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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senate panel cites suspect in missing beauty queen's case in contempt

Senate panel cites suspect in missing beauty queen's case in contempt

Published Mar 19, 2024 10:49 am

A Senate panel on Tuesday, March 19, cited in contempt one of the primary suspects in the disappearance of beauty queen Catherine Camilon for "lying".

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Police Major Allan de Castro (Arnold Quizol/MB)

Sen. Robinhood Padilla made the motion to cite in contempt Police Major Allan de Castro who is linked to the disappearance of Camilon in Batangas last October 2023.

"Minumungkahi ko po sa ating komite na ma-cite in contempt si G. de Castro. I so move (I move to cite Mr. de Castro in contempt. I so move)," Padilla said at the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.

Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, who chairs panel, ordered that de Castro be taken into custody.

"For lying before this committee," he said. He mentioned that he was not satisfied with de Castro's answers.

During the hearing, de Castro had insisted he did not have a relationship with Camilon, despite the evidence presented by Camilon's family and investigators.

According to Catherine's sister Ching-Ching, they only found out about the relationship when her sister disappeared.

"Bale Oct. 12 po nawala yung kapatid ko, Oct. 13 ko po nalaman na magkasintahan sila. Nang dahil po dun kaibigan ng kapatid ko na nag-open po samin ng lahat (It was in Oct. 12 when my sister disappeared, it was Oct. 13 when I found out they were in a relationship. This was after a sister of my friend who revealed everything to us)," she explained.

Both the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) explained during the hearing that they had established that de Castro and Catherine were in a relationship based on the sworn affidavits of close friends as well as photographs of the two "showing affection".

Meanwhile, Padilla appealed to Jeffrey Magpantay, another person linked to the case, to cooperate with investigators to shed light on the five-month-old case.

Padilla also urged Magpantay to share with them what he knows, after the latter insisted on his decision to keep silent and speak instead before the court.

"Kasi ang ayaw namin dito, kung sino ang taong maliit, yan ang napapahamak. Yan ang laging ganyan sa atin, laging may fall guy. Kawawa naman (What we don't want to happen is that the little guy becomes the fall guy)," he said.

"Sana magkaroon kayo ng lakas ng loob makipagusap sa amin, handa kaming makinig (I hope you gather the courage to talk to us. We are ready to listen)," he added.

The PNP has declared Camilon a “missing person” after her family had difficulty locating her in October of last year.

Authorities said that a close friend had divulged about an alleged relationship between De Castro and the beauty queen. According to police, the close friend reported that Camilon was supposed to meet De Castro on the day of her disappearance.

Kidnapping and serious illegal detention complaints have been filed against De Castro, Magpantay, and two other suspects.

Related Tags

Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Senator Ronald Bato dela Rosa Catherine Camilon Senator Robin Padilla
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