More suspected human remains, along with personal items believed to be that of the missing “sabungeros” or cockfight enthusiasts, were retrieved from Taal Lake recently.
According to Philippine National Police (PNP) Spokesperson PBGen Jean Fajardo, these items include articles of clothing and footwear, which will be presented to victims’ family members in the hopes these could be identified as the victims’ belongings, reported RH 52 Edniel Parrosa.
The items are also set to undergo examination, which authorities hope will yield DNA profiles. DNA may be extracted from traces of sweat found on clothing and other items.
“Idadaan po ito (sa appropriate testing) dahil, sabi ko nga, malaking bagay kung may maipapakita sila na maaaring suot pa niya ito, ‘yung mga damit na iyon, bago siya nawala, ‘yung tsinelas. At titingnan po natin, I do not want to preempt po ‘yung magiging kakalabasan po nung examination po ng forensic group at antayin po natin ‘yung ilalabas nilang official findings,” Fajardo told reporters.
(We will put these through appropriate testing as it would be a significant finding to determine that they were wearing these clothes, the slippers, before their disappearance. We will see, I do not want to get ahead of the results of the forensic group’s examination. Let’s wait for their official findings.)
Earlier, it was reported that the PNP Forensic Group was unable to extract DNA profiles from the first remains recovered from the Taal Lake, although they were able to do so with remains exhumed from a nearby cemetery in Batangas. However, the DNA did not match any of the 23 samples from the victims’ families.
