The suspects accused in the disappearance of beauty pageant contestant Catherine Camilon no longer face charges after they were dropped on May 15, 2024.
Batangas City's Regional Prosecutor's Office dismissed the case of kidnapping and serious illegal detention filed against former Police Major Allan de Castro and his driver-bodyguard Jeffrey Magpantay, due to insufficient evidence.
Read: Who is Catherine Camilon?
SUBMITTED EVIDENCE
In a press briefing on Thursday, May 16, 2024, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo related: "Ang sinasabi po dun sa resolution yung mga pinresenta ng enough ebidensya failed to prove na nagkaroon ng conspiracy within and among respondents [Allan] de Castro and [Jeffrey] Magpantay, [at] dalawa pang di pa napapangalanang akusado."
He explained that the proof of photos, purportedly depicting the former police officer and the missing pageant titleholder kissing, were deemed not enough to substantiate the kidnapping and serious illegal detention allegations against the former.
Assistant Regional Prosecutor Rogelio Radoc Jr. raised the "questionable" acquisition of photographs only after the eye witnesses Michael and Jomar pointed to Allan and Jeffrey as the suspects.
"Throughout the record of the instant case, it can be deduced that nothing was mentioned about the personal circumstances of Magpantay," he said.
"How he became a person of interest, how did they acquire the photograph of Magpantay at the time Michael and Jomar executed their respective affidavits."
CIDG 41 RESPONDS
In an episode of Ted Failon and DJ Chacha's radio show, uploaded on YouTube on May 17, 2024, PCol. Jacinto Malinao Jr., Regional Chief of Crime Investigation and Detection Unit Region 4A, expressed his dismay at the results of the first proceeding.
"To be honest sir, we were very frustrated na," Jacinto says.
"I'm very frustrated, kasi based dun sa evidence na na-gather namin, solid naman po.
"Specifically kay [Jeffrey] Magpantay, to be honest, that he was positively identified by the two witnesses, as the one who supervises the transfer of the lifeless body of Catherine.
"Ang hindi lang nabigyan siguro ng, with due respect dun sa investigating fiscal sir, hindi lang siguro nabigyan ng probative value yung identification at the same time, and other evidence po na prinesent namin."
Towards the end of the interview, he remains hopeful that justice will be served to the family of Catherine: "We want justice for everybody.
"Kung ikaw nagkamali, harapin mo. Be man enough to suffer the consequence. Ganun lang yan sa buhay. Kung ikaw nagkamali, be brave enough to face the consequence."
He notes, "Rest assured manong Ted, we take this case personally. Lalung-lalo na yung investigating team ko, it is a legal battle. That's the beauty of yung legal battle.
"Di naman yan katapusan at marami pong interpretation sa batas. So, that's the beauty of legal procedure natin dito sa bansa natin."
Finally, he assures that both witnesses are still "willing" to push through and stand by their statements.
Read: Senate panel orders subpoena against prime suspects in Catherine Camilon case
CATHERINE'S DISAPPEARANCE
The distressing revelation of Catherine's disappearance came through respective Facebook posts by her mother and sister.
Rosa's heartfelt plea on October 14, 2023, and Chin-Chin's desperate appeal to Catherine's workmates painted a grim picture of the unfolding situation.
Here's the mom's post (published as is). "Anak nsn ka?uwi na..," Rosa wrote in a grievous letter for her daughter.
"magbuhay kn ng cp para makausap kn nmin..mahal n mahal ka nmin....
"Dyos ko tulungan mopo kame makita na oh mkausap ang aming bunso wag nio po ciang pbbyaan..ilayo nio po cia sa kapahamakan..
"Panginoon wla po akong ibng hinihiling para sa knila kundi ang kaausan nila..ingatan nio po cia.."
Meanwhile, her sister Chin-Chin, asked for the public's help in identifying Catherine's whereabouts.
Chin-chin penned, "Baka po mababasa to ng kasama ni Catherine Camilon kagabi na ka work niya, hindi lang po namin alam kung sino, di po matandaan ang pangalan, pasabi naman po baka alam niyo po kung nasaan siya, kagabi pa po siya tumawag 8pm, kaninang umaga pa po naka off ang phone nya, hanggang ngayon at hindi din po nag oonline, palagi po sya nag aupdate sa amin, ngayon lang po talaga hindi."
READ MORE:
- Other hair strands discovered from abandoned vehicle will help in Catherine Camilon disappearance case
- Prime suspect in Catherine Camilon disappearance admits "illicit relationship" with beauty queen; invokes right to remain silent
- Kidnapping, illegal detention filed vs four suspects in Catherine Camilon disappearance
- Vehicle possibly linked to Catherine Camilon disappearance found in Batangas City