MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered a thorough and transparent investigation into the suspected human bones recently found near the shore of Taal Lake, where dozens of missing cockfight enthusiasts or sabungeros were allegedly dumped more than four years ago.

“Sa Pangulo po ay dapat mas alamin pa kung ito pong mga natagpuan ay talagang may kinalaman po sa nasabing kaso ng missing sabungeros,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a Friday press briefing.

Castro said the President wants to assure the families of the missing sabungeros that the government remains committed to pursuing the case with transparency and due diligence.

“Hindi po ito pababayaan, hindi po magkakaroon ng cover-up. Tuluy-tuloy pa rin po ang pag-iimbestiga. ‘Yan po ang nais ng Pangulo,” she said.

A Department of Justice official confirmed that the suspected bones, discovered inside a sack on Thursday, will be subjected to forensic examination and DNA testing to determine if they are related to the case.

The remains were recovered as members of the Philippine Coast Guard inspected the area in Taal Lake previously linked to the disappearance of the sabungeros. Technical diving operations are scheduled to begin today, July 11, to continue the search for possible remains.