Catherine Camilon allegedly hurt by cop prior to her disappearance, CIDG says

Catherine Camilon was allegedly hurt by the cop who was tagged as one of the suspects before she went missing, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said on Tuesday.

Citing Camilon’s sister Chin-Chin, CIDG 4A chief Police Colonel Jacinto Malinao Jr. said Police Major Allan de Castro supposedly hurt the beauty queen when she told the cop’s wife that he had an affair.

“Sa statement ng kapatid ni Cath na si Chin, nasabi sa kaniya na nasaktan minsan, nasaktan ni Major si Cath physically dahil sa kalasingan at nagsabi daw si Cath sa misis ni Major na meron itong babae,” Malinao told GMA News Online in a message.

(Based on the statement of Cath’s sister, Chin, she was told that the police major physically hurt Cath because he was drunk and Cath told the wife of the police major about an affair.)

Kidnapping and serious illegal detention complaints have been filed against De Castro, his driver and bodyguard Jeffrey Magpantay, and two John Does over the beauty queen's disappearance.

According to the CIDG, there was information that Camilon was planning to break up with De Castro and this might be the reason why the two allegedly met on the day the beauty queen disappeared.

However, Malinao said De Castro did not admit anything about the supposed meet-up and claimed that he was at the Batangas Police Provincial Office (PPO) on the night Camilon went missing.

“Wala po siyang inamin tungkol sa tatagpuin sana ni Cath noong gabi na nawala siya. Nasa kampo lang po siya noong time na iyon. Base sa statement niya sa amin, nasa kampo lang siya ng Batangas PPO,” he said.

(He did not admit anything about a meet-up with Cath on the night she went missing. He was just at the camp at that time. Based on the statement he provided us, he was just at Batangas PPO.)

Investigators are now looking at a love angle as a possible motive for the crime.

Recently, authorities found possible blood samples and hair strands from an SUV that has been linked to the disappearance of the beauty queen.

The vehicle was found abandoned in Batangas City. Police, meanwhile, said the registered owner of the vehicle has been identified.

Two witnesses recently came forward saying they saw Camilon bloodied while being transferred from her car to this SUV on October 12.

They said they saw one of the persons of interest who pointed a gun at them.

"Through the rogue's gallery of the CIDG, they positively identified and they were very certain about it," CIDG chief Police Major General Romeo Caramat Jr. earlier said.

DNA samples

In a separate phone interview with reporters, Malinao said the family deferred providing DNA samples which will be used to determine if the hair strands and blood found in the SUV belong to Camilon.

“Naiintidihan naman natin ang feelings ng family. But as of now, ongoing po ang pag-uusap ng CIDG Batangas doon sa family and hopefully within the day makakuha na po tayo,” he said.

(We understand the feelings of the family. But as of now, the talks of CIDG Batangas to the family are still ongoing and hopefully we will obtain their DNA samples within the day.)

Asked about any proof of life for Camilon, Malinao said, realistically, they were expecting for the worst considering that the beauty queen has been missing since October 12.

“Considering po na October 12 po iyong last date na nakita siyang buhay, we are still hoping for the best, and realistically speaking, we are expecting for the worst,” he said.

(Considering that October 12 was the last date she was seen, we are still hoping for the best, and realistically speaking, we are expecting for the worst.)

Reward

The reward for information on Camilon's location is currently at P250,000, with the funds coming from Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, and the business sector.

According to authorities, a close friend of Camilon reached out to her sister, Chin-chin, and told her of the alleged relationship between Camilon and De Castro.

The police officer also allegedly gave Camilon the vehicle she was seen in when she left her house.

De Castro has been temporarily relieved from his post pending results of the investigation. He was also placed under the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit.

Meanwhile, the former owner of Camilon’s vehicle, who allegedly used a fake address on the deed of sale of the car, is facing carnapping and estafa complaints.

According to the police, they are suspecting that the former owner is involved in a carnapping group.

On October 16, Chin-chin took to social media to ask netizens for help in locating her sister. Five days after her 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 she did not appear to be alone.

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