Missing UP student found alive in Laguna – PNP

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police stressed the need for mental health support on Sunday after rescuing a missing student from the University of the Philippines (UP) Los Baños who allegedly attempted suicide twice during her six-day disappearance.

The fourth-year student, whose identity was withheld, was found in San Pablo City, Laguna, on Friday and located through closed-circuit television (CCTV)-assisted tracking by the Taguig City Police Station (TCPS) and the Southern Police District (SPD).

The 21-year-old student’s family and members of the public had also helped spread information about her disappearance online.

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“We are grateful that this young woman was found safe,” PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement on Sunday.

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“Let this be a reminder that seeking help is a sign of strength, and every life is worth protecting. Life’s difficulties can feel overwhelming but there is always help available,” he added.

The student’s parents reported her missing on Oct. 25, and her disappearance gained widespread attention after her family sought help in media interviews and on social media.

Police traced her movements using CCTV footage and coordinated with authorities in various locations she had visited before finding her in San Pablo City on Oct. 30.

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Interviews conducted by the PNP Women and Children Protection Desk revealed that the student had left home due to family problems and severe emotional distress.

The student told investigators that she intended to end her life after she left home, first by drowning in Laiya, Batangas, where she stayed at a resort and rented a cottage, and second by hanging while staying at a hotel in San Pablo City. When she was found, police observed ligature marks on her neck.

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Need for sensitivity

Nartatez said the circumstances of the case highlighted the need for sensitivity in handling missing-person reports and for police interventions to prioritize the welfare of those involved.

“We urge anyone facing emotional distress to reach out to family, trusted friends, health professionals, or authorities before making irreversible decisions,” he said.

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The police referred the student to the Taguig City Local Social Welfare and Development Office for assistance, but her parents opted to bring her directly to a private hospital for immediate medical and psychological care. /cb