Sisters’ case touches parents’ primal nerve

Although they live on the second floor of an apartment building, Gina Jin Reyes, 28, used to let her 8-year-old son play in the parking lot. That changed when sisters Faloma and Maleina Luhk disappeared seven weeks ago, seemingly into thin air.

With the sister’s mysterious disappearance now entering its 7th week, Reyes had to change the rules for her son, mainly for security purposes. She no longer allows her son to play on the ground floor unless she and other parents are there to watch them.

“If my son goes too far [from the house], I’m mad at him,” she said.

Her son and his 2-year-old brother already know that they should not talk or go with strangers but, according to Reyes, because of what happened to the Luhk sisters she had to remind her sons again about the rule.

Ella Sanchez said that even her 8-year-old daughter is very much aware about what had happened to 10-year-old Faloma and 9-year-old Maleina Luhk and understands why she is no longer allowed to ride her bicycle and walk alone outside the house.

The Luhk sisters’ case has touched a primal nerve among parents and news about their disappearance and the resulting investigation has gripped a community that has never seen the like before. Conjectures and speculations abound, fueled by the persistent lack of leads and information on what had happened to the girls.

Reyes said she has been monitoring the media and friends whether the sisters have been found. “We’re always curious about what happened to the girls,” she said.

If the girls indeed went missing as they were waiting for a school bus, Reyes said she is sure the sisters knew the person who took them. “They’re not 3 years old that when you give them candy, they would go,” she said.

Sanchez has also been regularly monitoring the news about the girls. Just like many others on island, she has also received many false rumors that the girls have already been found. The girls’ disappearance, she said, has been among the regular topics at their friends’ gathering.

For Joel, 42, the girls’ disappearance has had a big effect on him and his wife as they have three young children. He said it is scary because the motive behind the abduction is still unknown. He believes the person behind the abduction is probably a drug addict who has knowledge in law enforcement.

“Even the FBI has no lead,” he pointed out.

The case, he said, has been a regular topic at work and even during drinking session with friends.

Although he is a Chinese national, Gunbe Wu, 24, said he is worried for the Luhk sisters as well as the safety of Saipan, his home for two years now.

“To be honest I consider Saipan my second home,” said the young businessman. Wu has been regularly reading the newspapers for any developments on the search for the girls. Wu believes that something had already happened to the girls and that a possible motive could be revenge.

Since his four children are based in Guam, Billy Dela Cruz, 22, gas station cashier, has become very strict with his many nephews and nieces on island.

“Whenever my nephews and nieces are going somewhere, I would ask them many questions like where they are going and who’s with them,” he said.

Just like many others, Dela Cruz said he has received far too many false rumors that the girls have been found “here and there.” He criticized these people for “just playing around” and believes the girls are still alive.

He said the Luhk sisters’ case is always among the top discussions whenever he drinks with friends and relatives.

Elbert Quitugua, the grandfather of the girls, said he and the family are still appealing to the public for information and praying for the safe return of the children.