No DNA matches have been found from the bones recovered in Taal Lake in connection with the search for the remains of the missing sabungeros, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) Forensic Group Director, Police Brig. Gen. Danilo Bacas.
During a House Committee on Human Rights hearing on August 27, Bacas said that the investigation began on July 10. As of August 22, authorities had recovered 401 human skeletal remains from Taal Lake. Of these, 163 samples were subjected to DNA testing, while the rest were not tested as they had already deteriorated.
Out of the 34 families of the missing sabungeros, only 29 were able to submit their DNA samples. However, none of the 163 bone samples matched the DNA profiles of these families.
"When we compare DNA samples from the relatives hindi po kasi lahat ng mga kamag-anak ng mga nawawalang sabungero ay nakipag-cooperate," Bacas said.
Meanwhile, Manila Representative Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr., Chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights, expressed dissatisfaction over the probe, calling it pointless as there were no clear leads or positive results.
“Wala ring kwenta 'yung mga imbestigasyong ginagawa ng ating mga agency dito kung wala kayong makikita na any human bone that will actually indicate na maisasama niyo sa missing sabungeros, magiging walang kwenta ang imbestigasyon niyo as a proof, because of that,” Abante stated, urging the authorities to keep up with the investigation.
Bacas, however, disagreed with Abante’s remarks, stressing that there are still remaining samples for the Forensic Group to test.
"So meron pa naman pong mahigit tatlong daang samples pa ang hawak ng foreignsic group. Sana po pagkatiwalan niyo po kami na meron pong mararating ang ating imbestigasyon," Bacas said, encouraging the public to trust the PNP and allow the investigation to run its full course.
