Missing UP student turns up

Ian Jasper Calalang, an 18-year-old freshman at University of the Philippines Dilman, has returned home, according to a report.

IAN Jasper Calalang, the University of the Philippines student who was earlier reported missing, has come home 21 days after he was last seen by family and friends.

Calalang’s aunt, Marissa Patawaran, confirmed that the student returned to his family in Cainta, Rizal province, around midnight Monday.

“We don’t know the details yet because we’re just really overjoyed,” she told the Inquirer, noting that her nephew had no visible injuries but appeared to have lost weight.

“What’s important for now is that my nephew has returned safe and sound,” she said, adding she could not provide further details regarding Ian’s disappearance.

Through a Facebook post, Patawaran earlier sought public assistance in finding Calalang after his parents lost contact with him on the day he was supposed to enroll as an Industrial Engineering freshman in UP Diliman.

He last sent a text message to his mother at 8:22 a.m. of Jan. 12 to say he had reached the campus.

Calalang’s parents reported his disappearance to various police headquarters and the UP administration mobilized security units to look for him. Erika Sauler