Prime suspect in Catherine Camilon case a no-show at prelim probe

The policeman being tagged as the primary suspect in the disappearance of beauty queen Catherine Camilon did not show up at Tuesday's preliminary investigation on the case.

According to his legal counsel, Police Major Allan de Castro was not able to go to Batangas City Hall of Justice because he was suffering from fever, GMA Regional TV Balitang Southern Tagalog’s Denise Abante reported on Unang Balita on Wednesday.

“Hindi nakadalaw si Major De Castro (Major De Castro was not able to attend) because of a fever but the filing of the counter affidavit was filed properly,” Atty. Ferdinand Benitez said.

“The next preliminary investigation is on January 17, 1:30 p.m., same time. Hindi siya required pumunta actually. Ang required lang pumunta are those who will execute a reply affidavit (He was not required to attend actually. Only  those who will execute a reply affidavit are required),” he added.

Rose Camilon, mother of the missing beauty queen, lamented De Castro's absence in the preliminary investigation.

“Wala siyang paninindigan bilang lalaki. Napakadali lang sa kaniya na hindi niya kami puntahan, hindi niya kami siputin. Ni hindi niya iniisip kung ano ang pakiramdam ng kagaya namin na inaasahan siya, sa kaniya manggagaling, sa kanya magmumula kung ano ba talaga,” she said.

(He is no man. It was easy for him not to meet us. He did not even consider what we are feeling considering that we are relying on him to know what really happened.)

Kidnapping and serious illegal detention complaints were filed against De Castro, his driver-bodyguard Jeffrey Magpantay, and two John Does.

Magpantay recently surrendered to the Balayan Police Station in Batangas, the Unang Balita report said.

On October 16, Camilon’s sister 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.”

Authorities said a close friend of Camilon reached out to Chin-Chin and told her of the alleged relationship between the beauty queen and De Castro.

De Castro was reportedly the person Camilon was supposed to meet on the day of her disappearance, which the policeman has denied.

He also allegedly gave her the vehicle she was seen in when she left her house.

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

Witnesses came forward saying they saw Camilon bloodied while being transferred from her car to another vehicle on October 12. The witnesses also said they saw Magpantay in the area.

The hair and blood recovered from the vehicle, which was later located by the police, matched the DNA profile of Camilon's parents.

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.

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