Lake searches for 34 missing cockfighters allegedly murdered by rogue police officers have kicked off in the Philippines today.
Search teams arrived at Lake Taal, two hours south of the capital Manila, earlier this morning as the Department of Justice investigate claims the men were murdered and their bodies dumped in the lake.
There are 15 police officers 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 located.
The witness claimed the cockfighters were strangled and mutilated before their bodies were dumped either in Lake Taal, which is surrounded by an active 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 up to 100 people could have been killed.
Since then, Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said ‘multiple witnesses’ had come forward to identify where the bodies could be found in the 89square mile lake, Bangkok Post reports.
He also said criminal complaints will be filed against the gambling tycoon – who has denied the allegations – as well as 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 need to act quickly due to the impending typhoon season, but said he is confident they have enough equipment to start the search.
Cockfighting is hugely popular in the Philippines and the industry is worth millions.
People bet on roosters fighting to the death with blades tied to their feet.
In-person cockfights were shut down in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, which instead led to a rise in the fights being livestreamed online instead.
These licenced livestreams generated 620million pesos (£8million) for the government, and daily bets reached up to 3billion pesos (£38.8million).
Former president Rodrigo Duterte banned livestreamed cockfights in 2022 after the practice came under scrutiny, but unlicenced streams have continued.
The 32 missing men are thought to have been involved in the livestreamed cockfights, and had been accused of cheating in the hugely popular sport.
While cockfighting is banned in the US, UK and other western countries over animal cruelty concerns, it is still popular in parts of South East Asia, the Philippines, Latin America and some parts of Europe.
The League of Cruel Sports charity says there are still underground cockfights going on in the UK, predominantly in the north of England, despite the practice being made illegal almost 200 years ago.
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