MANILA, Philippines — Despite the depth, cold temperatures, limited visibility, and operational risks in Taal Lake, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), alongside other government agencies and local stakeholders, has continued its diving operations as part of the search and retrieval efforts for the missing sabungeros or cockfighting enthusiasts.
The PCG said the operations reached their 200th day on Sunday, marking more than six months of sustained deployment of its technical divers, responders, and Incident Management Team. The agency said the prolonged mission was driven not only by technical objectives but also by a commitment to provide answers to the families of the missing individuals.
The Coast Guard emphasized that reaching the 200-day milestone does not signal the end of the mission but reinforces its dedication to continue fulfilling its mandate. The extended operations required sustained coordination among participating agencies and local partners to ensure safety, discipline, and operational efficiency throughout the mission. to
The search operations were launched following allegations made by whistleblower Julie "Dondon" Patidongan that a group of cockfighting enthusiasts who went missing in 2021 were killed and their bodies dumped in Taal Lake. The case has drawn national attention and remains under investigation by law enforcement agencies.
