DAVAO-BASED environmentalist, bone expert, and founder of D' Bone Collector Museum Darrell Blatchley shared that the bones found in Taal lake are from bovine animals such as cows and carabaos.
In his July 12 post, Blatchley also clarified that it’s still possible that human remains may be present in the area, as the lake could have been used as a dumping ground for many years.
“Just from the images released in the media of the sack of "bones" that are coined as human. These are Bovine bones,” he wrote in his Facebook post.
“This doesn’t eliminate the fact there "might" be a human bone in the lake just this sack appears to be a common practice of throwing garbage,” he added.
According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, bovine means any subfamily of bovids including oxen, bison, buffalo, and their close relatives. It is relating or resembling bovines, especially the ox or cow.
Earlier, a sack containing what was believed to be human remains was found by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and technical divers of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) during the search for the remains of the missing “sabungeros” in Taal Lake on July 10.
The DOJ then turned over the bones to forensic experts for analysis.
The search at Taal lake was carried out after whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan said that the remains of the sabungeros were thrown into Taal lake.
Malacañang said on July 11, 2025, that there would not be any cover-up and that the investigation would continue in the missing sabungero case.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wants to know if the bones that were found were the remains of the sabungeros.
“At kung ito po ay mapapatunayang talagang konektado, ito’y nagpapakita lamang na ang Pangulo at ang kasalukuyang administrasyon ay tutulong upang makamtam ang hustisya para sa mga biktima (And if it is proven to be really connected, it only shows that the President and the current administration will help achieve justice for the victims),” she said.
Castro said that if it is found out that the suspected remains matched the DNA of any missing sabungero then Marcos said that his administration would help the victims’ family get justice. RGP with reports from PNA
