Father on Emergency Trip to Negros Goes Missing
A family is urgently seeking public help after 53-year-old Danilo Villaluz went missing while traveling by ferry from Batangas to Caticlan on the night of December 13. He was bound for Negros to visit a sick family member.
According to his daughter, Diana Villaluz, Danilo decided to travel home after learning that his sibling had been admitted to South Bacolod General Hospital. Before the ferry departed at around 9:00 p.m., Danilo was still in contact with his family. He sounded cheerful, called to say goodbye, and even sent a selfie. He told them he would rest during the trip, giving no indication that anything was wrong.
Concern grew the following morning, December 14, when the family received no messages or calls from him. At first, they assumed his phone battery had died. However, as the day passed and Danilo failed to arrive in Bacolod at the expected time in the afternoon, their concern turned into alarm.
Late that night, after 11:00 p.m., an unknown man answered Danilo’s phone and identified himself as a ferry staff member. The ferry company later confirmed that Danilo had boarded the Batangas–Caticlan ferry. The situation became even more troubling when another passenger turned over Danilo’s personal belongings, including his backpack, sling bag, shoes, identification cards, cash, and cellphone. Danilo himself was nowhere to be found.
The family immediately contacted relatives in Manila and Iloilo to check if Danilo might have gone elsewhere or returned unexpectedly, but no one had seen or heard from him. With no leads, authorities were alerted, and the Philippine Coast Guard launched search and rescue operations to locate him.
As of this writing, Danilo Villaluz remains missing. His family continues to appeal to the public for any information that may help locate him, while also awaiting a clear explanation from the ferry operator regarding what may have happened during the voyage. The family remains hopeful but deeply anxious, especially since Danilo was traveling for a family emergency.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Danilo Villaluz is urged to immediately contact his family by reaching Rosdan Jay Villaluz at 0947-636-1564, Diana Rose Villaluz at 0963-103-9559, or Dexter Villaluz at 0939-835-3473.