Detective Simeon Manacop made this assurance to Matubis’ wife, Malou, who arrived here in September to help find her husband.
“We’re not giving up,” Manacop said.
He said the police will always coordinate with the Philippine Consulate General Office in the CNMI to update the Matubis family about the case.
Mrs. Matubis is scheduled to leave Saipan tomorrow to attend to her two children in the Philippines.
“It would be a sad Christmas for us without Alex,” she said.
But she is not losing hope. “I believe that Alex is still alive because I just feel it,” she added.
Yesterday, after securing authorization from the police, Mrs. Matubis was able to retrieve all the personal effects of her husband that were left at the housing unit provided by his employer.
Alex Matubis worked as a draftsman and surveyor of Castro and Associates for almost 22 years.
He is also a member of the Marianas Association of Filipino Engineers and Architects.
The United Workers Movement, NMI recently conducted a fundraising activity for the airfare of Mrs. Matubis.
Irene N. Tantiado, the group’s president, said they were able to collect $860 in addition to the $389 raised by MAFEA.
Tantiado said they appreciate the continuing police investigation, but “I am disappointed at how the employer of Alex responded to the need of the Matubis family.”
The employer, she said, has not communicated with Mrs. Matubis regarding the unpaid wages of her husband.
“Not a single penny was given to Malou — if they treated Alex as member of their family, they should have shown that to Malou,” Tantiado said.
She said there is still a $1,000 reward from CNMI Crime Stoppers for anyone who has information about the whereabouts of Alex Matubis.
Mrs. Matubis expressed her gratitude to those who supported the fundraising campaign: Pacific Telecommunications Inc., Hyatt Regency, Duty Free Shop, Pacific Islands Club, Megabyte, Micronesian Broker (CNMI) Inc., National Office Supply, McDonald’s, KFC, Century Insurance Co. Ltd., MAFEA, Pacific Digital Media, Mega Zone, Shell, Ystlo Beauty Saloon and Joe Bar and Grill.
