More volunteers join ‘Operation Hope’

More volunteers trooped to Kagman Community Center over the weekend to back up federal and local law enforcers in their “Operation Hope” to locate the missing sisters Faloma and Maleina, but there’s still no trace of the girls as of press time.

Department of Public Safety acting commissioner Ramon Mafnas said yesterday that although they are “depressed” now, they are still hoping to find the girls in what now has become the most massive search for a missing person ever conducted in CNMI history.

Mafnas also disclosed more details on one of the girls’ school backpacks that DPS and the FBI on Friday asked the community’s help for information.

He said the backpack’s right shoulder strap has the word “Faloma” while the left strap has the words “Quitugua Luhk.”

The backback is described as being dark purple with writing on both shoulder straps. The brand may be Jansport or similar.

“We continue to investigate. Both the FBI and the CNMI DPS continue to interview people. We are hoping for a sign that will lead to the discovery of the missing girls,” Mafnas said.

He said more FBI resources are coming in.

Mafnas said two groups of volunteers—one in the morning and the other in the afternoon—joined the search in the central and backside of the island yesterday.

“We go to areas that we carefully select,” he added.

DPS spokesman Jason Tarkong said that, on Saturday there were 54 volunteers in the morning and 47 in the afternoon.

Tarkong said yesterday, there were 55 volunteers in the morning and 46 others in the afternoon.

CNMI deputy marshal 3 Jess Santos and two other marshals were among the volunteers during the weekend.

Santos said the search on Saturday were in the villages of As Matuis, Achugau, Tanapag, and San Roque, while yesterday’s search involved Capital Hill, the Kingfisher Golf Links area, Chalan Piao, and Susupe Lake.

“It’s very hot. But people were cooperating,” Santos said, adding that the CNMI Marshal is in full support with the law enforcers until the girls are found.

The girls were reportedly last seen last May 25 at 6am as they were leaving their house in As Teo on their way to a bus stop. Police said witnesses spotted the sisters sitting across from the stop sign on a drainage cement slab around 6:10am. Police learned that the two missed their 6:30am bus.