Cops have leads in CamNorte guv's missing wife

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) now has several leads in the disappearance of the wife of Camarines Norte Governor Edgardo Tallado and her aide, an official said Tuesday.

Chief Superintendent Victor Diona, Bicol regional police director, said in a radio interview that tracker teams and members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) are still continuously following up the leads in the case of Josefina Tallado and her aide Darlene Francisco.

Diona, however, refused to give details on the leads of the case.

The Department of Interior and Local Government's special enforcement group and Philippine Army personnel have been tapped to help in the case.

Lt. Col. Medel Aguilar, chief of the Army’s 49th battalion, said they are supportive of “Task Force Josie,” the team formed to locate Tallado’s wife Josefina and her aide Darlene Francisco.

"We support the Task Force Josie in terms of intelligence and deployment of troops for the rescue operations,” Aguilar said.

“The Army will assist the PNP (Philippine National Police) to help speed up the finding of the missing persons,” he added.

Initial reports said that Tallado's wife was last seen Friday afternoon on board a Toyota Fortuner with Francisco going to Barangay Tres, Vinzons, Camarines Norte. She left her escorts behind.

Authorities found the sports utility vehicle abandoned in Barangay Napulidan in Lupi, Camarines Sur Friday night. A burned umbrella was found inside the vehicle but not the passengers. - with Alexis Romero