When and how to report a missing person

MANILA — The Taguig City Police on Wednesday said it is actively investigating the disappearance of 21-year-old student Maria Mikaela Julian, who has been missing since October 24.

“We take this urgent matter seriously. Anyone with credible information is urged to report directly to the Taguig City Police,” it said as it.

It also said it is working closely with the Julian family, who have also sought assistance on social media to find Mikaela.

Police warned against sharing unverified information that can “misdirect the investigation and distress the family. “

Under National Police Commission Memorandum Circular 2022-082, missing persons are generally those “whose whereabouts, safety and well-being” have yet to be known 24 hours after their “perceived disappearance.”

People not where they are expected to be, and whose family and relatives don’t know where they are are “suspected missing persons” if it has been less than 24 hours and “if there is no apparent risk and does not require police investigation.”

• Parents or legal guardians
• Legal or common-law spouse
• Barangay officials
• Relatives, employer, co-workers “and other persons who may have interest in the whereabouts of the missing person.”

The police will require people reporting someone missing to present proof of their identity.

The person making the report will also have to fill out a data consent form as required by the Data Privacy Act.

The Cavite Police Provincial Office says in a 2024 infographic that reports can be made at the nearest police station.

People making the report may have to submit a written statement or fill out a form that will provide the police with essential information.

Among those would be the person’s name, age, address and physical details like height, weight, the clothes they were wearing the last time they were seen, and distinguishing features like tattoos or scars. 

The Cavite PPO says documentation of where they were last seen and “any unusual behavior or circumstances that may have preceded their disappearance” will also be helpful.

• A recent photograph of the missing person
• Identification and proof of relation to the person being reported missing.
• “Any messages, notes, or belongings left behind that could give clues to the disappearance.”

The Cavite PPO also advises staying in regular contact with police for updates and additional information.

Under Napolcom MC 2022-082, desk officers will endorse the case to the police unit assigned to where the missing person was last seen. That unit will “take cognizance of the case to avoid confusion.”

The investigator-on-case then checks the missing person against the Crime Information Reporting and Analysis System to see if anyone matching their description has been reported found.

The same memorandum requires the chief of the station to “conduct a thorough investigation” and activate Committees on Missing and Found Persons — which exist on the district, provincial, and city level — if needed for better coordination

Police are also directed to conduct “continuous follow-up investigation” and to monitor the missing persons’ relatives.

The memorandum circular was issued to ensure cases of missing persons are given proper attention.