Mrs Gotingco, 56, works at Tower Insurance Ltd in Auckland's Fanshawe St and spoke to her adult son at 6.21pm yesterday to say she was leaving work about 7pm and would catch a bus home.
Her son then went to work.
Mrs Gotingco's adult daughter, who works late shifts, arrived home about 3.15am and noticed her mother was not home as expected. She contacted her two brothers and they notified police about their concerns about 3.30am.
Detective Senior Sergeant Stan Brown today said police had serious concerns for Mrs Gotingco.
He said her daughter tracked Mrs Gotingco's mobile phone via its inbuilt locater system, and found it was polling a short distance from their home on Salisbury Rd, Birkdale.
She went along the road where she found it, along with some more of her mother's personal items, and immediately notified police about 5.40am.
Mr Brown said the circumstances of Mrs Gotingco's disappearance and the location of some of her belongings give rise to serious concerns for her safety.
"Since early this morning, staff had been in Salisbury [Road] and the surrounding area searching for clues as to why Blessie never made it home last night," he said.
"Our inquiries with Birkenhead Transport, the bus company she would have used if she actually caught the bus, are continuing and we hope to have confirmation of her journey later this afternoon. Her phone and other items were found on the roadside about 400 metres away from what is most likely to have been her bus stop on Birkdale Rd."
Mr Brown said he wanted to hear from passengers who travelled on those buses -- either a number 973 or a 974 bus -- last night, at any point along its route from Fanshawe St to Birkdale Rd.
"We obviously want to hear of any sightings of Blessie since 7pm last evening. She is of medium to slim build, about 5'3" tall and has dark shoulder-length hair. She was last seen wearing a white top and and light coloured trousers."
Anyone with information about Blesilda Gotingco should call Waitemata CIB on 09 213 7890 [must dial the 09].
Anonymous information can go to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
