The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said tawilis fished from Taal Lake are safe for human consumption, amid claim of a whistleblower’s that the bodies of missing sabungeros abducted in 2021 were thrown into lake.

BFAR explained that tawilis is a small pelagic fish that usually stays in shallow waters, and feeds on plankton. It also clarified that tawilis, a freshwater sardine, naturally multiplies its population quickly.

BFAR chief information officer Nazzer Briguera said there is nothing to fear because firstly, the tawilis is a small pelagic fish and it feeds on planktons, including plant-based planktons, and we cannot say that it is carnivorous.

Likewise, BFAR also clarified that other fish such as tilapia and bangus are usually cultured in fish pens, and do not freely swim in Taal Lake.

The agency issued that clarification following concerns of sellers in the area reported a decline in their sales, citing fears of consumers that the fish in the lake may have eaten human remains.

Earlier, a certain “Totoy” one of the accused in the disappearance of the 34 cockfighters, claimed that their bodies were thrown into Taal Lake after being caught cheating by weakening their own roosters and betting on their opponents’ roosters.