PNP to locate ‘missing’ ex-coordinator of Kabataan party-list in Laguna

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar. INQUIRER file photo / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Tuesday that it is verifying reports on former Kabataan party-list Laguna chapter coordinator who was reported missing for more than a week now.

According to Kabataan party-list Laguna chapter, the former coordinator, Kemuel Ian Cometa, has been missing since the police operation on May 21, that resulted in the death of three individuals in Sta Rosa, Laguna.

“We need to talk to the parents of Kemuel and establish if he is really missing and, if verified, find leads to his possible whereabouts.  We are ready to help in the search if he really has been missing for more than a week,” said PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar in a statement.

Eleazar then called on those claiming that Cometa was in police custody to present evidence supporting the serious allegation.

“Base sa natanggap nating report mula sa local police, wala silang nadatnan na Kemuel Ian Cometa sa raid na kanilang isinagawa noong May 21, at wala din kabilang na Kemuel Ian Cometa sa mga subject ng kanilang operasyon,” he said.

(Based on the report we received from the local police, they did not find Kemuel Ian Cometa in the raid they conducted on May 21, and also there was no Kemuel Ian Cometa among the subjects of their operation.)

The chief PNP warned against hurling allegations without supporting evidence, “otherwise, we would just be spreading unfounded rumors and causing undue anxiety to the public, including Kemuel’s relatives.”

“Pero ang priority sa ngayon ay matunton ang kinaroroonan nitong si Kemuel, kung ito nga ay nawawala, at matiyak na siya’y ligtas,” Eleazar assured.

(But the priority now is to locate the whereabouts of this Kemuel, if he is really missing, and make sure he is safe.)

According to Kabataan-Laguna, Cometa is the fourth victim in the operation on May 21, where state-agents killed three individuals — believed to be members of the New People’s Army hit-squad — in Sta Rosa, Laguna. It has been 11 days since.

“Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin alam ang eksaktong kinaroroonan at kalagayan ng kanyang katawan,” said Kabataan.

(To this day the exact location and condition of his body is still unknown.)

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JPV