Kiangan police reunite missing old man with Alzheimer’s to family

Ifugao, Philippines – An elderly man with Alzheimer’s disease from Nueva Ecija had been missing for 15 days until he was found by the Kiangan police and reunited him with his family this October 6.

Felix Dela Cruz from Malayantok, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija was declared missing in his hometown since September 20.

In an interview, Police Corporal Alfran Tobiagon of Kiangan Municipal Police Station narrated that around 9 o’clock on the evening of October 5, they received a call from a concerned citizen saying that a drunk man was sleeping at the waiting shed in Barangay Hucab.

When they went to the area to verify the report, they saw an elderly man who was sleeping and was shivering from cold. The old man was only covered with a thin blanket. They convinced the old man, who was later identified as Dela Cruz, to go with them to the police station to eat and take shelter.

Tobiagon described that they could hardly get information from Dela Cruz since he only remembers his first name and his son as ‘Pogi’. He said the elderly man could not remember where he was from either.

However, the police were able to get in touch with Dela Cruz’ son through the number found on his identification card.

“Basa basa na ‘yung ID niya, ‘yung number lang ang medyo makita kaya ayon ang tinawagan namin,” Tobiagon said, adding that it was only then they learned that the man has been missing for 15 days.

Dela Cruz was taken care of and accommodated overnight at the police station as they waited for his family to come and get him. The following day, his teary-eyed son arrived in Kiangan, and in spite of his condition, the man was still able to recognize his son.

“Sabi nung anak niya meron daw siyang Alzheimer’s disease kasi minsan nakakalimutan niya ‘yung pauwi, nakakalimutan niya ‘yung anak niya, nakakalimutan pangalan niya. Tsaka ‘yun daw ang sabi ng doctor sa kanila, may alzheimer’s siya,” Tobiagon added.

The same day, the elderly man was taken home by his son.

Meantime, Tobiagon said that helping the man is a part of their duty to serve and protect the people, “lahat po ng ginagawa namin, hindi lang po pang sarili, para sa bayan po lahat ‘yon at tsaka masaya kaming nagse-serbisyo sa kapwa natin.”

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