THE police officer who was tagged as the primary suspect in the disappearance of former beauty queen Catherine Camilon has been released from police custody.
This was announced during a press briefing on Monday by Philippine National Police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. who said Maj. Allan de Castro was released “because he has already been dismissed from active service.”
“Since he was dismissed from the service, he is now released from our custody. He is no longer with the PNP. But still the criminal case will be pursued by the PNP,” Acorda explained.
Although De Castro was already out of detention, Acorda said his men will continue to monitor the whereabouts of the dismissed police officer so he can be easily picked up in case a warrant of arrest was issued against him.
On October 26, 2023, the Police Regional Police Office 4A said De Castro was placed under the custody of the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit when he was named as one of the persons of interest in Camilon’s disappearance.
Police Regional office (PRO) 4A chief Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas said De Castro’s dismissal became effective on January 16.
According to Lucas, De Castro’s dismissal was due to conduct unbecoming of a police officer, citing the latter’s alleged illicit and extramarital affairs with Camilon.
Kidnapping and serious illegal detention complaints have been filed against De Castro, his driver bodyguard Jeffrey Magpantay, and two John Does in connection with Camilon’s disappearance.
On October 16, Camilon’s sister Chin-chin asked 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 Catherine 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 allegation.
Based on information reaching the police, it was De Castro who allegedly gave Camilon the vehicle she was driving when she left their house.
CCTV footage showed Camilon’s car passing some towns in Batangas last Oct. 12.
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.
Though Camilon has yet to be located, investigators earlier said it “appears” that she is already dead based on the accounts of witnesses.
