Ched Rick Gatchalian

Mark Arjay Reyes and Sherra De Juan. Photo courtesy of Mark Arjay Reyes

Article (news)

Police cite incomplete disclosure of fiancé as challenge in missing bride-to-be probe

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><em><strong>TRIGGER WARNING: </strong>This report contains references to emotional distress and possible suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, help is available. You may contact the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) Crisis Hotline at 1553 (landline), or 0917-899-8727 and 0919-057-1553 (mobile).</em></div><div> </div><p>MANILA – The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has lamented what it described as the non-full disclosure of information by Mark Arjay Reyes, fiancé of the missing bride-to-be Sherra De Juan, which authorities said slowed down the investigation.</p><p>QCPD Director Police Col. Randy Glenn Silvio said Reyes appeared reserved during interviews, with some crucial information only surfacing later during the forensic examination of message exchanges retrieved from De Juan’s cellphone.</p><p>“Si Mark talaga ay… medyo ’pag ininterview mo, nagpa-process muna siya bago niya sasabihin ’yong sagot niya. So, sana kung no’ng umpisa pa, mabilis siyang nagre-report o nire-report lahat ng pangyayari, madali tayong nakapag-deploy o na-assess natin ’yong situation kung saan tayo magsisimula, kung saan ’yong ipa-follow-up natin, kung sino ’yong dapat nating kausapin,” Silvio said.</p><p>(Mark tends to process things first before answering during interviews. Ideally, if from the start he had reported everything quickly, we could have deployed sooner and assessed where to begin, what to follow up on, and who we should talk to.)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/20/police-cite-possible-emotional-financial-distress-in-missing-bride-case-2020">Police cite possible emotional, financial distress in missing bride-to-be based on digital forensics</a></div><p>Silvio also cited inconsistencies in Reyes’ earlier statements, particularly when he said they had no personal or financial problems — claims that forensic findings later contradicted</p><p>The police director shared with ABS-CBN News several messages sent by Reyes to De Juan, including one dated October 30, as the couple discussed unwinding somewhere amid De Juan’s emotional stress.</p><p>“Kung may arep lang Ako di na ko magpapaalam Sayo e Derecho alis na Lang e,” Reyes told De Juan. Arep refers to “pera” or “money.”</p><p>(If I only had money, I wouldn’t even ask permission—I would just leave right away.)</p><p>“Stressed out din AKo Kasi Wala Akong ka arep arep.”</p><p>(I’m also stressed out because I don’t have any money.)</p><p>“Kung may arep lang talaga ko. Walang paalam paalam na magaganap.”</p><p>(If I really had money, there would be no asking for permission.)</p><p>The two also had an argument over wedding funds.</p><p>“Wala din naman mie nadagdag sa wedding funds. Kasalanan ko den,” Reyes said.</p><p>(I was not also able to add to the wedding funds. It’s also my fault.)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/19/10-days-missing-qcpd-hopeful-bride-to-be-still-alive-1410">10 days missing: Police hopeful bride-to-be still alive</a></div><p>Silvio said the drugs De Juan searched for in her online browsing history appeared to be linked to her emotional distress, and not for acidity, as Reyes earlier suggested.</p><p>“Rest assured po na wala po tayong dinadagdag o binabawas dito sa ating pag-iimbestiga. Nagbe-base po tayo sa evidence at hand at saka ’yong mga na-acquire natin na mga testimonies ng mga kaibigan at malapit sa kanya,” Silvio said.</p><p>(Rest assured, we are not adding or removing anything in our investigation. We are basing this on the evidence at hand and on testimonies gathered from her friends and those close to her.)</p><p>Police earlier identified Reyes as among the persons of interest (POIs) or individuals who may have information relevant to the investigation.</p><div> <span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CsZ_h1ZgoWw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>MARK ADMITS</strong></div><p>Reyes said he hopes police will not settle solely on the angle of personal problems leading to De Juan’s disappearance and will continue pursuing steps to locate her.</p><p>“Sige po, tatanggapin na namin na possible po na nagkaroon nga po ng financial stress or emotional stress po ’yong girlfriend ko, ’yong fiancé ko. Ang gusto lang talaga namin malaman po kung ano po ’yong susunod na steps para makita po siya,” Reyes told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>(We accept that it’s possible my girlfriend, my fiancée, experienced financial or emotional stress. What we really want to know is the next steps so we can find her.)</p><p>Reyes and De Juan had been a couple for ten years.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/15/fianc-rejects-claims-that-partner-ran-away-from-their-wedding-2009">Fiancé rejects claims that partner ran away from their wedding</a></div><p>They were supposed to tie the knot on December 14, but De Juan went missing on December 10 after leaving for a mall to buy the shoes she planned to wear at the wedding. She left her cellphone at home while it was charging</p><p>“Mahal, kung nakikinig ka ngayon—hiling lang namin as family, ako personally—bumalik ka na o kung nasaan ka man, magparamdam ka sa akin, sa amin, especially sa mama’t papa mo. Sa papa mo din kasi magbi-birthday na siya sa December 25 din, kasabay sa Pasko. ’Yon lang naman ang hiling namin ngayong Pasko, makasama ka namin, mabuo tayo,” Reyes said.</p><p>(My love, if you’re listening right now—our only wish as a family, and personally for me—is for you to come back, or wherever you are, please let us know. Especially your mom and dad. Your father’s birthday is also on December 25, on Christmas Day. That’s all we wish for this Christmas—to be with you, to be complete again.)</p><div> </div><div><strong>INTENSIFIED SEARCH</strong></div><p>Silvio said investigators have intensified efforts to locate De Juan.</p><p>He said the QCPD has maximized the deployment of follow-up and intelligence operatives, conducted continuous verification of information, maintained close coordination with concerned police units, and carried out thorough validation of leads from various sources.</p><p>Silvio emphasized that the district remains fully committed to resolving the case, with all available resources being utilized to determine De Juan’s whereabouts and ensure her safety and well-being.</p><p>The QCPD also continues to coordinate with other law enforcement agencies to strengthen the investigation.</p><p>“Kailangan ituloy namin kasi po kailangan din naming matulungan ’yong pamilya at naging sensational na po siya. Kung hindi gagalaw ang ating kapulisan, baka naman ma-criticize… at nag-report siya sa ating kapulisan, kailangan nating i-extend ang ating best services para po mahanap at tuloy-tuloy ’yong imbestiga,” Silvio said.</p><p>(We need to continue because we also need to help the family, and the case has become sensational. If the police do not act, we may be criticized. Since it was reported to the police, we must extend our best services to find her and continue the investigation.)</p>

<p>The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has lamented what it described as the non-full disclosure of information by Mark Arjay Reyes, fiancé of the missing bride-to-be Sherra De Juan, which authorities said slowed down the investigation.</p>

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has lamented what it described as the non-full disclosure of information by Mark Arjay Reyes, fiancé of the missing bride-to-be Sherra De Juan, which authorities said slowed down the investigation.