P200,000 reward offered for information on missing police trainee
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The family of Police Patrolman Aaron Blas who has been missing for 45 days following training in Itogon town, Benguet province, has offered a P200,000 reward for anyone who can provide information on his whereabouts.
Blas, 25, a native of San Gregorio, Luna, Apayao, was among the new police officers who underwent the land navigation activity of the Philippine National Police Basic Internal Security Operations Course (BISOC) in Barangay Ampucao when he went missing on July 14.
The Benguet Provincial Police Office said Blas failed to return for a headcount after training that day, prompting several police trainees to return to their place of origin and routes but found no trace of him.
Closed-circuit television footage from Philex Mines showed Blas returning to the Zigzag Dam 2 area at around 5:30 p.m. on July 14, but his departure was not seen on camera.
Task Force Blas of the Benguet PPO has been searching for him in various areas in Itogon.
Police said they cannot yet declare if he is dead or alive or AWOL until he is located.
The Benguet PPO assured that search operations are still ongoing, with the help of the local government unit of Itogon, Philex Mines, other concerned agencies, and volunteers.