PNP: Still no proof of life for missing Catherine Camilon

Authorities have yet to establish a clear proof of life for missing beauty queen Catherine Camilon of Lemery, Batangas, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Friday.

“We have to admit, as of now, wala pa po talaga tayong clear na ma-establish na proof of life ni Catherine, po. Pati na rin po iyong possible location po niya,” PNP Spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing.

(We have to admit, as of now, we have yet to establish a clear proof of life for Catherine, including her possible whereabouts.)

Recently, the PNP said the blood and some of the hair strands found in an abandoned vehicle in Batangas City matched with the DNA samples of Camilon’s family.

Two witnesses came forward saying they saw Camilon bloodied while being transferred from her car to the said vehicle on October 12.

The witnesses also said that they saw one of the suspects who pointed a gun at them.

Fajardo said authorities are considering obtaining DNA samples from the suspects as other hair strands recovered from the vehicle do not belong to Camilon.

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

According to Fajardo, De Castro said he was ready to face the complaint.

“It would be good faith on his part, he can show good faith on his part na handa niyang harapin itong kaso na ito na magpa-DNA test po siya (that he is ready to face the complaint and take a DNA test),” she said.

De Castro also faces an administrative complaint of conduct unbecoming of a police officer.
 
The first owner of the abandoned car in which Camilon’s blood and hairs were found was in Las Piñas City. 

The owner said they could not remember the buyer's name when they sold it online in 2013.

According to the owner, the car's original color was gray and not red.

Meanwhile, two more suspects faced carnapping and estafa complaints in connection with Camilon’s car.

According to the police, they suspect that the former owner of Camilon’s car was involved in a carnapping group as they used a fake address on the car's deed of sale.

Authorities said 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 De Castro.

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 the investigation results. He was also placed under the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit.

On October 16, Chin-chin Camilon took to social media to ask netizens for help 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.

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. — DVM, GMA Integrated News