The still waters of Taal Lake have always carried a quiet beauty — but now, they may be hiding a chilling truth. For the families of the missing sabungeros, what once was a tourist attraction has turned into a haunting reminder of their unanswered prayers.

Charlene Lasco stood before reporters with a steady voice, but anyone could hear the weight she was carrying. Her brother, Ricardo Lasco, vanished in 2022 while working as an agent for online cockfights. Years passed with no clear answers, only rumors and heartbreak. Now, as authorities begin to search the lake for bodies allegedly dumped by rogue police officers, Charlene breaks her silence.

“We just want to lay them to rest,” she said, her voice soft but firm. “We’re not the only ones still waiting.”

Sister of missing sabungero: 'We just want to lay them to rest'

The nightmare began with a string of disappearances that shocked the nation and rocked the billion-peso cockfighting industry. Men involved in match-fixing, livestreaming, or operating underground games began to vanish — and with them, all traces of accountability. Then came a stunning revelation from a whistleblower named Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, who claimed that not just a few, but as many as a hundred people were murdered and dumped into the vast crater lake of Taal.

Suddenly, rumors turned into possible evidence. The Philippine Coast Guard and the national police have launched an underwater operation in search of the alleged mass graves beneath the lake. Early preparations have begun, and divers are expected to reach depths of around 30 meters. Justice Department officials confirmed that multiple witnesses pointed to specific zones beneath the lakebed as possible dumping sites.

“This is not our only lead,” a spokesman from the department said. “But this is a strong one.”

Taal Lake — serene, volcanic, deadly — stretches across 230 square kilometers. In some areas, its floor plunges to terrifying depths of over 170 meters. The Philippine government has requested technical support from Japan to help map the underwater terrain, but local authorities insist they already have enough equipment to begin.

Alleged suspect claims missing sabungeros were killed and dumped in Taal Lake

With typhoon season approaching fast, urgency is rising. Strong rains and unstable weather could easily disrupt recovery efforts, washing away what little evidence remains. The families are painfully aware of the narrowing window.

Charlene and many like her are clinging to whatever hope they can find. Not of miracles, not of rescue — but of remains. They want proof. They want a body to bury, a grave to visit, a truth to hold onto. For years, they’ve been stuck in the agony of not knowing.

“This pain doesn’t go away,” Charlene said. “Even if it’s just bones, we’ll take them home. That’s all we ask.”

As the boats move across the lake, as divers prepare to sink into the depths, the country is watching. What they find may not only bring closure to grieving families — it could also reveal one of the darkest, most horrifying cover-ups in recent memory. The truth has been underwater long enough. It’s time for it to surface.