Investigation into missing cockfighters points to volcanic lake

Friday 20 June 2025 - 12:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Investigation into missing cockfighters points to volcanic lake

Filipino authorities are probing claims that 34 cockfighting enthusiasts, who vanished three years ago, were murdered and disposed of in Taal Lake, which is situated around an active volcano. The men, previously accused of manipulating cockfighting matches, disappeared in the capital, Manila, and surrounding provinces.

In a recent television interview, one of six suspects charged with kidnapping revealed that the victims were allegedly strangled and discarded in the lake. The cockfighting industry in the Philippines, notorious for its brutality, generates significant revenue, earning the government approximately 620 million pesos ($10.8 million) monthly during the pandemic when livestreamed events surged in popularity.

A Senate investigation from 2022 highlighted that daily bets on these online events, known as "e-sabong," reached a staggering 3 billion pesos ($52.4 million). However, following the men’s disappearance, the livestreamed competitions faced severe scrutiny, ultimately leading to a ban by then-President Rodrigo Duterte, while traditional cockfighting remains legal.

Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla stated that the investigation would extend to deploying divers to search for human remains in the lake. He emphasized the need for accountability in such serious matters and indicated that authorities would seek additional witnesses to support the inquiry.

Despite gambling being legal in the predominantly Catholic nation, church leaders oppose it. Some online gambling enterprises have been linked to broader criminal activities, prompting President Ferdinand Marcos to ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations last year due to uncovered human trafficking and scam operations targeting Chinese clients.