Lake searches for 34 missing cockfighters allegedly murdered by rogue cops have kicked off within the Philippines today.
Search teams arrived at Lake Taal, two hours south of the capital Manila, earlier this morning because the Department of Justice investigate claims the boys were murdered and their bodies dumped within the lake.
There are 15 cops under investigation over the spate of disappearances back in 2022.
But in an explosive update last month, a witness claimed during a television interview that he knew where the bodies were positioned.
The witness claimed the cockfighters were strangled and mutilated before their bodies were dumped either in Lake Taal, which is surrounded by an energetic volcano, or burned elsewhere.
He also pointed the finger at his former employer, a gambling tycoon, who he claims was threatening to have him killed – and alleged as much as 100 people might have been killed.
Since then, Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said ‘multiple witnesses’ had come forward to discover where the bodies could possibly be present in the 89square mile lake, Bangkok Post reports.
He also said criminal complaints will probably be filed against the gambling tycoon – who has denied the allegations – in addition to other suspects.
Last week Mr Remulla requested technical assistance from Japan, including mapping parts of the lake bed which is as deep as 564ft (172m) at some points.
National Police Chief Nicolas Torre said authorities have to act quickly resulting from the upcoming typhoon season, but said he’s confident they’ve enough equipment to begin the search.
Cockfighting is hugely popular within the Philippines and the industry is value tens of millions.
People bet on roosters fighting to the death with blades tied to their feet.
In-person cockfights were shut down in 2020 resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, which as an alternative led to an increase within the fights being livestreamed online as an alternative.
These licenced livestreams generated 620million pesos (£8million) for the federal government, and every day bets reached as much as 3billion pesos (£38.8million).
Former president Rodrigo Duterte banned livestreamed cockfights in 2022 after the practice got here under scrutiny, but unlicenced streams have continued.
The 32 missing men are thought to have been involved within the livestreamed cockfights, and had been accused of cheating within the hugely popular sport.
While cockfighting is banned within the US, UK and other western countries over animal cruelty concerns, it continues to be popular in parts of South East Asia, the Philippines, Latin America and a few parts of Europe.
The League of Cruel Sports charity says there are still underground cockfights happening within the UK, predominantly within the north of England, despite the practice being made illegal almost 200 years ago.
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