Tips fail to locate missing sailor and sons

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Honolulu police believe the case of a missing Pearl Harbor sailor and his two children who were last seen on July 12 may be one of "custodial interference."

Navy Chief Petty Officer Victorio Santiago and his two sons were last seen July 12.

Neal Santiago is 11.

Daniel Santiago is 7.

Authorities, who said they are worried about the safety of the children and wondered why Santiago has not been in touch with anyone, issued an appeal Friday for the public's assistance in finding them after a similar request on July 18 turned up empty. Police earlier said they had not ruled out foul play.

A few tips have been received since Friday.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Honolulu Police Department's missing persons detail have been following up on reported sightings at Ala Moana Center, Pearlridge Center and the North Shore and a couple of possible sightings on Maui, said Lt. Bill Kato of the police homicide detail.

Kato said callers reported seeing the man and his children, but no caller has positively identified them or told where they are staying.

Kato said he believes that the case may be "custodial interference" because there was "some kind of argument at the home" followed by Santiago's taking the children.

"He shows up, there's an argument, he leaves with the kids," Kato said.

"That would be my first inclination ... , that something like that would be more dealing with a domestic situation."

Kato said he doubted that someone abducted Santiago and his two children. If that happened, police would have heard about it by now, he said.

Bruce Warshawsky, a special agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, earlier said the case is "not a custody battle," but declined to discuss the couple's personal relationship, only to say that Santiago was a "loving and caring father" and that his wife was a "loving and caring mother."

Santiago was on leave and was scheduled to return to work on July 19, said Lt. Cmdr. Jane Campbell, Navy spokeswoman.

Authorities have checked airport passenger lists to determine whether Santiago has left O'ahu. Authorities also have looked for clues on the Neighbor Islands as well as outside the United States because the Santiagos are from the Philippines.

Warshawsky said authorities have interviewed most of Santiago's known family acquaintances, friends and associates, but no one has seen or heard from him. Santiago did not have any family in Hawai'i, Warshawsky said.

Santiago is 5 feet 8 and 150 pounds; Neal is 4 feet 6 inch and 83 pounds; Daniel is 4 feet 3 and 65 pounds. All three of them have black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Honolulu Police Department at 529-3115 or file an anonymous report with CrimeStoppers 955-8300, or *CRIME on a cellular phone.