MANILA, Philippines — A day after police recovered the bag of missing university professor Ryan Oliva, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) investigators on Saturday discovered that the professor was last seen at a resort in Batangas province.
After days of tracing Oliva’s whereabouts, NBI Special Action Unit (SAU) chief Lawyer Emeterio Dongallo Jr. told INQUIRER.net that they interviewed the cab driver who brought Oliva to Nasugbu, Batangas.
Oliva hailed the taxi at a mall in Pasay City on Nov. 22, Sunday, Dongallo said.
Based on the accounts of the taxi driver, Oliva paid an initial amount of P2,500 so that he can go to any resort in Batangas. Oliva did not say any specific resort but the driver still accepted the request.
“Sabi papayag daw siya [taxi driver] bibigyan ng P2,500 na pauna, papuntang Nasugbu sa Batangas […] walang specific na resort basta tabing dagat,” said Dongallo.
(Taxi driver said he was okay to bring Oliva to Nasugbu, Batangas, with an initial amount of P2,500. There was no specific resort, just a nearby beach.)
“Basta sabi ng taxi, hinatid niya nang ilang oras. Nahatid sa resort sa Nasugbu,” he further said.
(The taxi driver said they drove for several hours until they reached the resort in Nasugbu.)
Specifically, Dongallo said the resort was in Barangay Wawa in Nasugbu.
Upon their arrival, Oliva requested the taxi driver to wait for him while he went to check the resort. After three hours, the taxi driver parked outside the resort but was greeted by a tricycle driver.
Subsequently, the tricycle driver told the taxi driver to go back to Manila upon request of Oliva. Dongallo said they confirmed that the tricycle driver did talk to Oliva at the resort.
After investigators visited the several resorts, Dongallo said owners could not pinpoint Oliva’s whereabouts.
Belongings in Occidental Mindoro
On Friday morning, Oliva’s bag that contained his personal items such as ATM cards, credit cards and other identification cards were found lying on a seashore in Occidental Mindoro.
Dongallo said they suspect that Oliva went to Lubang Island by availing a ride at the port in Calatagan, Batangas.
“I-ve-verify nila [NBI investigators] doon kung may nasakyan si Ryan papuntang Mindoro. […] Sa pier ng Calatagan baka sakaling may nakaano kay Ryan nga,” he said.
(They will verify where Ryan went, on how he got to Mindoro. In Calatagan port, maybe someone saw him.)
As per Oliva’s items, Dongallo said they are coordinating with their regional unit in Occidental Mindoro for the turnover.
Dongallo also prayed for Oliva’s safety. He noted that Oliva’s family and colleagues at the fraternity are always going to NBI’s office to seek updates.
“Alam mo iyon siyempre gusto natin makita, maestablish na if he is okay. Bata pa ito, abogado na, sana naman safe siya,” NBI-SAU chief said.
(We want to establish that he is okay. He is still young, he is a lawyer, and I hope he is safe.)
“Okay lang naman magpakalayo layo pero alam ng family at friends niya [Oliva] na safe siya,” he added.
(It is okay to travel but he should inform his family and friends that he is safe.)
Oliva’s family has been appealing for public’s help because he has been missing for over a week.
Oliva is a professor at University of the Philippines College of Law. He is also an employee of the tourism department’s Legislative Liaison Unit.