‘Lack of new information in Luhk sisters’ case’

The lack of new information is the challenge that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is facing regarding the investigation into the disappearance of sisters Maleina and Faloma Q. Luhk 13 years ago, according to the FBI on Friday.

In response to Saipan Tribune’s inquiry, Joy van der Voort, who is the FBI-Honolulu Division acting public affairs/community outreach specialist, said they can confirm that the Luhk sisters’ case is still open and they continue to actively pursue any leads they may receive.

“We urge the public to contact us with any information they may have at FBI Saipan Tip Line at (670) 322-6934 or (800) CALL-FBI (225-5324),” van der Voort said.

On Saturday, marked the 13th year when the Luhk sisters mysteriously disappeared while waiting for a school bus near their residence in As Teo, yet there’s still no trace of their whereabouts.

Maleina and Faloma were 9 and 10 years old when they were reportedly last seen at a bus stop in the morning of May 25, 2011. Maleina would have been 22 years old and Faloma 23 now.

Van der Voort said the cash reward for any information that will lead to the sisters’ location is still $25,000.

Van der Voort said anyone can find the age progression images of Maleina and Faloma Luhk on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1172939/2).

Meanwhile, Elbert Quitugua, the Luhk sisters’ grandfather, told Saipan Tribune yesterday he installed last Thursday at 6pm a new makeshift candle box on the spot in As Teo Drive corner Chalan Santa Lourdes, where his granddaughters were last seen.

When Saipan Tribune visited the spot Wednesday, the original makeshift candle box/shrine was no longer there.

Quitugua said yesterday that he replaced the broken glass on the old box, ordered a new one, and picked it up and installed it only last Thursday.

The FBI and the Department of Public Safety have been working together for the past decade now to find the missing sisters.

The sisters’ disappearance triggered an island-wide search for a month by federal and local enforcement agencies. Many volunteers in the community participated in the search.