Metro Manila, Philippines – Police have identified five persons of interest in the disappearance of a bride-to-be who went missing in Quezon City just days before her scheduled wedding. The Quezon City Police District said the persons of interest include Sherra De Juan’s fiancé, mother, brother, manager, and a close friend.
In a phone interview with NewsWatch Plus, QCPD spokesperson Police Major Jennifer Gannaban said the individuals were identified as part of standard investigative procedure to help authorities reconstruct the victim’s last known movements and communications.
She stressed that none of them are considered suspects.
“Standard procedure po ito sa imbestigasyon. Ang pagtukoy ng persons of interest ay hindi nangangahulugan na sila ay mga suspek,” Gannaban said on Thursday, Dec. 18.
[Translation: This is standard procedure in an investigation. Identifying persons of interest does not mean they are suspects.]
De Juan, 30, was reported missing on December 10, four days before her scheduled wedding.
Gannaban said De Juan last communicated with her fiancé, Mark Arjay Reyes, telling him that she was on her way to a mall to buy her wedding shoes. She never returned home.
“Iyon ang huling komunikasyon niya bago siya hindi na nakauwi,” Gannaban said.
[Translation: That was her last communication before she failed to return home.]m
According to Gannaban, De Juan left her mobile phone charging at home. The device is now in police custody and undergoing forensic examination.
“Mahalaga po ang cellphone sa pagbuo ng timeline ng kanyang mga huling galaw,” she said. [Translation: The cellphone is important in establishing a timeline of her last movements.]
Police said closed-circuit television footage showed De Juan last seen in front of a gasoline station in Barangay North Fairview, where she was captured boarding a bus. Investigators are reviewing additional CCTV footage from nearby routes and locations and validating witness statements to establish a clearer timeline.
Persons of interest explained
Gannaban said De Juan’s mother and brother are being interviewed to help determine her personal circumstances and recent activities, while her manager is being consulted to verify her work schedule and any possible work-related concerns. A close friend is also being interviewed to check for recent communications or plans shared by the victim.
“Kinakausap po namin ang mga malalapit sa kanya upang mabuo ang buong larawan ng kanyang mga huling galaw,” Gannaban said.
[Translation: We are talking to people close to her to complete the overall picture of her last movements.]
The QCPD again appealed to the public for any information that could help locate De Juan.
“Kung may nalalaman po kayo, kahit maliit na detalye, malaking tulong po iyon sa aming imbestigasyon,” Gannaban said.
[Translation: If you know anything, even a small detail, it would be a big help to our investigation.]
Police said the cash reward for information leading to De Juan’s whereabouts has been increased to 150,000 pesos.
