The above information was announced by Philippine National Police Commander Nicolas Torre III on July 8.
The victims - most of whom were players or staff working at the cockfighting den - were reportedly strangled, their bodies were chopped off and thrown into Taal Lake, a famous scenic spot in the cape south of the capital Manila.
The incident occurred from 2021-2022 but fell into a deadlock until a key witness suddenly appeared recently, sparking a wave of public outrage.
This person, known to the media as Totoy, revealed that the victims were suspected of being scammed in money-making cockfighting matches, by secretly injuring the opponents cock before the match to bet and make a profit.
Totoy asserts that his former boss - a gambling and cockfighting business tycoon - was the mastermind, ordering the subjects and police to handle those suspected of being scammed to drow the face. The witness said that he was forced to speak up because he was worried that his former boss would take him advantage of to cover his mouth.
The police commander Torre confirmed that "Totoy's" testimony was consistent with the collected evidence, providing enough basis for the Philippine Ministry of Justice to prepare to prosecute the police involved and other suspects. Among them, there is a powerful businessman who owns many cockfighting shops, who has denied all allegations.
What happened was brutal and unacceptable under any standard, Mr. Torre emphasized. I was shocked and that urged us to be determined to clarify the matter to the end.
Justice Minister Jesus Crispin Remulla said he would ask Japan to support technology to trace the remains at the bottom of Taal Lake, which is believed to be the burial place of dozens of victims nearly four years ago.
While many Western countries such as the US ban cockfighting for humanitarian reasons, this sport is still a legal and popular gambling sport in the Philippines, especially in rural areas and big cities.
Chickenpox is not only a fiery game but also an industry that brings in revenue for the state, creating jobs for thousands of people.
The matches often have knives or small steel blades attached to the rooster's feet, taking place amid the enthusiastic cheers of the audience, with millions of peso bet. However, behind the ring is an underground ecosystem full of fraud, blood and power, as this incident has exposed.
