(Manila, 25th) The Philippine Department of Justice has stated that it will seek foreign assistance to use underwater remotely operated robots to search the bottom of Taal Lake. This follows revelations by a whistleblower that the bodies of several missing cockfight enthusiasts may have been dumped at the lake bed.
Taal Lake is located in Batangas Province and spans several municipalities. It is reported that parts of the lake reach depths exceeding 100 feet.
Justice Secretary Remulla said in a television interview on Wednesday:
“I have already instructed the team to draft a letter to the Japanese government, requesting that they provide remotely operated underwater vehicles and related equipment, so as to map the topography of the Taal Lake bed and inspect the sediments at the bottom for anomalies, to help us find the necessary clues.”
Remulla pointed out that the intelligence provided by the anonymous whistleblower 'Totoy' is deemed credible and is currently being further verified by police.
He emphasized that this case involves a significant number of people and cannot be resolved merely through an out-of-court settlement.
“The families of these 34 missing people have insisted on searching for their loved ones, which has kept the country’s attention on this case. This is not something that can be settled privately; it is a large-scale murder case.”
Totoy also claimed that the number of bodies dumped in the lake could exceed 100. In response, Remulla solemnly pointed out that this already constitutes a serious issue of 'impunity.'
“We must continue to pursue this case, to deliver justice for the families searching for loved ones, as well as the missing persons themselves.”
Currently, Philippine authorities are assessing the possibilities of international cooperation and preparing to carry out a large-scale underwater investigation to find the whereabouts of the missing persons and advance legal proceedings.