Parents of Cebuana missing in NZ worried but not losing hope

CEBU, Philippines - The parents of the missing Cebuana in New Zealand are hopeful that authorities there would locate their daughter soon.

In an interview with The FREEMAN, Max Limcauco said they have never stopped worrying since the time they found out their daughter, Blesilda Gotingco, did not return home from work last Saturday.

Gotingco works at the Tower Insurance in Auckland’s CBD, New Zealand.

“She’s still alive. There is no way na hindi nila makita. They have money and they are very efficient. Pero ang problema, we do not know what happened talaga (She’s still alive. There is no way they won’t find her. They have money and they are very efficient. The problem is no one knows what really happened),” said Max, 82.

He said what makes him and his wife Virginia feel helpless is that they could no longer travel to New Zealand – even if they want to – due to health reasons.

Max said that as of yesterday, they have not received updates from the New Zealand police.

“We do not know the progress dahil strict talaga sila and very serious in their investigation (We do not know the progress because they (authorities) are very strict and are very serious in their investigation),” he said.

“I never imagined that it happened in New Zealand because I’ve been there many times. How come it happened to my daughter nga very peaceful man didto nga place? (I never imagined that it happened in New Zealand because I’ve been there many times. How come it happened to my daughter when the place is very peaceful?)” he added.

He said his daughter has always been “jolly and hardworking.”

“Personally, wala akong alam na nakaaway niya pero marami talaga siyang clients doon (I’m not aware personally if she has enemies but she has many clients there),” Max said.

He said Blesilda is the eldest of his six children and her brothers and sisters flew to New Zealand yesterday upon hearing the news. Blesilda’s husband who was in Cebu to supervise the construction of their house here flew ahead last Sunday.  It was also the husband who informed  Blesilda’s family about what happened.

As reported in The New Zealand Herald News last Sunday, Blesilda was last heard from 6:21 p.m. on Saturday informing his adult son that she would leave her job at 7 p.m. to catch a bus home.

However, her daughter who arrived home Sunday dawn could not find her mother, prompting the children to report her disappearance to the Waitemata Police.

The New Zealand Herald also reported that that Blesilda’s daughter managed to track her mother’s mobile phone via its built-in locator system and found the phone a short distance from their house in Salisbury Road, Birkdale.            

There, the daughter found her mother’s personal belongings.

The New Zealand Heard, quoting Detective Senior Seargeant Stan Brown, said the circumstances of Blesilda’s disappearance and the location of some of her belongings gave rise to serious concerns for her safety.  (FREEMAN)