Police examining other hair strands in Catherine Camilon case

Several hair strands not belonging to Catherine Camilon were collected from an abandoned SUV in Batangas, believed to be linked to the sudden disappearance of the Miss Grand Philippines 2023 candidate.

“Ilan lang po doon sa hair strand ang nag-match doon sa DNA profile sa nawawala nating biktima,” said Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo in Marisol Abdurahman's "24 Oras” report on Tuesday. 

(Some of the hair strands matched the DNA profile of the missing victim.)

On Monday, police said the hair strands and blood samples recovered from the abandoned vehicle matched the DNA profile of Camilon’s parents.

The PNP said this confirms that the bloodied victim witnesses allegedly saw being transferred by three men in the red SUV is the beauty queen, who has been reported missing since October 12.

“Possible po na doon sa tatlong lalaki po na nakita ng ating mga witness na naglipat doon sa duguang babae,” said Fajardo. 

(It may belong to the three men.)

The forensic examination of the recovered evidence is still ongoing. 

“Kailangan natin ng ibang standard na mapagkukumparahan po natin dito sa mga ibang ebidensya na na-rekober,” Fajardo added.

(We need another standard so we can compare the results of the examination with the recovered evidence.)

Kidnapping and serious illegal detention complaints were filed against Police Major Allan de Castro, his driver and bodyguard Jeffrey Magpantay, and two John Does over Camilon’s disappearance.

De Castro, who admitted having an “illicit relationship” with Camilon, reportedly hurt the beauty queen before she disappeared as she told the cop’s wife about their affair. 

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

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

De Castro has been temporarily relieved from his post pending the 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 in the deed of sale of the car, is facing carnapping and estafa complaints.

According to the police, they suspect 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. The police said she did not appear to be alone.

Catherine represented Tuy, Batangas, in the Miss Grand Philippines 2023 pageant. —Sundy Locus/VBL, GMA Integrated News