Philippines urges Japan to help in lake search for ‘executed’ cock fighters
With dozens of participants allegedly murdered by rogue police and dumped in a massive lake, Manila has asked Tokyo for technical help in ‘scientific approach’
The Philippines’ justice secretary said on Friday he has asked for Japan’s technical help to help in 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 Lake Taal.
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 countries, survived coronavirus pandemic restrictions by going online, drawing many more gamblers who use their mobile phones to place wagers.
Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said on Friday he now had multiple witnesses who could “testify where (in the water) those missing persons were thrown”.