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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
The post falsely claims human remains have already been found in Taal Lake; on July 7, the justice department said the search for the missing sabungeros may start this week
Claim: The remains of the missing sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts) have been found at the bottom of Taal Lake.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The Facebook post bearing the claim was posted on July 6 by an account named “Magsasaka Mabuhay Ka,” which has over 1.5 million followers on the platform. The post has already garnered over 25,000 reactions, 5,200 comments, and 2,500 shares, as of this writing.
The caption says: “Bones found in Taal Lake? Authorities confirm human remains may belong to missing sabungeros — DNA testing underway! Divers make chilling discovery beneath the lake’s surface — and now families wait in agony as forensic teams race to identify the victims. Could this be the breakthrough in the country’s most haunting disappearance case?”
The post features photos of divers purportedly finding remains underwater, allegedly in Taal Lake. It also uses a seemingly AI-generated photo of the missing sabungeros. A link to an article about the supposed discovery is included in the post.

The facts: As of writing, there are no confirmed reports that diving expeditions have already located the remains of the missing sabungeros who were allegedly buried in Taal Lake.
On July 7, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that the search may start this week. He earlier said the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy may be tapped to help with the search.
This comes after one of the accused in the missing sabungeros case told GMA News in June that the victims are all dead and their bodies were disposed of in Taal Lake.
Stolen photos: A reverse Google image search reveals that the two images used in the post were sourced from two different, unrelated reports.
The first image shows a diver underwater holding a sack that was originally taken in Boracay during the “Scubasurero” clean-up activity in 2018. The other image shows a person dragging a bag from a lake, which came from a report of an individual who drowned in Cagayan in 2021.
AI-generated photo: The first photo in the post, showing a group of smiling men, allegedly shows the missing sabungeros. Results from AI detection tool WinstonAI, however, reveal that the image is 92% likely to be AI-generated. This was also evident in the uneven and unrealistic depictions of the men’s facial features.
Misleading news content: The link to an article about the case leads to a supposed news website featuring suspicious content, thumbnails, and a logo bearing the words “USA News.”
The linked article asserts that the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Division is already conducting DNA matching to identify alleged remains as those of the missing sabungeros, with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) reportedly taking the lead in the investigation.
However, recent updates in the days leading up to July 6 (the date the post was published) from both the PNP and the NBI contain no verified reports or announcements that corroborate these claims.
Missing sabungeros case: The search for the missing sabungeros has been going on for several years. As of December 2022, 34 individuals have been reported missing by their families. However, only a limited number of legal cases have been filed in connection with these disappearances. (READ: TIMELINE: What happened to missing sabungeros?)
In June, whistleblower Julie Patidongan, alias “Totoy,” revealed that the missing sabungeros were strangled to death and dumped in Taal Lake. He also said that almost 100 cockfighting workers have been killed, not just the 34 reported missing.
Patidongan, himself a suspect in the missing sabungeros case, has accused businessman Atong Ang of being the alleged mastermind behind the victims’ disappearance. He also tagged actress Gretchen Barretto to the case. Both Ang and Barretto have denied the accusations.
Aside from Patidongan, serious illegal detention and kidnapping cases have been lodged against five others for the disappearance of six sabungeros in January 2022: Mark Carlo Zabala, Virgilio Bayog, Roberto Matillano Jr., Gleer Codilla, and Johnry Consolacion. – Jerry Yubal Jr./Rappler.com
Jerry Yubal Jr. is a graduate of Aries Rufo Journalism fellow of Rappler for 2023-2024. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
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