Sabungero case: Sacks of bones not planted - PCG

The Philippine Coast Guard shot down allegations of planted human remains recovered in Taal Lake, stressing that it would not risk the lives of PCG divers just to conduct an illegal operation.

- By EVELYN MACAIRAN

In an interview over dzBB yesterday, PCG Capt spokesperson Noemie Cayabyab said that every time their technical divers would go 40 to 60 feet underwater, they put their lives at risk.

"The diving operations of the Philippine Coast Guard at the Taal Lake are part of a legitimate investigation, so we are strictly following the correct process and there is transparency during every step, even before and after (a dive), there are other agencies monitoring the conduct of the operations," she said.

"The Philippine Coast Guard denies (these insinuations). The purpose of our diving operation is to be able to give justice and find the truth for every family who lost a (loved one). We hope that these speculations would end because in every operation, every dive of the Coast Guard, they put their lives at risk," the spokesperson added.

Cayabyab highlighted the perils of diving at Taal Lake under the given depths, hence technical divers need to be checked by a hyperbaric doctor before and after their dive to ensure their safety.

Presently, there are 40 divers on site assisting the Department of Justice in locating the remains of missing sabungeros or cockfight enthusiasts believed to be under the lake.

The PCG has so far recovered five sacks but has yet to determine if the bones inside them are human skeletons and if they belonged to the missing cockfight enthusiasts.

Among the challenges PCG previously cited were poor underwater visibility and adherence to a search pattern to ensure coverage.