Taal Lake Horror: Human Bones Found as Whistleblower Exposes Police Death Squad

MANILA – The mystery behind the disappearance of cockfighting enthusiasts—locally known as sabungeros—just took a dark and explosive turn.

Julie Patidongan, alias “Totoy,” a whistleblower turned key witness, has come forward and named 12 police officersallegedly behind the cold-blooded abductions and murders of missing sabungeros. And the trail, he claims, leads straight to the doorstep of controversial gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang.

In a dramatic appearance Monday at the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), Patidongan filed formal administrative complaints against the rogue cops—describing them as the “clean-up crew” for cheaters in the cockfighting world.

The officers named include top-ranking lawmen:

• Police Col. Jacino Malinao Jr.

• Police Lt. Col. Ryan Jay Orapa

• Police Maj. Mark Philip Almedilla

• Police Executive Master Sgt. Aaron Cabilan, among others.

Also in the list are several master sergeants and a corporal, allegedly used as muscle to snatch and silence those who dared manipulate cockfight results.

“These are the men who picked up the missing sabungeros from the farms and took them to Taal Lake. There are more of them—but these faces, they’re already well-known,” Patidongan declared during the press briefing.

Taal Lake, a Graveyard?

Just as the bombshell was dropped, PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III confirmed the recovery of human bones and suspected animal remains from the murky waters of Taal Lake, where divers have been scouring for bodies. The bones are now undergoing forensic testing at Camp Crame.

Adding fuel to the fire, Patidongan named retired Lieutenant General Jonnel Estomo, an alleged Alpha Group member, as the man supposedly whispering deadly orders to Atong Ang.

According to NAPOLCOM Vice Chair Atty. Rafael Calinisan, the accused officers will face charges of grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer—charges that could lead to suspension, demotion, or outright dismissal.

In a move seen by some as damage control, Atong Ang has denied all involvement, calling the allegations “baseless” and filing his own counter-complaint against Patidongan at the Mandaluyong Prosecutor’s Office.

Meanwhile, 12 families of the missing sabungeros have reportedly submitted DNA samples, hoping for answers—and perhaps, justice.

The scandal is now rocking not just the PNP, but the entire cockfighting industry, as the public demands to know: Where are the missing sabungeros—and who’s really pulling the strings?