KAREN Baloney lined up so a forensics team could take a DNA sample meant to help identify people who went missing in Cebu City during the onslaught of typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi).
The 30-year-old resident of Barangay Bacayan did not know she was among six people officially listed as missing.
Baloney was reported missing by her family, who could not find her after the storm. Unaware that a police report had been filed to list her as missing, she continued with her daily chores until she found herself participating in a process meant to identify her.
Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the committee on disaster risk reduction and management, confirmed on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, that Baloney was the person earlier reported missing but later found alive.
Tumulak said Baloney was unaware she had been reported missing because she lives separately from her family. After the blotter was filed, her relatives were not immediately informed that she had already returned home.
“It is very important to have complete files of the next of kin. If we find someone, they can be immediately identified through DNA,” he said in Cebuano.
Authorities later found that Baloney had evacuated during the typhoon and returned to her home a week later, unaware that her name had remained on the City’s missing persons list.
Search continues
Despite her being found safe, the City’s search and retrieval operations continue. Tumulak said the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) will not halt efforts unless requested by the families.
The five residents still missing include two from Bacayan and one each from Binaliw, Paril and Lusaran.
These barangays were among those severely affected by typhoon Tino, which struck Cebu on Nov. 4 and triggered flash floods, landslides and widespread damage.
Search teams have been deployed daily, following river flows, debris paths and eyewitness reports. They have been clearing debris, retrieving objects from flood-hit areas and using K9 units to find possible bodies.
Authorities said foul odors that earlier affected search areas have diminished following the removal of dead animals and debris.
“We continue our support and have coordinated with Compostela and Liloan. Their search operations are ongoing as well,” Tumulak said.
He said river systems and mountain routes might have carried flood victims into neighboring towns.
Profiling efforts
The City has also intensified efforts to identify recovered bodies through DNA sampling. Department of the Interior and Local Government Cebu City Director Jonah Pino leads the profiling initiative, with support from the Philippine National Police, City Health Department and the CDRRMO.
DNA samples have already been collected from the families of the five missing individuals.
Tumulak recalled cases where identification relied solely on clothing or personal belongings.
A body recovered along the Cotcot River on Nov. 27 is still waiting for formal identification through DNA testing.
Search operations continue with the families’ support as they wait for updates. Tumulak said the emotional burden on the families remains heavy.
“We know the agony and pain families are going through. If we stop the search, it is unfair to them,” he said.
Teams continue to widen their coverage across river networks, mountain trails and debris-filled areas, coordinating with barangays, volunteers and neighboring towns.
Typhoon Tino displaced many residents, damaged homes and disrupted livelihoods in affected areas.
Tumulak said the City Government remains committed to completing the search for all missing residents as long as there is hope.
Authorities urged the public to report any possible sightings or information to barangay offices or the CDRRMO.
Baloney’s unexpected return gave officials and search teams a rare light moment in the middle of a difficult operation.
“Our hearts go out to all affected families. We will not rest until every missing resident is accounted for,” Tumulak said. / CAV