SAIPAN — Governor David M. Apatang on Wednesday urged the public to exercise caution in sharing or drawing conclusions from a widely circulated video purportedly showing Faloma Luhk, saying the CNMI government has received no official verification of the footage and defers to the Federal Bureau of Investigation as lead agency.
“With regard to the alleged YouTube video that has recently surfaced claiming the reappearance of Faloma Luhk, we have not received any official verification at this time,” Apatang said in a statement. “My administration defers to the authority and expertise of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is the lead agency on this matter. We trust that all available information will be thoroughly assessed and verified through the appropriate investigative channels.”
The governor said he continues to respect and support the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Faloma and Maleina Luhk at the local and national levels.
“We remain mindful of the profound impact this matter has had on the family, loved ones, and the broader community, and we recognize the importance of allowing investigative agencies to carry out their work without interference or speculation,” he said.
Faloma and Maleina Luhk disappeared from Saipan in May 2011, and the case remains one of the CNMI’s most prominent unsolved disappearances.
“Until official findings are released by the responsible authorities, I encourage the public to exercise caution in sharing or drawing conclusions from unverified information and to allow investigators the space necessary to conduct their work,” Apatang said.