Taal Lake bones may still be identified – forensic expert

MANILA, Philippines — The bones recovered from the lakebed of Taal in Laurel, Batangas may still be identified, but a thorough forensic investigation must be carried out, forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun said.

“There’s definitely a possibility that the remains can still be identified,” Fortun told The STAR yesterday. “But I hope proper forensic science is applied.”

Authorities unearthed the bones, reportedly charred and stuffed inside sacks, on Thursday by the lakeshore in Laurel town, based on information from whistle-blower Julie Patidongan, alias Totoy. More sacks were found yesterday.

The site is among those identified as a supposed dumping ground for cockfight enthusiasts, or sabungeros, who had been missing since 2021 and 2022.

Fortun stressed that identifying the remains should begin with collecting antemortem data.

“You don’t immediately go to the bones. You start with information about the missing – their physical traits, dental records, identifying marks and potential DNA sources from relatives,” she said.

The forensic pathologist also raised questions over how the remains were handled on site, expressing concern over reports that the sacks were opened and their contents scattered.

“Those are pieces of evidence. Why would you open the sack and dump everything on the ground? That compromises the scene,” she said, adding that “everything inside should have been recovered carefully and brought to the lab for examination.”

Fortun said the condition of the bones, whether blackened by charring or dark due to muddy water, must be determined by laboratory analysis.

“If they were burned, that would suggest homicide. Were they killed elsewhere, burned and then dumped in the lake?” she asked.

She added that questions remain on how the bodies were transported and whether the crime scene is consistent with earlier claims that the victims were strangled, weighed down and dumped in the lake.

Meanwhile, National Bureau of Investigation deputy chief and spokesman Ferdinand Lavin declined to confirm if the remains had already been turned over to the bureau. He said the NBI is ready to provide technical or forensic support upon official request.

However, NBI Director Jaime Santiago confirmed that the remains would be examined by their team.

The bones were recovered by divers from the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police, and were confirmed by the Department of Justice to be human.?Fortun said she has not been contacted for help.

“I’ve not been asked. I’m not involved,” she said. “But every piece of material recovered could be crucial. You might find bullets. If it were up to me, I’d x-ray every sack before opening.”