MANILA — A priest of the Archdiocese of Palo in Leyte has been missing since December 23, with his whereabouts still unknown.

Reverend Father Edwin “Kutz” Caintoy, 55, was last seen on the morning of December 23 at the bus terminal near Robinsons North in Tacloban City, the Archdiocese of Palo said in a statement on Wednesday, December 24. He was wearing a white clerical polo shirt and carrying a sling bag.

According to the Babatngon Municipal Police Station on Thursday, December 25, Caintoy was first spotted around 9:08 a.m. traveling to Barangay 108 Tagpuro on an orange RUSI motorcycle driven by his sacristan, Janriel Pelapel. He later boarded a NORBATCO passenger bus with plate number GAW 7651, bound for Tacloban City, and reportedly alighted at the corner of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church along Quezon Boulevard.

CCTV footage from VSYS Department Store showed him walking toward Robinsons North Tacloban. Since then, he has not been seen or returned.

Reverend Father Gwen Lovelino Padagdag, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Palo, said authorities and church officials are coordinating efforts to locate Caintoy.

Those with information on his whereabouts have been urged to contact Padagdag at 0928-219-3275 or the Babatngon Municipal Police Station at 0998-598-6483.

“We earnestly ask the faithful to keep Fr. Caintoy in their prayers,” Padagdag said.

Caintoy serves as a priest at San Jose de Malibago Parish.