Reporting Missing Persons

Objectives

1 2 2 3 4
Develop Explain salient Demonstrate
Define Missing understanding information proper process
Persons in the process found in the of interviewing
of reporting missing relatives of
missing persons form; victim.
persons; and
Missing Person

Shall refer to any reported person

residing, working, studying or
sojourning in a community which
is directly affected by a disaster,
nowhere to be found thereafter and
has not been heard of since the
disaster.
 Importance of Reporting Missing Person

• To inform or appraise the next-

of-kin of the missing person.
• To reduce the stress / anxiety
experienced by affected
communities.
• To defuse rumors and validate
received information.
 Elements of Reporting Missing Person

• Actors involved in
Reporting Missing
Person
• Process Flow of
Reporting Missing
Person
• Missing Persons
Form
Actors Involved in Reporting Missing Person
• The PNP shall verify the
identity of the reported missing
persons from the records of its
Warrant Section.
• The DSWD shall also verify the
reported missing persons from
its records of
Centers/Residential Care
Facilities.
• The PNP shall immediately
inform the incident commander
to initiates active search and
rescue / retrieval and provides
feedback.
• The LSWDO shall certify that
the missing person is affected
by the disaster.
• P/C/MSWDO to establish the
local Social Welfare Inquiry
Desks.
• P/C/MSWDO to ensure
available or alternative
sources of information.
• The DSWD, DOH, and PRC,
shall provide technical and
resource augmentation.
• DOH shall ensure that the
interventions are in
accordance with IASC
standards and guidelines.
 WHAT FORM TO USE FOR INITIAL INTERVIEW
OF NEXT-OF-KIN (NOK)?

MISSING PERSON
INFORMATION FORM

A 5-page form adopted from the

International Committee of the
Red Cross Management of the
Dead Bodies and Disasters: A
Field Manual for First
Responders, 2nd Edition

Page 1 of 5
 WHAT FORM TO USE FOR INITIAL INTERVIEW
OF NEXT-OF-KIN (NOK)?

MISSING PERSON INFORMATION

FORM

A 5-page form adopted from the

International Committee of the Red
Cross Management of the Dead
Bodies and Disasters: A Field
Manual for First Responders, 2nd
Edition

Page 2, 3, 4, and 5 of 5
INTERPOL AM Form (colored yellow)
 Module Exercise
Refer to the guide for the instructions
 Interview Guidelines

Place for interview:

• Far from morgue

• Home of NOK
• Not around the public and/or
media
• Private and comfortable
surroundings

Source: DVI Guide: INTERPOL 2014 (Proposed Amendments: March 2014)

 Interview Guidelines

At interview site:

• Team should arrive ON TIME

• Introduction of each team
member to the relatives and
friends present
• Ensure willingness of NOKs /
friends to actively participate in
the interview
Source: DVI Guide: INTERPOL 2014 (Proposed Amendments: March
2014)
 Interview Guidelines

• Always refer the missing person/

potential victim in the present
tense
• Ask General rather than specific
(personal and intimate) questions
• No question should be ignored
• No leading questions to be asked
• Visits should be kept to a
minimum
Source: DVI Guide: INTERPOL 2014 (Proposed Amendments: March
2014)
 Interview Guidelines

✔ Be a good listener
✔ Stay calm
✔ Do not be intimidating
✔ Use non-condemning tone of voice
✔ Choose appropriate words
✔ TIME OUT for the Interviewer must
also be given
✔ How to handle ANGRY bereaved
relatives
Source: DVI Guide: INTERPOL 2014 (Proposed Amendments: March
2014)
 Objectives

1 2 2 3 4
Develop
understanding in Explain salient
Define Missing information Demonstrate
Persons the process of
found in the proper process
reporting
of interviewing
missing missing
relatives of
persons; persons form; victim.
and
Thank you!