Latest news with #NicolasTorre
The Star
11-07-2025
- The Star
Search for missing cockfighters begins at lake in murder probe
Gruelling endeavour: Coast guard personnel preparing to depart to the site where the bodies of cockfighters were allegedly dumped, in Taal Lake off Talisay town, Batangas province, south of Manila. — AFP Search teams arrived at a lake south of the capital Manila to look for dozens of cockfighters allegedly murdered by rogue police, the Justice Department said. Fifteen police officers are under investigation over a spate of mysterious disappearances in 2022 in the cockfighting industry. The case went back into the public eye last month with the televised appearance of a witness claiming to know where bodies had been submerged in Lake Taal. Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla has since said that he has 'multiple witnesses' who can identify the location of the missing in the lake, which spans more than 230sqm. 'The purpose of (yesterday's mission) is to ... identify the area covered by the search, see initial water conditions and to measure the depth of covered area,' the department said in a statement. The Philippine Coast Guard will participate in the preliminary assessment alongside police. National Police Chief Nicolas Torre this week said 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.' Remulla said he had requested technical assistance from Japan including help with mapping the lake bed, parts of which are as deep as 172m. The Japanese embassy in Manila said it had received the request without providing further details. But Torre believes the Philippines had the necessary equipment on hand to begin the search. Some wager millions of dollars on matches weekly between roosters who fight with razor-sharp metal spurs tied to their legs. Former president Rodrigo Duterte banned the livestreaming of cockfights shortly before leaving office in 2022, but it has continued due to lax enforcement. — AFP
Bangkok Post
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Bangkok Post
Search for missing cockfighters begins at Philippine lake
MANILA — Search teams arrived Thursday at a lake south of the Philippine capital Manila to look for dozens of cockfighters allegedly murdered by rogue police, the Department of Justice said. 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, located about two hours south of the capital. Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla has since said he has "multiple witnesses" who can identify the location of the missing in the lake, which spans more than 230 square kilometres (89 square miles). "The purpose of (Thursday's mission) is to ... identify the area covered by the search, see initial water conditions and to measure the depth of covered area," the justice department said in a statement. The Philippine Coast Guard will participate in the preliminary assessment alongside police. National Police Chief Nicolas Torre this week said 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." Remulla on Friday said he had requested technical assistance from Japan including help with mapping the lake bed, parts of which are as deep as 172 metres (564 feet). The Japanese embassy in Manila told Agence France-Presse (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." 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.
Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Straits Times
Search for missing cockfighters begins at Philippine lake
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Philippine coast guard personnel prepare to depart to the site where the bodies of cockfighters were allegedly dumped, in Lake Taal on July 10. MANILA - Search teams arrived on July 10 at a lake south of the Philippine capital Manila to look for dozens of cockfighters allegedly murdered by rogue police, the Department of Justice said. 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 in June with the televised appearance of a witness claiming to know where bodies had been submerged in Lake Taal, located about two hours south of the capital. Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla has since said he has 'multiple witnesses' who can identify the location of the missing in the lake, which spans more than 230 sq km. 'The purpose of ( the July 10 mission) is to ... identify the area covered by the search, see initial water conditions and to measure the depth of covered area,' the justice department said in a statement. The Philippine Coast Guard will participate in the preliminary assessment alongside police. National Police Chief Nicolas Torre this week said authorities needed to act swiftly. 'The typhoon season is coming in,' he told journalists on July 8 . 'We are moving fast to at least try to locate the bodies. We know that it is very, very challenging.' Mr Remulla on July 4 said he had requested technical assistance from Japan including help with mapping the lake bed, parts of which are as deep as 172m. The Japanese embassy in Manila told AFP it had received the request without providing further details. But Mr 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.' 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. AFP
South China Morning Post
10-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
Philippine search teams scour Lake Taal for missing cock fighters as typhoon season looms
Search teams arrived on Thursday at a lake south of the Philippine capital of Manila to look for dozens of cock fighters allegedly murdered by rogue police, the Department of Justice said. Fifteen police officers are under investigation over a spate of mysterious disappearances in 2022 in the country's huge cock-fighting 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, located about two hours south of the capital. Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla has since said he has 'multiple witnesses' who can identify the location of the missing in the lake, which spans more than 230 sq km (89 square miles). Philippine police chief Nicolas Torre during a press conference at Camp Crame, Quezon City, Philippines, on Tuesday. Photo: AP 'The purpose of [Thursday's mission] is to … identify the area covered by the search, see initial water conditions and measure the depth of the covered area,' the justice department said in a statement. The Philippine Coast Guard will participate in the preliminary assessment alongside police.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Time of India
Search for missing cockfighters begins at Philippine lake
MANILA: Search teams arrived Thursday at a lake south of the Philippine capital Manila to look for dozens of cockfighters allegedly murdered by rogue police, the Department of Justice said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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, located about two hours south of the capital. Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla has since said he has "multiple witnesses" who can identify the location of the missing in the lake, which spans more than 230 square kilometres (89 square miles). "The purpose of (Thursday's mission) is to ... identify the area covered by the search, see initial water conditions and to measure the depth of covered area," the justice department said in a statement. The Philippine Coast Guard will participate in the preliminary assessment alongside police. National Police Chief Nicolas Torre this week said 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." Remulla on Friday said he had requested technical assistance from Japan including help with mapping the lake bed, parts of which are as deep as 172 metres (564 feet). The Japanese 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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "We have a very, very robust shipping industry here and in other parts of the Philippines, so we can do it." 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.
