The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) resumed its technical diving operations around 2:45 p.m. Friday in Taal Lake, where several missing cockfighting enthusiasts were allegedly dumped.
The second round of the search and retrieval operation now includes the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO). Eight PCG divers participated in the effort.
The search was concentrated in the same area where the first team earlier spotted several sacks underwater. By Thursday afternoon, at least four sacks had been discovered at the lake’s bottom. One of them has been successfully retrieved.
Authorities have yet to confirm the contents of the recovered sacks as they remain sealed at this time.
The operation follows earlier reports linking the lake to the disappearance of several cockfighting enthusiasts, known locally as sabungeros. The case has sparked public outrage and demands for accountability amid suspicions of foul play.
As of this writing, recovery efforts are still ongoing.
