Search continues for missing 22-year-old in Palawan

The search for Jovelyn Gallano, the 22-year-old female who mysteriously disappeared in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, continues a week after she went missing.

In the latest episode of Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS), Jovelyn’s family tries to find answers to her sudden disappearance, armed with nothing but hope she will be found.

“Mahal ko po yung anak ko,” Jelyn Gallano, the victim’s mother, tearfully said. “Hindi ko na po alam kung saan siya hahanapin”.

(I love my child…I don’t know where to search for her.)

Jovelyn is a third-year Criminology student. To help her family, she decided to take on a part-time job in a boutique inside a mall in Puerto Princesa City.

A responsible child, Jelyn said her daughter keeps her informed of her whereabouts and the time she goes home.

August 5 was supposed to be a normal day, with Jovelyn even asking at their group chat if they have food in their house. That was around 6:38 PM but an hour later, she was still not home. Her family knew something was wrong.

“Di na po namin ma-contact…Pag dating namin (ng mall) sarado na,” Jelyn said.

(We could not contact her. The mall was already closed when we arrived.)

“Bigla po siyang nag-chat mga 6:38 PM then hindi nga raw po siya nasahuran ng kaniyang ma’am. ‘Yun na po ang huling chat niya,” Jonalyn Galleno, her sister, said.

(She sent a message in our group chat at 6:38 PM saying she did not receive her wage from her boss. That was the last message.)

“One hour ago pa lang po kumilos na kami. Kasi 'di po normal yun eh…Tinawagan po namin siya sa cellphone number niya, around 9 p.m. inaccept nya po ang call pero wala pong nagrerespond sa tawag,” she added.

(One hour ago, we immediately took action because that was not normal. We called her cellphone at around 9 p.m. She answered but did not say a word.)

KMJS reached out to Jovelyn’s boss who agreed to an interview. The store manager, Karen, denied allegations she was involved in her employee’s disappearance.

“Bakit parang ako ‘yung suspek? Bakit ako yung may kinalaman? Hinay-hinay po sa pananalita. Wala po kayong alam kung ano'ng totoong nangyari. Malinis ang konsensya ko,” she said.

(Why does it seem like I’m a suspect? People should be careful about what they’re saying because no one knows what happened. My conscience is clear.)

When she was still unreachable, Jovelyn’s family immediately sought assistance from the local barangay. They were advised to also report to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Irawan but were told they would need a court order. This prompted them to seek the help of the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Authorities were able to secure CCTV footage on Jovelyn’s arrival  the mall at 9 a.m. but videos of her as she exited the premises were not provided. This planted doubt in her family.

“Pinili lang nila ’yung pinakitang footage. Bakit wala silang maipakitang footage samalantalang nagahip doon yung kaniyang pagpasok? Paglabas wala silang maipakita?” Darlyn Galve, one of her friends, said.

(They only chose the footage that they showed the authorities. Why can’t they provide a footage (of her leaving) when her arrival was caught on the CCTV?)

“Merong tinatago. Sana tulungan nyo po kami o makipagtulungan po kami na maibalik po sa 'min si Jovelyn nang buhay,” Galve added.

(Maybe they’re hiding something. We hope they will help us in finding her.)

Concerned tenants of the mall reached out to Super Radyo DISP and shared their own CCTV footage of Jovelyn on the date of her disappearance. The said videos showed the victim walking around the establishment past 6 p.m.

“Hindi natin makuhanan ng clue kung saan po yun. Kung lumabas ba or hindi, kung sumakay ba. Ano ba? Magulo,” Jelyn said.

(We cannot see any clue where that is. If she went out or not, if she rode a vehicle or not. It was confusing.)

Meanwhile, a boatman in Barangay New Panggangan alerted authorities of a body he found in the sea. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) immediately responded.

“Hindi nya ma-verify if babae or lalaki. Hindi rin namin ma-verify ‘yung information since ang binigay lang ng bangkero ay maikling buhok, brown na T-shirt, jogging pants. Kung sa mall siya nawala, hindi natin ma-ano kung mapunta siya sa dagat pero may possibility,” CG LTSG Gretch May Blanca Acurio, PIO CG District, Palawan, said.

(We cannot verify if it was a girl or boy. We cannot verify the information too since the boatman described what he saw a person with short-hair, wearing a brown shirt, and jogging pants. If she disappeared after going out to the mall, we cannot infer why she was in the sea. But it was a possibility.)

The mall, for its part, issued a formal response to the incident.

“In relation to the missing employee of one of our mall partner-tenants, the Management of Robinsons Place Palawan is fully cooperating with police and local authorities to support their investigation,” it said.

“The PNP has viewed the CCTV footage and copies of all their requested footage and have been given to them. In addition, we have made available for their investigation the logbooks at the employees’ entrance and likewise facilitated coordination with tenants that have CCTV cameras. Tuloy-tuloy ang aming pakikipag-ugnayan sa PNP at mga awtoridad,” it added.

The PNP clarified there was no missing CCTV footage.

“Ito po ay mga CCTV footages na nakuha lamang natin sa mall. Hindi po namin masasabi na may kulang. Mayroon lang tayong suspected na pwedeng nasakyan ni Ms. Gallano noong siya po ay pauwi sa kanilang tahanan,” PCPT. Victoria Carmen Iquin, PNP Puerto Princesa PIO, said.

(These are the CCTV footage we secured from the mall. We cannot say something was missing. We only have possible vehicles that she may have ridden as she left for her house.)

Other residents of Puerto Princesa City held a prayer vigil for the fast rescue of Jovelyn. An award of P250,000 was also raised for anyone who can give information on her whereabouts.

For anyone who has information, you may contact her family at: 09606866774. -- Sundy Locus/BAP, GMA News