Person of interest mum about Catherine Camilon’s disappearance —police

The police officer tagged as a person of interest in the disappearance of beauty queen Catherine Camilon in Lemery, Batangas has refused to speak about the matter, the Police Regional Office 4A (PRO 4A) said on Friday.

PRO 4A Public Information Office chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Chitadel Gaoiran said the cop is still under police custody.

“Wala pa po siyang masyadong sinasabi. Wala po siyang inaamin o dine-deny about sa pagkawala ni Catherine (He is not saying much. He did not admit nor deny anything about the disappearance of Catherine,” Gaoiran said in a message.

According to Gaoiran, investigators continue to gather information and search for the missing beauty queen.

The reward for the information on the location of Camilon is currently P250,000, which came from Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste, a business sector in the region, and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

According to the police, a close friend of Camilon reached out to her sister, Chin-chin, and told her of the alleged relationship between the missing beauty queen and the cop.

The police officer was reportedly the person Camilon was supposed to meet on the day of her disappearance. He also allegedly gave her the vehicle she was seen in as she left her house.

The PRO4A said the police officer in question has been temporarily relieved from his post pending results of the investigation. He was also placed under the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit while waiting for the approval of the Commission on Elections.

During the election period, Gaoiran said all movements in the police organization should be approved by the Comelec as stated in the poll body's resolution.

On October 16, Camilon's sister, Chin-chin, took to social media to ask netizens for help in locating her sister. Five days after Chin-chin’s social media post, Catherine was declared a "missing person."

Based on CCTV footage captured on October 12, Camilon’s vehicle was seen passing some towns in Batangas. Police said Camilon did not appear to be alone.

Catherine represented Tuy, Batangas in the Miss Grand Philippines 2023 pageant. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News