Missing 17-year-old Ica Policarpio last seen at convenience store

The missing 17-year-old 12 Grader Ica Policarpio was last seen at 10:30 p.m. on Thursday having her money changed at a convenience store in Sucat, police officers told GMA News.

Muntinlupa police investigators said that Ica was at a coffee shop and needed change. So she went next door to the convenience store.

Ica was recorded on security cameras leaving the store and this was the last time she was seen.

"Wala namang commotion, wala namang suspicious person that's just near the coffee shop.  So we don't how far she went away from the shop. Eh dun hindi naka kuha ng any CCTV," added Southern Police District commander Chief Superintendent Thomas Apolinario.

However, Ica's father, Rufino Policarpio, had spoken with his daughter at around 10 p.m.

They agreed to meet at the coffee shop, after which they would go home together.

But when Rufino arrived at the coffee place and did not see his daughter, he assumed she had gone home.

But Ica was not home. So they returned to the coffee shop, and they found her bag and laptop, but still no Ica.

Calling her mobile phone proved futile as Ica had left it in her bag.

Rufino has appealed to the public and even President Rodrigo Duterte for help.

"Nakiki usap po ako mahal na pangulo na tulungan nyo po sana kami na matagpuan namin ang aming daughter ang aming anak na si Ica. We appeal to your good office that entire government facility be mobilized if only to locate our daughter Ica," said the distressed father.

"So right now we are still clueless. This is the second day and we are really very very worried and we would like to be able to find out her whereabouts," said Rufino.

Nevertheless he was optimistic that they would eventually find Ica safe and sound. "I believe that she's ok. And I will always pray that she is really ok and she would return to us safely," Rufino concluded. — DVM, GMA News