FBI offers $10K cash reward

With still no trace of the whereabouts of missing sisters Faloma and Maleina Luhk, the FBI offered yesterday a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the girls’ safe return or information that would lead to the successful prosecution of anyone responsible for their disappearance.

Steve L. Moore, the FBI resident supervisor in Guam, said the $10,000 reward is separate from the other cash rewards being offered by other donors.

“We also encourage anyone to call if they have information about the girls even if it does not seem important to them personally or if they have information that is not known to them firsthand,” Moore said in a news briefing held yesterday at the Kagman Community Center.

The NMI Crime Stoppers Program and IT&E have each offered a $1,000 cash reward for information leading to the recovery of 10-year-old Faloma and 9-year-old Maleina Luhk. The girls’ grandfather and custodian, Elbert Quitugua, had also recently disclosed that the family will soon announce a five-digit monetary reward to help locate his granddaughters.

Today, Wednesday, marks the 14th day since the girls disappeared as they were leaving their house in As Teo on their way to a bus stop.

Moore thanked the public for all the calls they have received so far and said the resolution of this matter could very well come through tips just like those they have received.

He also thanked the Department of Public Safety as well as other federal partners—Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals, and Homeland Security Investigations—“for their invaluable assistance to date.”

Acting DPS commissioner Ramon Mafnas said search teams are sent out everyday to “areas of interest” and that the FBI-CNMI investigation teams continue to interview people.

Acting governor Eloy S. Inos, who joined the news briefing, assured the girls’ family that the government will continue to look for the two. “This is a very unprecedented incident in our history. We ask your patience to allow us do our job. Let’s let them [local and federal law enforcers] do their job professionally.”

Inos gave credit to the hard work of DPS, Fire Division, Department of Corrections, and others, as well as the rapid response of federal partners.

“We’re very grateful for the speed in which the federal government responded to our request. And I just hope that sooner or later that we will be able to find some answers to this thing,” Inos said. “That the kids are still okay, that’s our hope,” Inos said.

He also thanked volunteers for joining the search and the private sector for donating food and drinks to the search teams.

Elbert Quitugua, who was also at the news briefing, thanked local and federal law enforcers, volunteers, the private sector, media, and all other persons that contributed to the search efforts.

Jermain Quitugua, the mother of Faloma and Maleina, was also at the briefing with the girls’ aunt, Anicia Tomokane.

After the briefing, Moore told reporters that they have several theories and are pursuing each one. It is for this reason, he said, that they need over 20 FBI special agents and support staff to help the investigation. He said they are working jointly with DPS such as when they are doing interviews, follow-ups, and pursuing leads.

“We pursue every lead and we’re pursuing every theory that could be out there,” he said.

Moore agreed that as more time passes, the riskier it is for the girls.

“So time is of the essence and that’s whey we are seeking the public’s help to provide us with any information they have that help us further this investigation,” he said.

Moore said they are still discussing whether to get trained dogs for the search since it involves logistics. “It is still an option,” he added.

Moore described the case as a very difficult investigation, especially when a lead becomes “a dead end.”

“Everybody is motivated. Everybody wants a happy ending to this,” he said.

He said the search or investigation takes 16 to 17 hours a day, not only for the FBI agents but also for DPS investigators.

As for the various rumors about the girls’ disappearance, Moore said the FBI wants to hear the rumors. “We want to hear any information so that we can determine whether or not it is something we can pursue,” he said.

When asked about Ruhtik R. Luhk, the girls’ father who now lives in Pohnpei, Moore said all members of the family are persons of interest until investigators determine otherwise.

“We’re trying to interview him. We’re trying to make contact with him,” he added.