JUSTICE Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra has directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to join in the intensified search for missing University of the Philippines (UP) Law Professor Ryan P. Oliva whose belongings were recently found along the shoreline of Barangay Balikyas, Looc, Occidental Mindoro.
Oliva, who also works in the Department of Tourism’s Legislative Liaison Unit has been reported missing since November 21.
Guevarra said the NBI will coordinate with the local officials in Mindoro Occidental and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the search for the missing lawyer.
“The NBI Mimaropa field office is already involved in the search for Oliva. I have directed the OIC Chief [NBI officer-in-charge Eric B. Distor] to intensify the NBI’s coordination with the local police of Looc, Mindoro Occidental and the Philippine Coast Guard in the joint search,” the justice secretary said.
Mimaropa is an administrative region covering the provinces of Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan and Romblon.
Based on the initial investigation by the NBI, Oliva was last seen at a resort in Batangas province.
He reportedly contracted a cab driver to bring him to any resort in Nasugbu, Batangas.
The driver told investigators that they stopped at a resort in Barangay Wawa in Nasugbu and Oliva told him to wait for him as he needed to check the resort first.
After several hours, a tricycle driver approached him and told him that Oliva wanted him to go back to Manila already.
Investigators are still gathering more information that may lead to Oliva’s whereabouts.
