By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA
MANILA — A 25-year-old Filipina who went on vacation to Bali, Indonesia has been reported missing since Christmas, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported Wednesday.
Ella Balmaceda Paaño, a resort worker in Coron, left for Bali on December 22 and was supposed to have returned to the Philippines on December 28.
According to Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato, Paaño had been out of reach since December 25, with her last Facebook post dated December 24.
In a Facebook post, Paaño’s kin said she rented a black scooter with red stickers and registration number DK-5196-ABA from Dec. 22 to 28 in Denpasar and has not returned it since.
Paaño was staying in Ubud with a Russian female friend and checked in at a homestay from December 22 to 23.
On Dec. 24, she and her friend separated ways as planned.
“On the evening of 24th, Ella texted her Russian friend and explained that she wanted to drive around the island. She also sent another location close to Singaraja. We all lost contact with her on 25,” the status reads.
On Tuesday, her sisters travelled to Manila from Camarines Sur to request assistance from the agency in finding her.
The Philippine Embassy in Jakarta said it has already filed a report.
The DFA said any information on Paaño’s whereabouts can be relayed to her family at +63 908-142-7763 or +63 912-578-8021.
