Authorities Searching Volcanic Lake for 34 Missing Gamblers as Suspect Hints it Contains Over 100 Bodies

Authorities are searching for 34 men who have gone missing amid allegations that they cheated while betting on cockfights in Manila, Philippines.

The search is pointing toward Taal Lake, a volcanic lake, where it is believed that the men’s bodies might have been disposed of, according to reporting by the BBC. Now, a suspect involved in the case is hinting that authorities will find even more victims.

Per local outlet Philstar, the men went missing between April 2021 and January 2022. The outlet noted that “at least 10” of the missing men were last seen at the Manila Arena, where a group of six security guards that have become chief suspects worked.

It’s claimed that the men took part in fixing livestreamed cockfights, known as e-sabong, which became popular during the COVID pandemic.

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Cockfighting is legal in the Philippines. While some industries suffered amid the pandemic, the BBC reported that turning online to livestream fights opened up an even greater revenue source in the business.

Amid news of the disappearing gamblers, the livestreamed version of cockfighting has since been banned.

Six security guards have been accused of kidnapping the men, with one of them coming forward to speak out, according to local outlet Inquirer.Net.

The suspect, identified under the alias “Totoy,” implied the men were strangled to death with a wire before they were disposed of during a recent interview on GMA News, per the outlet.

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“How can they survive when they were already buried in Taal Lake?” Totoy asked during the interview, which was conducted in Filipino. “All of them. If we dig them up, it’s just bones. How can we recognize them?”

Totoy hinted that authorities would uncover the bodies of more than 100 victims if they searched, saying, “And it’s not just missing cockfighting enthusiasts who are being thrown there, even drug lords.”

The suspect, who came forward amid alleged threats against him and other loved ones, vowed to “cooperate” with “the mothers and relatives” of the missing, saying that he would help in “the pursuit of justice.”

Per the outlet, he alleged that the men were bound after they were taken. He said he was responsible for talking to people who were accused of cheating. After that, “another group of persons” took charge.

Totoy expressed surprise at how many men they were targeting in a brief period of time, alleging that he expressed concerns about the speed.

Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla told the press on Thursday, June 19 that divers would be deployed in the Taal Lake, which encompasses an active volcano, to search for human remains, according to the BBC.

“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.

Following the revelation, Remulla also said that they would search for additional witnesses who might be able to corroborate the allegations. Philstar reported that five witnesses had already been spoken to.

Philippine Navy spokesperson Capt. John Percie Alcos told the press on Friday, June 20, per Philstar, that the organization was “ready to help any agency of the government for the safety and welfare of Filipinos.”

However, he added that the navy has not yet been drawn into the seach.

“Likely, once there’s a notice from other government agencies in this particular case, we will refer this to the Naval Special Operations Command because that’s where we have our technical divers,” he said.

PEOPLE has contacted the Philippine National Police and Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla for comment.