FORENSIC investigators were unable to extract DNA profiles from the skeletal remains recovered from Taal Lake amid the ongoing search for the bodies of the missing sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts).
In a press conference on Thursday, July 31, 2025, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said the bones recovered from Taal Lake had already been contaminated, considering they had been submerged for a long time.
“Yes, doon sa mga na-recover na mga possible human remains, doon sa Taal Lake, medyo ang challenge doon dahil matagal naka-submerge at medyo wala na tayong na-extract accordingly na DNA profile doon... parang contaminated na,” Fajardo said.
(Yes, regarding the possible human remains recovered from Taal Lake, the challenge there is that they had been submerged for a long time, and we were no longer able to extract a DNA profile from them... it seems they were already contaminated.)
The PNP Forensic Group earlier said that of the 91 bone fragments recovered from the bottom of Taal Lake, only six are possibly human remains.
It said the bones were being dried in preparation for DNA profiling.
The DNA profiling will determine whether the bones are of human or animal origin.
If the bones are confirmed to be human, the DNA samples will be matched with the DNA profiles provided by 23 family members of the missing sabungeros, particularly their parents or children.
However, Fajardo said DNA profiles were successfully generated from the unidentified cadavers recovered from a cemetery in Batangas.
“'Yung cadaver na na-recover sa sementeryo sa Batangas, tatlong DNA profiles ang nakuha doon, dalawa ang lalaki at isa babae, doon sa mga buto sa semeneteryo,” Fajardo said.
(From the cadaver recovered at the cemetery in Batangas, three DNA profiles were obtained, two males and one female, from the bones found at the cemetery.)
Fajardo urged families with missing relatives to come forward for the possible identification of the remains.
She said the retrieval of more skeletal remains from Taal Lake continues amid the ongoing operation led by the Philippine Coast Guard.
“However, negative ang matching doon sa 23 DNA reference doon sa mga (families of missing sabungeros) who came forward and provided DNA profiles,” Fajardo said.
(However, the matching results were negative when compared to the 23 DNA references from the families of the missing sabungeros who came forward and provided DNA profiles.)
Accused-turned-whistleblower Julie Patidongan earlier claimed that the bodies of the missing sabungeros were dumped in Taal Lake. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)