PNP forms special probe team for missing QC bride-to-be

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has formed a special investigation team for a 30-year-old woman in Quezon City went missing just days before her scheduled wedding supposedly last Sunday.

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) spokesperson Police Major Jennifer Gannaban told GMA News Online on Tuesday that the special investigation team will focus on the case of Sherra de Juan, who disappeared on December 10.

PNP acting chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said he has tasked the QCPD to "exhaust all measures to address this case." 

"All our units in Metro Manila and nearby areas have also been alerted and directed to assist,” he said.

“We assure the public that we will exert every effort to find her and determine the circumstances surrounding her disappearance,” Nartatez added.

A P20,000 reward is being offered for information that could lead to De Juan’s location, according to the PNP.

De Juan reportedly told her fiancé, Mark Arjay Reyes, that she would go to a mall in Fairview around noon to buy a pair of her bridal shoes, GMA Integrated News’ Dano Tingcungco reported on Unang Balita on Monday.

De Juan left her cellphone at home to charge before leaving. When Reyes returned home at around 5 p.m., she was no longer there.

Reyes said he became worried after about 30 minutes when De Juan had still not returned.

The missing bride-to-be’s family tracked her last known location, but the mall was unable to provide CCTV footage as its system was under maintenance.

Some vendors, however, claimed they saw her at the mall.

The only CCTV footage obtained was taken outside De Juan’s house, showing her walking, and another clip showing her on her way to the terminal bound for the mall.

The prospective bride's mysterious disappearance prompted an impassioned plea from her fiancé.

“Mahal ko, alam mo naman kung gaano kita kamahal. Alam mo naman kung gaano ko iniingatan ka, lalo na yung mga kapatid mo. Ayaw po namin na, huwag naman po sana, na magpa-Pasko na kulang po,” Reyes said.

(My love, you know how much I love you. You know how much I care for you, especially your siblings. We don’t want to spend Christmas without you.)

Reyes said he remains clueless about the possible reason for her disappearance.

“Wala po kaming away, especially during that day. Ako po kasi yung first boyfriend ng fiancé ko. So wala po siyang ex. Wala po talaga kaming maisip na naging kaaway niya,” he said.

(We didn’t have any fights, especially that day. I was my fiancée’s first boyfriend, so she didn’t have an ex. We really can’t think of anyone she may have had a conflict with.)

“Wala talagang masamang tinapay kahit kanino. Ayoko naman po sanang isipin na may nanguha sa kanya kasi hindi naman po kami yung pamilya na may pera,” he added.

(She never had ill intentions toward anyone. I don’t want to think that someone abducted her because we’re not a family with money.)

Authorities have taken custody of De Juan’s mobile phone as part of the investigation.—MCG, GMA Integrated News