By I. Inojales | 12:40 PM February 20, 2026
UBAY, Bohol — A 16-year-old girl who had been missing for three days was found safe in Barangay Binliw, Ubay, police said.
The teenager, identified as Emalyn (family name withheld) of Barangay Tapon, was located after a netizen informed police that the girl had been seen in the said barangay.
According to her family, Emalyn had earlier asked permission to visit her boyfriend but failed to return home for three days, prompting concern from her parents.
With the assistance of police, authorities were able to trace the house where the girl was staying.
Her mother, Emma, said Emalyn herself opened the door when officers arrived.
A resident told police that the minor had stayed at the house of a man in the barangay for two nights. She said she was surprised to learn through social media posts that the girl had been reported missing while staying in their area. It was also observed that the teenager now has permanent tattoos on her body, allegedly given by a man she met through Messenger.
‘Inconsistencies’
In an interview, Emalyn’s father disclosed that his daughter was accompanied not only by one man but by two others as well.
The three men were invited for questioning by the Ubay Municipal Police Station. However, they were later released after investigators found insufficient grounds to file charges.
According to the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) of the Ubay police, the minor did not execute any statement alleging abuse against the men.
Investigators also noted inconsistencies in her statements during questioning.
The three men claimed they had planned to send the girl home and even offered her fare, but she allegedly refused to return to her family. They also addressed the issue of the tattoos, saying these were done at the girl’s request as a “birthday gift.”
Despite the family’s intention to file charges against the men, residents of Barangay Pasanan, Ubay, no case was pursued due to the minor’s refusal to provide a formal complaint.
Police records further revealed that this was not the first time the teenager had left home without informing her family.
Emalyn safely returned to her residence in Barangay Tapon at around 7 p.m. on Thursday, accompanied by her parents.
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.
