DNA results from car in Catherine Camilon case out next week -PNP

The results of the DNA test on the hair and blood samples found in an abandoned vehicle as well as the samples from the family of missing beauty queen Catherine Camilon will be out next week, police said Friday.

“As per Forensic Group, by next week na daw po siguro iyong result ng DNA examination relating to Camilon case,” Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo told GMA News Online in a message.

(As per Forensic Group, the result of the DNA examination relating to Camilon case may be released by next week.)

PNP Forensic Group public information officer Police Major Rodrigo Sotero Jr. said the examination is still ongoing.

“Ongoing pa po ang examination. Hindi pa po makapagbigay ng definite date ang examiner, pero baka daw po next week,” he told GMA News Online in a separate message.

(The examination is ongoing. The examiner cannot give a definite date but maybe it would be next.)

Fajardo said a match between the samples found in the abandoned vehicle and Camilon’s family would strengthen the case against the current suspects.

Authorities found possible blood samples and hair strands from an SUV that was abandoned in Barangay Dumuclay, Batangas City. The vehicle has been linked to the disappearance of the beauty queen.

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

Kidnapping and serious illegal detention complaints have been filed against four suspects who have been identified as Police Major Allan de Castro, Jeffrey Magpantay, and two John Does.

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 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 a policeman.

De Castro was reportedly the person Camilon was supposed to meet on the day of her disappearance, which the cop has denied. He also allegedly gave her the vehicle she was seen in when she left her house

The police officer 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, Camilon 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.

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