SAGADA, Mountain Province — The family of a missing 17-year-old girl and community elders here have requested the suspension of the regular search operation after four days of continuous efforts to locate her.
The family of Sofia Isabela Magalgalit Oria requested the suspension starting Thursday, Aug. 13, to give rescuers, volunteers and other search participants time to rest after days of combing the rugged terrain of Sagada.
The decision was announced through Barangay Dagdag with the message, “Umilleng Tako is Sin-agew,” reflecting the recognition by Sofia’s family and community elders of the physical and emotional exhaustion experienced by those who have tirelessly participated in the search.
However, the suspension of the regular operation does not mean the search for Sofia has ended.
According to the Barangay Local Government of Dagdag, limited search efforts will continue, with selected women from Sofia’s family and women members of the community taking part.
The Search Sofia Operations Center at the Dagdag Base will remain operational and on standby to provide assistance when needed. Personnel from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), SERVS, and community members will also continue reporting to the Operations Command Post (OCP) in Dagdag.
Sofia, a resident of Barangay Demang, Sagada, was last seen at around 7 p.m. on Aug. 8. She was reported missing at about 1 a.m. the following day, prompting authorities, local officials, community members, guides and volunteers to launch a search operation.
Search teams have since scoured mountainous areas, thick vegetation, steep terrain and waterways around Sagada despite difficult conditions brought by recent rains.
As of the latest update, Sofia had yet to be located.
Her family continues to appeal to anyone who may have information about her whereabouts to immediately coordinate with authorities or local officials. (Freddie Lazaro)