Priest from Archdiocese of Palo reported missing before Christmas

PALO, Leyte — A priest of the Archdiocese of Palo has been missing since two days before Christmas, leaving parishioners and church officials searching for answers about his whereabouts.

Reverend Father Edwin “Kutz” Caintoy, 55, was reported missing on Tuesday morning, 23 December 2025, after he failed to officiate the Misa de Gallo.

Initial reports that he had been seen in several locations — including Ormoc City, where he previously served as parish priest; Kananga, where he was allegedly visiting a sibling; the Redemptorist Church in Tacloban City; and Abuyog town, his place of origin — were later proven false following verification by friends and relatives.

A relative said repeated attempts to contact the priest through his mobile phone were unsuccessful, as the calls only rang without being answered.

Parish workers at San Jose de Malibago Parish in Babatngon town, where Father Caintoy serves as parish priest, said they contacted hospitals in Tacloban City to check if he had been admitted, but all inquiries yielded negative results.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the Archdiocese of Palo said Father Caintoy was last sighted at a bus terminal near Robinsons North in Tacloban City on Tuesday morning. He was reportedly wearing a white clerical polo shirt and carrying a sling bag.

The Archdiocese said it is coordinating closely with authorities in the search and appealed to the public for any information that may help locate the missing priest.

Meanwhile, the Leyte Police Provincial Office (LPPO) said on Thursday afternoon that it is conducting active validation and investigation into the reported disappearance, including circulating social media posts claiming that Father Caintoy has already been found, which remain unverified.

“The LPPO, in coordination with concerned police units, is actively pursuing all leads to determine the circumstances of the incident and locate Father Caintoy at the soonest possible time,” it said in a statement.

The LPPO also appealed to the public and the media “to refrain from spreading unverified or misleading information, as this may cause unnecessary alarm and hinder ongoing investigations.”