Police and Navy investigators are again asking for the public's help in locating a 37-year-old Navy enlisted man and his two sons, who have been missing since July 12. Father, 2 sons still missing
By Leila Fujimori
lfujimori@starbulletin.comLaw enforcement officials say that they have received no tips since issuing a July 18 missing persons' bulletin.
"It's unusual," said Detective Phil Camero of the Honolulu Police Department's Missing Persons Detail. "Usually in cases like this we hear some information about the car or a possible sighting."
No one has seen or heard from Chief Petty Officer Victorio A. Santiago, or his sons Noel, 11, and Daniel, 7, who were last seen shortly before 1 a.m. July 12 leaving their Pearl Harbor home, Camero said.
Santiago drove a rented light-green, four-door 2000 Daewoo Leganza, license number JGS-405 when he left Pearl Harbor.
The Navy began an immediate investigation after the father and sons were reported missing by Santiago's wife, Anna, and shared the information with local and federal law enforcement, said Navy spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Jane Campbell. The first public notice, however, was made six days later with the HPD press release.
Santiago's wife, who has cooperated with authorities, was initially scheduled to appear at an HPD press conference yesterday afternoon.
"It was decided it was in her best that she not (participate)," Camero said. "Words cannot express how upset and concerned she is for her children."
Police said they are classifying this as a missing persons case, not a custody dispute.
Special Agent Bruce Warshawsky of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service would not comment on whether the couple had had domestic disputes.
"She's very upset and she just wants to know if her boys are OK and if her husband's OK," Warshawsky said.
Santiago, who is from the Philippines, was on leave July 12 and was supposed to have returned to work July 19, Warshawsky said.
"We've looked into the possibility of Mr. Santiago leaving and going outside, not only the state, but the country," Camero said. "On those searches, we came out negative."
Investigators have contacted and interviewed co-workers and acquaintances. Their investigation has extended to the neighbor islands and the Philippines.
Santiago has had an untarnished career in the Navy, has been stationed in Hawaii since the 1990s, and was previously stationed in Washington state, said Warshawsky.
"He's a solid performer, basically what we'd refer to as a 5-0 sailor," said Warshawsky. "The command thought very highly of him, and so did his co-workers."
He had no criminal history, Camero said.
Santiago is 5-feet-8, 150 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Noel is 4-feet-6, 83 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Daniel is 4-feet-3, 65 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information on the missing family members is asked to call Honolulu police at 529-3115 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, or e-mail the Missing Persons Detail at mpoahu@hgea.org.