Philippines Police Search Lake for 34 Missing Cockfight Workers

• Dozens vanished amid e-sabong match-fixing allegations
• Suspect claims victims were strangled, dumped in lake
• Industry worth billions despite criminal and ethical concerns

Authorities in the Philippines have begun searching a volcanic lake for the bodies of at least 34 cockfight workers who went missing without a trace in 2021 and 2022.

The men, who were possibly targeted for being involved in bout-fixing, all disappeared from the capital Manila and its surrounding provinces. Each was involved in e-sabong, the online streaming of cockfights for betting purposes.

The suspect claimed the men were strangled with tie wires after being handed over to another group of men, whom he refused to name.

Cultural Norm

Cockfighting is culturally ingrained in the Philippines going back hundreds of years. The bouts involve birds fighting to death with hooked razors attached to their talons. The animals are often injected with steroids to increase their fighting potential.

E-sabong exploded in popularity during the pandemic at a time when many live venues were closed to spectators for health and safety reasons.

This prompted the government to briefly tax and regulate the blood sport, although then-President Rodrigo Duterte banned it after the disappearances.

The domestic cockfighting industry is worth more than US$1 billion, according to the Philippine Games and Amusement Board. The country is also home to the annual World Slasher Cup, known as “the Olympics of Cockfighting.”

Retribution Killings?

The missing men were all gamefowl handlers, aides, helpers, or vehicle drivers in the industry. All are alleged to have been involved in fixing cockfights, which involves sabotaging one bird for the benefit of a gambling ring.

Reports in various local media outlets have suggested the motive for the abductions may be retribution against a criminal gambling syndicate.

Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla told the press on Thursday, June 19 that police divers would search the lake for human remains in the coming days.

“We can’t just let it pass and just let it go. We have to be responsible enough to seek the truth, especially in cases like this,” he said, as translated by the BBC.