PHILIPPINE National Police Chief, Police General Guillermo Eleazar directed the Sta. Rosa City Police to interview the parents of former college student and Kabataan Partylist Laguna chapter coordinator Kemuel Ian Cometa to validate claims that he has been missing for over a week.

Karapatan Timog Katagalugan alleged that Cometa, an alumnus of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, is being detained by the police after state forces raided a house in Barangay Macabling, Sta. Rosa City on May 21, 2021.

The Sta. Rosa City Police has denied the claim.

“We need to talk to the parents of Kemuel and establish if he is really missing and, if verified, find leads to his possible whereabouts. We are ready to help in the search if he really has been missing for more than a week,” Eleazar said.

“Bilang ama, gugustuhin ko rin na ligtas sa lahat ng oras ang aking mga anak at hindi ako mapapakali hangga’t hindi ko ito nasisiguro. Masakit ito para sa aming mga magulang,” he added.

Eleazar urged those claiming that Cometa was in police custody to present evidence supporting the serious allegation.

“Base sa natanggap nating report mula sa local police, wala silang nadatnan na Kemuel Ian Cometa sa raid na kanilang isinagawa noong May 21 at wala ring kabilang na Kemuel Ian Cometa sa mga subject ng kanilang operasyon,” he said.