Abalos orders PNP: Pursue all leads to find missing beauty queen
By Chito Chavez

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benur’ Abalos Jr. directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to step up efforts to locate the missing Miss Grand Philippines 2023 candidate Catherine Camilon.
In a statement on Saturday, Oct. 28, Abalos said “ I have also instructed our policemen to relentlessly pursue all actionable leads and do everything that they can within the bounds of the law to rescue the missing victim, and return her safely to her family.’’
He also appealed to the public to get in touch with authorities if they have any information on the whereabouts of Camilon, who remains missing since Oct. 12.
Abalos also displayed his great disappointment over reports that a police officer might be involved in the disappearance of Camilon, who is also a public school teacher and winner of the Binibining Batangas Quarantine in Dec. 2020 in Batangas City.
“Certainly, I am at the forefront of those fighting for the protection of women, children and even the elderly, and I am committed to defending them at all time and at all costs. In this regard, I have instructed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct a thorough investigation on this very serious incident,’’ Abalos said.
The DILG chief added that “the PNP has already relieved from his post the policeman in question to remove any doubts of possible whitewash or cover-up.’’
In the event that all the pieces of evidence point to the subject police officer’s possible involvement, Abalos assured the public ‘of a fair, proper and impartial investigation.’
In a statement, Camilon’s family stated that she was traveling in a private vehicle with the license plate NEI-2290, a metallic gray Nissan Juke SUV and was scheduled to meet someone in Bauan, Batangas.
Camilon’s disappearance was first reported by her sister who also posted it on social media.