Prosecutor recommends transfer of Catherine Camilon prelim probe

The Batangas Provincial Prosecutor Office has recommended the transfer of the preliminary investigation on the disappearance of beauty pageant contestant Catherine Camilon to the Regional State Prosecutor in Calabarzon, police said Friday.

Police Colonel Jacinto Malinao Jr., chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for Calabarzon, told GMA News Online that the Batangas prosecutor recommended granting the motion to inhibit filed by his unit and Camilon's camp.

"The preliminary investigation was turned over to the [Department of Justice] Regional State Prosecutor 4A," Malinao said in a text message.

The police and Camilon's camp in January filed the motion to inhibit, pointing out the possible influence of the legal counsel of Jeff Magpantay, who is one of the suspects identified in kidnapping and serious illegal detention complaints.

They said Magpantay's counsel was a former assistant provincial prosecutor in Batangas and a former presiding judge of Regional Trial Court-Branch 86 in Taal town.

The complaints have been lodged against now dismissed cop Allan de Castro, his driver-bodyguard Magpantay, and two John Does over Camilon's disappearance.

Recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said De Castro was released from police custody following his dismissal from the service.

On Oct. 16, Camilon's sister Chin-chin took to social media to ask netizens for help in locating her sister. Five days later, Camilon was officially 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 pageant contestant and De Castro.

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

Based on information reaching the police, it was De Castro who allegedly gave Camilon the vehicle she was seen in when she left her house.

Based on CCTV footage captured on Oct. 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 Oct. 12. They 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. — VDV, GMA Integrated News