At least 34 Filipino cockfighting enthusiasts vanished across Luzon between 2021 and 2022, drawing national attention to suspected organized abductions.
Key Facts
- Missing persons reported
- At least 34
- Timeframe of disappearances
- April 2021 – January 2022
- Primary area affected
- Laguna (19 of the missing)
- Alleged total killed (suspect claim)
- Nearly 100
- Suspected disposal site
- Taal Lake
- Confirmed kidnapping cases
- At least 1
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Between April 2021 and January 2022, cockfighting enthusiasts known as sabungeros began disappearing from multiple provinces across Luzon, Philippines, including Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, Manila, and Rizal. The circumstances behind the disappearances were largely unknown at the time, though at least one victim was confirmed to have been kidnapped.
At least 34 sabungeros went missing across Luzon, with 19 cases concentrated in Laguna. The cases attracted national media coverage. Investigations remained inconclusive for years until June 2025, when a suspect came forward alleging the victims were killed and disposed of in Taal Lake, and that the true death toll could be close to 100.
The suspect's 2025 testimony implicated businessman Atong Ang and former actress Gretchen Barretto, both of whom denied involvement. The Department of Justice and the Philippine National Police announced they would formally review the allegations, significantly expanding the scope of the ongoing investigation into the disappearances.