Senate panel orders subpoena vs main suspects in Catherine Camilon case

The Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs ordered Tuesday the issuance of subpoena against two suspects in the disappearance of beauty contestant Catherine Camilon after they skipped the investigation into the matter.

It was Senator Raffy Tulfo who moved for the issuance of subpoena against Police Major Allan de Castro, which was subsequently approved by Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, the chairman of the panel.

Dela Rosa also ruled for the issuance of subpoena against De Castro’s driver-bodyguard, Jeffrey Magpantay.

Dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police chief, told the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to help in enforcing the subpoena against the two.

At the start of the hearing, the committee secretary informed the Senate panel that De Castro, through a letter, said he cannot attend the investigation because his pregnant wife was in pain.

Dela Rosa considered this excuse as “flimsy alibi.”

Magpantay was also a no-show at the Senate hearing. According to the committee secretary, Magpantay told the panel that he was not feeling well.

Dela Rosa had already warned the suspects in Camilon’s case that they might receive warrants of arrest from the Senate if they will snub the subpoena to be issued by the Senate panel.

De Castro and Magpantay are currently facing kidnapping and illegal detention complaints in connection with the disappearance of Camilon.

On October 16 last year, Camilon’s sister Chin-chin took to social media to ask netizens for help in locating her sister. Five days after her social media post, Camilon was declared a “missing person.”

Authorities said a close friend of Camilon reached out to Chin-Chin and told her of the alleged relationship between the beauty queen and De Castro.

De Castro was reportedly the person Camilon was supposed to meet on the day of her disappearance, which the policeman denied.

He also allegedly gave her the vehicle she was seen in when she left her house.

Based on CCTV footage captured on October 12, Camilon’s car was seen passing some towns in Batangas. 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.—AOL, GMA Integrated News