Ex-PNP MAJOR, DRIVER LINKED TO THE DISAPPEARANCE OF BATANGAS BEAUTY QUEEN ARRESTED

A DISMISSED  major and his driver tagged as prime suspects in the disappearance of Batangas beauty pageant contestant Catherine Camilon on Saturday were arrested in Balayan, Batangas.

A Police Regional Office 4-A report identified the suspects as ex-Police Major Allan de Castro and his driver-bodyguard Jeffrey Magpantay.

De Castro and Magpantay were previously charged with kidnapping and serious illegal detention, following the 2023 case of the missing woman.

Last May 15, the charges against De Castro and Magpantay were dropped by the  regional Prosecutor’s Office for lack of evidence, prompting the PRO4-A to release them from custody, although they were continued to be placed under monitoring.

However, the suspects are now facing the same charges, with no recommended bail, issued by a Batangas Regional Trial Court.

De Castro has maintained his innocence of the charges filed against him.

De Castro was previously cited in contempt for allegedly not telling the truth before the Senate and held for two days before being released.

The former PNP official was reported to be in a relationship with the beauty queen before she disappeared on the day she was supposedly set to meet De Castro.

Camilon was last seen passing some towns in Batangas with an unidentified companion on October 12, 2023. Witnesses later told PRO4-A investigators that they saw Camilon being transferred to another vehicle on the same day.

Hair strands and bloodstains found inside the recovered vehicle later matched with the DNA of Camilon’s parents.

Last January 6, PRO4-A director Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth T. Lucas ordered the dismissal from the service of De Castro after he was found guilty by the Regional Internal Affairs Service 4-A of conduct unbecoming of a police officer.