“Hindi ako mapapagod.” This was what the sister of missing beauty queen candidate Catherine Camilon said after the police arrested former police major Allan de Castro and his driver in connection with the disappearance after almost a year. Both are primary suspects in the disappearance case of the Miss Grand Philippines 2023 candidate who represented Tuy, Batangas.
She is also a Grade 9 teacher. Reports said De Castro and his driver-bodyguard Jeffrey Magpantay are now at the Batangas Provincial Jail after being arrested on September 14 for their alleged involvement in the beauty queen’s disappearance. The police said they are facing charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
The evidence against the suspects is reportedly strong , including DNA retrieved from a red sports utility vehicle where a witness claimed to have seen a bloodied Catherine. The charges against De Castro and Magpantay were initially dropped last May due to lack of evidence, but Catherine’s family filed a motion for reconsideration, which was granted last August. The court then issued a warrant of arrest on September 4 with no recommended bail.
The development in the case was welcomed by Catherine’s mother, Rose Camilon and her sister, Chin-Chin Camilon , who have been seeking a resolution to the beauty queen candidate’s case since she went missing on Oct. 17, 2023. “Sana lang alam mo na hindi kami tumitigil makuha ang hustisya na para sa’yo, Catherine,” Chin-Chin wrote on Faceb.