Filipino authorities are investigating a claim that dozens of cockfighter enthusiasts who disappeared three years ago were killed and dumped in a volcanic lake. At least 34 men - who had been accused of fixing cockfighting matches - disappeared without a trace in the capital Manila and its surrounding provinces. Six suspects were later charged for kidnapping and on Thursday, one of them claimed in a TV interview that the victims were strangled to death and dumped into Taal Lake, which surrounds an active volcano. Cockfighting - where people bet on roosters battling to death using bladed spurs tied to their feet - is a multi-million dollar industry in the Philippines. The men are accused of being involved in livestreamed cockfights, which were popularised during the Covid pandemic when in-person matches were forced to shut. But this made the industry even more lucrative, generating some 620 million pesos ($10.8m; £8m) a month in licence earnings for the government. A 2022 Senate investigation also revealed that daily bets on online cockfights ran up to 3 billion pesos ($52.4m; £38.8m). But after the disappearance of the men, the livestreamed fights - known locally as "e-sabong" - came under scrutiny and then president Rodrigo Duterte eventually banned them. Traditional cockfighting is still legal in the Philippines. On Thursday, Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla told reporters that authorities would look into deploying divers to look for human remains under the lake. "We can't just let it pass and just let it go. We have to be responsible enough to seek the truth especially in cases like this," he said. Remulla also added that authorities would look into the new development, adding that they are looking into finding more witnesesses. Gambling is legal in predominantly Catholic Philippines even though church leaders are against it in all its forms. Some online gambling operations have also been linked to criminal operations. Last year, Filipino authorities uncoveredmassive scam centres and human trafficking ringshiding behind online casinos that serve mainland Chinese clients. This led President Ferdinand Marcos to outlaw the online casinos known as Pogos or Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations.
Search for 34 missing cockfighting gamblers points to volcanic lake
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Investigation into Disappearance of 34 Cockfighters Points to Possible Murder in Taal Lake"
Bbc News
7.6
TruthLens AI Summary
Filipino authorities are currently investigating a chilling claim regarding the fate of 34 cockfighting enthusiasts who went missing three years ago. These individuals, who had been implicated in match-fixing scandals, disappeared under mysterious circumstances in Manila and surrounding areas. Recently, one of the six suspects charged with kidnapping revealed during a television interview that these men were allegedly strangled and their bodies discarded in Taal Lake, a body of water that encircles an active volcano. The backdrop to this troubling case is the booming industry of cockfighting in the Philippines, which has generated significant revenue, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when traditional in-person matches were prohibited. The rise of livestreamed cockfights, known as 'e-sabong,' became a lucrative alternative, contributing to monthly government earnings of approximately 620 million pesos, or about $10.8 million. However, following the disappearance of these men, scrutiny intensified around online gambling, leading to a ban on e-sabong by then-President Rodrigo Duterte in an effort to regulate the gambling scene more effectively.
Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla has indicated that authorities are considering deploying divers to search for human remains in Taal Lake, emphasizing the need for accountability and truth in this case. He stated that it is crucial to pursue justice, especially given the severity of the allegations. The investigation is also set to expand as officials seek additional witnesses to shed light on the events surrounding the disappearances. The Philippine government has historically allowed gambling, despite opposition from church leaders. However, the rise of online gambling operations has been linked to various criminal activities, prompting further government action. Last year, authorities uncovered extensive human trafficking and scam operations connected to online casinos catering to mainland Chinese clients, leading President Ferdinand Marcos to outlaw Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (Pogos). This ongoing investigation into the missing cockfighters underscores the complex intersection of gambling, crime, and regulation in the Philippines.
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