Kidnapping, illegal detention raps filed vs. suspects in Catherine Camilon's disappearance

Kidnapping and serious illegal detention complaints have been filed against four suspects in the disappearance of beauty queen Catherine Camilon, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday.

In a press conference, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said the suspects facing charges have been identified as Police Major Allan de Castor, Jeffrey Magpantay, and two John Does.

“Nakapag-refer na po sila ng kasong violation po ng particularly kidnapping and serious illegal detention diyan po sa Batangas Provincial Prosecutor Office against Major Allan de Castro, at isa pang nagngangalang Jeffrey Ariola Magpantay, at dalawang pa pong John Does,” she said.

(Complaints for the violation of kidnapping and serious illegal detention in Batangas Provincial Prosecutor Office against Police Major Allan de Castor, Jeffrey Magpantay, and two John Does.)

Fajardo said authorities also 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 in Barangay Dumuclay, Batangas City, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 4A said Friday.

Witnesses have claimed that the vehicle has been abandoned in the area since Thursday.

The vehicle was brought to the Batangas Provincial Police Office to undergo forensic tests, according to the police.

Fajardo 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 another vehicle on October 12.

The witnesses also said that they saw one of the persons of interest who pointed a gun at them. The gunman was said to be the personal driver of a second person of interest.

"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.

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

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.

The police earlier said that they are looking into two persons of interest in Camilon's disappearance, including a policeman and a former owner of the beauty queen's vehicle.

According to the authorities, 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 policeman.

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 when she left her house.

The policeman 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.

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. —KG/BM, GMA Integrated News