More than a year has passed since dozens of Filipino men vanished without a trace, last seen in cockfighting arenas across Luzon. Their disappearances—known collectively as the Missing Sabungeros case—have rattled the nation, leaving grieving families, frustrated investigators, and a growing list of unanswered questions. Despite recent breakthroughs, the truth remains submerged, perhaps literally, in the waters of Taal Lake.
The Disappearances: A Pattern of Silence
Between April 2021 and January 2022, at least 34 men involved in e-sabong (online cockfighting) mysteriously vanished. Some were last seen on surveillance footage being taken by armed men. Others left their homes to attend matches and never returned.
What unites them is the connection to licensed and unlicensed e-sabong events—gambling operations that exploded in popularity and revenue during the pandemic.
The initial response from law enforcement was sluggish. No bodies were found. No formal charges were filed for months. The case grew cold—until one man spoke.
“Totoy” Breaks the Silence
In mid-2025, authorities received a chilling confession from a man known only as “Totoy,” a former security aide. Totoy admitted to being part of a group that allegedly kidnapped, tortured, and killed dozens of sabungeros. His claims included:
- Victims were strangled with tie-wire,
- Their bodies weighed down with sandbags,
- And dumped into Taal Lake, a deep volcanic caldera in Batangas.
Totoy’s estimate? Over 100 victims—far beyond the 34 officially recorded.
He named over 30 other individuals, including police officers, arena personnel, and even a well-known celebrity allegedly tied to a shadowy group referred to as “Alpha.”
Underwater Graveyard?
Following Totoy’s revelations, the Department of Justice launched search operations in Taal Lake. Divers from the Philippine Coast Guard and Navy were deployed. The lake, however, is treacherous—murky, vast, and seismically active.
As of this writing, no remains have been recovered.
Authorities are seeking assistance from Japan to deploy remote-operated vehicles (ROVs), hoping technology can uncover what the naked eye cannot.
Families Left in the Dark
For the loved ones of the missing sabungeros, the past year has been a blur of vigils, rallies, and unanswered phone calls. Some have taken to social media and the streets, calling for transparency and justice. Others have quietly given up hope, clinging only to the idea of accountability.
“Hindi sila kriminal. They were just trying to earn for their families,” one mother told a Senate panel last year.
But justice has been elusive. Suspects walk free. Cases drag in the courts. The names of the dead are still not officially written.
Power, Money, and a Broken System
Totoy’s testimony painted a disturbing picture—one where crime, corruption, and money intersected at the highest levels. DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla warned that the suspected mastermind might try to “infiltrate the judiciary through money” to manipulate the legal process.
The Department of Justice has since requested the Supreme Court's cooperation to protect judicial proceedings from interference.
What Comes Next?
Despite the renewed momentum, the case remains in limbo. Divers continue their search. Legal teams prepare to prosecute. Investigators dig into the alleged connections of powerful personalities.
But for now, the most important question remains: Where are the missing sabungeros?
Conclusion
One year later, the families still have no bodies to bury. The suspects have not been fully named. The wounds are still fresh. The silence, deafening.
In the absence of truth, rumor fills the void. And in the absence of justice, the nation waits—watching the waters of Taal Lake, hoping they one day give up their dead.