Ched Rick Gatchalian

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Missing priest may have been suffering depression: PNP

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- Authorities are probing the possibility that Father Edwin “Kutz” Caintoy, the parish priest of San Jose De Malibago Parish in Barangay Malibago, Babatngon, Leyte, may have been suffering from depression when he went missing.</p><p>Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño said Monday that investigators are examining three angles in the priest’s disappearance.</p><p>“‘Yung dalawa ngayon ay hindi pa nila ma-confirm maliban sa officially nilabas ng PRO-8 na ang tinitingnan nilang anggulo ay possibility nagkaroon ng depression ang nasabing pari kaugnay sa pagkawala ng tinatawag na adopted son doon sa Region 8 sa Leyte, sapagkat ito ay nasa kargo ng nasabing pari at bigla na lang nawala after magkaroon ng minor alitan,” Tuaño said.</p><p>Reports from Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) suggest that Caintoy&#x27;s adopted son traveled to Cavite. Investigators are considering that the priest could have left Leyte while continuing his search for his adopted son.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/12/27/pansamantalang-pari-itinalaga-muna-sa-san-jose-de-malibago-parish-sa-leyte-1424">Pansamantalang pari itinalaga sa San Jose De Malibago Parish sa Leyte habang hinahanap ang nawawalang pari</a></div><p>According to the timeline established by authorities, Caintoy was last seen on December 23, 2025, riding a motorcycle with his sacristan to Tagpuro, Tacloban.</p><p>Around 9:25 a.m., he boarded a passenger bus bound for Tacloban City.</p><p>Later, CCTV footage showed him walking toward a store in Barangay 91, Tacloban.</p><p>By 2 p.m., a choir member had reported him missing to Babatngon police.</p><p>Meanwhile, reports that the priest had been found were confirmed false by PRO-8, which urged the public not to spread unverified information.</p><p>Authorities continue their search for Caintoy and urge anyone with information to come forward.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/12/26/pari-sa-san-jose-de-malibago-parish-sa-leyte-ilang-araw-nang-nawawala-1609">Pari sa San Jose de Malibago Parish sa Leyte ilang araw nang nawawala</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><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/-Hf7a_m3nZ8?&amp;embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abs-cbn.com%2F&amp;source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Authorities are probing the possibility that Father Edwin “Kutz” Caintoy, the parish priest of San Jose De Malibago Parish in Barangay Malibago, Babatngon, Leyte, may have been suffering from depression when he went missing.</p>

Authorities are probing the possibility that Father Edwin “Kutz” Caintoy, the parish priest of San Jose De Malibago Parish in Barangay Malibago, Babatngon, Leyte, may have been suffering from depression when he went missing.

Missing priest may have been suffering from depression: PNP

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Missing priest may have been suffering from depression: PNP

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 29, 2025 03:35 PM PHT

|

Updated Dec 29, 2025 03:42 PM PHT

Read More:

Missing priest

Depression

PNP

Leyte

Investigation

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