Hong Kong police issued an urgent public appeal Friday for information on two Filipino women who vanished in the bustling Tsuen Wan district, last seen wandering a busy roadside more than a week ago.
The women, both domestic workers in their 20s and 30s, were reported missing after disappearing from Yeung Uk Road on the afternoon of Oct. 4. Authorities received the first report on Oct. 6 for 33-year-old Tibay Aleli-Perez, followed by a second on Oct. 8 for 24-year-old Pabuaya Imee-Mahilum.
“Time is of the essence in these cases, and we’re counting on the community to come forward with any leads,” said a spokesperson for the Hong Kong Island Regional Missing Persons Unit.
Pabuaya, the younger of the pair, stands about 1.55 meters (5 feet 1 inch) tall and weighs around 50 kilograms (110 pounds), with a medium build. She has a round face, yellowish complexion and short brown hair. Surveillance footage and witness accounts place her last wearing a dark blue denim top, matching shorts and white sneakers — an outfit that might blend into the weekend crowds of shoppers and commuters in Tsuen Wan.
Her companion, Tibay, is slightly taller at 1.58 meters (5 feet 2 inches), also weighing about 50 kilograms but with a thinner frame. She shares a round face and yellowish complexion but sports long black hair. She was dressed in a light blue long-sleeved top, light blue denim trousers and white shoes when last spotted.
The disappearances have rattled the tight-knit Filipino community in Hong Kong, home to tens of thousands of migrant workers who often gather in public spaces on days off. Friends and colleagues described the women as reliable and outgoing, with no immediate signs of foul play but growing fears as days turned into a week without contact.
Police have canvassed the area, reviewed CCTV footage and issued posters across social media and local outlets. Investigators believe the women may have been together at the time, possibly heading toward nearby markets or transport hubs.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Regional Missing Persons Unit at 2860 1040 or 9886 0034, email rmpu-hki@police.gov.hk, or visit the nearest police station. Tips can be submitted anonymously.
