight to the death with razor-sharp metal spurs tied to their legs. "We are not the only victims here" Charlene Lasco, whose missing brother Ricardo was an agent for livestreamed cockfights, said the priority for victims' families was being able to lay their loved ones to rest. "We are happy that (the government) is doing their best to locate (the bodies) and solve this case," she said at the national police headquarters in Manila. "We are not the only victims here." National Police Chief Nicolas Torre said this week authorities needed to act swiftly. "The typhoon season is coming in," he told journalists on Tuesday. "We are moving fast to at least try to locate the bodies. We know that it is very, very challenging." The justice minister said Friday he had requested technical assistance from Japan including help with mapping the lake bed, parts of which are as deep as 172 metres. Japan's embassy in Manila told AFP it had received the request without providing further details. But Torre believes the Philippines had the necessary equipment on hand to begin the search. "We have a very, very robust shipping industry here and in other parts of the Philippines, so we can do it," he said. Cockfighting, banned in many other countries, survived coronavirus pandemic restrictions by going online, drawing many more gamblers who use their mobile phones to place wagers. A 2022 Senate investigation revealed that daily bets on online cockfights tallied $52.4 million, the BBC reported. But after the men disappeared, the livestreamed fights came under scrutiny and former president Rodrigo Duterte eventually banned them, according to the BBC. In 2020, a police officer in the Philippines was killed during a raid on an illegal cockfight after a rooster's blade sliced his femoral artery. Cockfighting operations have also made headline in the U.S. recently. Last month, more than 40 people were arrested after a cockfighting ring was broken up in South Florida. Earlier this year, hundreds of birds were euthanized after a joint investigation led to their seizure from an alleged cockfighting operation in Kansas. Social media content creator shows his hustle Udemy Is Powering Enterprise AI Transformation Through Skills Surveillance video shows Israeli strike that killed 10 children at Gaza clinic
The Star
11-07-2025
- The Star
Search for missing cockfighters begins at Philippine lake
Members of the Philippine Coast Guard launch rubber boats at Taal Lake in Talisay, Batangas on July 10, 2025. PCG and other agencies will conduct an initial search and recovery operations on the reported "missing sabungeros." MANILA: Search teams on Thursday (July 10) began scouring a lake south of the Philippine capital Manila for dozens of cockfighters allegedly murdered by rogue police. Fifteen police officers are under investigation over a spate of mysterious disappearances in 2022 in the country's huge cockfighting industry. The case erupted back into the public consciousness last month with the televised appearance of a witness claiming to know where bodies had been submerged in Lake Taal, about two hours south of the capital. As many as 100 people were murdered over their alleged involvement in match-fixing, killed by police moonlighting for an online cockfight operator, according to witness Julie "Dondon" Patidongan who spoke to broadcaster GMA. Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla has since said that "multiple witnesses" could identify the location of the missing in the lake, which spans more than 230 square kilometres (89 square miles). Justice department spokesman Dominic Clavano said Thursday the initial foray by the Philippine Coast Guard and national police was intended to lay the groundwork for future dives, likely at a depth of about 30 metres (98 feet). "This (investigation) is a step in the right direction... but we will not stop here. This is not our only lead," he said at a press briefing. Filipinos from all walks of life wager millions of dollars on matches every week between roosters who fight to the death with razor-sharp metal spurs tied to their legs. Charlene Lasco, whose missing brother Ricardo was an agent for livestreamed cockfights, said the priority for victims' families was being able to lay their loved ones to rest. "We are happy that (the government) is doing their best to locate (the bodies) and solve this case," she said at the national police headquarters in Manila. "We are not the only victims here," she added, citing Patidongan's claims of 100 victims. - 'We are moving fast' - National Police Chief Nicolas Torre this week said authorities needed to act swiftly on the latest information. "The typhoon season is coming in," he told journalists on Tuesday. "We are moving fast to at least try to locate the bodies. We know that it is very, very challenging." The justice minister said Friday he had requested technical assistance from Japan including help with mapping the lake bed, parts of which are as deep as 172 metres. Japan's embassy in Manila told AFP it had received the request without providing further details. But Torre believes the Philippines had the necessary equipment on hand to begin the search. "We have a very, very robust shipping industry here and in other parts of the Philippines, so we can do it." Cockfighting, banned in many other countries, survived coronavirus pandemic restrictions by going online, drawing many more gamblers who use their mobile phones to place wagers. Former president Rodrigo Duterte banned the livestreaming of cockfights shortly before leaving office in 2022, but it has continued due to lax enforcement. - AFP
New Straits Times
10-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Search for missing cockfighters begins at Philippine lake
MANILA: Search teams on Thursday began scouring a lake south of the Philippine capital Manila for dozens of cockfighters allegedly murdered by rogue police. Fifteen police officers are under investigation over a spate of mysterious disappearances in 2022 in the country's huge cockfighting industry. The case erupted back into the public consciousness last month with the televised appearance of a witness claiming to know where bodies had been submerged in Lake Taal, about two hours south of the capital. As many as 100 people were murdered over their alleged involvement in match-fixing, killed by police moonlighting for an online cockfight operator, according to witness Julie "Dondon" Patidongan who spoke to broadcaster GMA. Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla has since said that "multiple witnesses" could identify the location of the missing in the lake, which spans more than 230 square kilometres (89 square miles). Justice department spokesman Dominic Clavano said Thursday the initial foray by the Philippine Coast Guard and national police was intended to lay the groundwork for future dives, likely at a depth of about 30 metres (98 feet). "This (investigation) is a step in the right direction... but we will not stop here. This is not our only lead," he said at a press briefing. Filipinos from all walks of life wager millions of dollars on matches every week between roosters who fight to the death with razor-sharp metal spurs tied to their legs. Charlene Lasco, whose missing brother Ricardo was an agent for livestreamed cockfights, said the priority for victims' families was being able to lay their loved ones to rest. "We are happy that (the government) is doing their best to locate (the bodies) and solve this case," she said at the national police headquarters in Manila. "We are not the only victims here," she added, citing Patidongan's claims of 100 victims. National Police Chief Nicolas Torre this week said authorities needed to act swiftly on the latest information. "The typhoon season is coming in," he told journalists on Tuesday. "We are moving fast to at least try to locate the bodies. We know that it is very, very challenging." The justice minister said Friday he had requested technical assistance from Japan including help with mapping the lake bed, parts of which are as deep as 172 metres. Japan's embassy in Manila told AFP it had received the request without providing further details. But Torre believes the Philippines had the necessary equipment on hand to begin the search. "We have a very, very robust shipping industry here and in other parts of the Philippines, so we can do it." Cockfighting, banned in many other countries, survived coronavirus pandemic restrictions by going online, drawing many more gamblers who use their mobile phones to place wagers.
GMA Network
04-07-2025
- GMA Network
Philippines asks Japan's help searching Taal Lake for missing sabungeros
Interest in the unsolved cases has surged since the televised appearance of a witness -- since identified as Julie "Dondon" Patidongan, a recent mayoral candidate -- who claimed to know where bodies had been submerged in Taal Lake. (Photo: Darlene Cay/GMA Integrated News) The Philippines' justice secretary said Friday he has asked for 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. The case is tied to a spate of mysterious disappearances in 2022 in the Southeast Asian nation's huge cockfighting industry, known locally as "sabong". Interest in the unsolved cases has surged since the televised appearance of a witness -- since identified as Julie "Dondon" Patidongan, a recent mayoral candidate -- who claimed to know where bodies had been submerged in Taal Lake. Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said Friday he now had multiple witnesses who could "testify where (in the water) those missing persons were thrown". He added that a group of 15 unnamed national police officers were under investigation and put on restricted duty. "They carried out the executions," he said. "I just signed a letter for the Japanese government asking for assistance to enable us to do a lakebed mapping and... other technology that we need," Remulla added. "We need a scientific approach here. We cannot leave it to chance." Located about two hours south of the capital, Taal Lake is home to an active island volcano and spans more than 230 square kilometers (89 square miles) with a depth of 172 meters (564 feet) 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. He has identified Charlie ''Atong'' Ang, a man involved in livestreamed cockfighting operations, 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. The justice department made a series of arrests in late 2022 of police and security personnel allegedly involved with the disappearance of 34 cockfight industry participants that Remulla said were "probably dead". Since his televised appearance, Patidongan has claimed the actual number could be as high as 100. Filipinos from all walks of life wager millions of dollars on matches every week between roosters who fight to the death with razor-sharp metal spurs tied to their legs. The sport, banned in many other countries, survived coronavirus pandemic restrictions by going online, drawing many more gamblers who use their mobile phones to place wagers. Former president Rodrigo Duterte banned the livestreaming of cockfights shortly before leaving office in 2022, but it has continued due to lax enforcement. —Agence France-Presse
