Quezon publisher, niece missing

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines   – Police were still clueless on the whereabouts of a broadcaster and publisher of a Quezon-based weekly newspaper and her niece who have not returned home since last May 22.

Reports reaching Superintendent Joel Pernito, Calamba City police chief, said the family of Marlyn de Mesa, 39, publisher of the Southern Tagalog Tribune and a block-timer of 95.1 Kiss FM, has sought police help to look for her and niece Vanesa Tabale, 23.

SPO4 Edwin de Mesa, of the San Pablo City police, said De Mesa and Tabale have been missing for a week now and that police still had no leads on what happened to them.

De Mesa is known to be a hard-hitting broadcaster and journalist. She resides in Pagbilao, Quezon and also has a home in Calamba City.

Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Laguna provincial director, said he has instructed the Calamba City and San Pablo City police stations to form a special team to look into the case.

Police records showed that De Mesa and Tabale were last seen onboard the former’s white Isuzu pick-up with license plate PFO-290 on their way to a restaurant in San Pablo City.

Police said De Mesa’s family and colleagues have been trying to reach the two through their cell phones but to no avail.