THE PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) yesterday filed criminal charges against a police officer and three of his cohorts for the kidnapping of beauty queen Catherine Camilon last month.
PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said the case of kidnapping and serious illegal detention was referred to the Batangas Provincial Prosecutors Office at around 1:30 p.m.
Charged were Maj. Allan De Castro, who is assigned with the Calabarzon regional police office; Jeffrey Arreola Magpantay; and two John Does.
Fajardo said a close friend of Camilon told authorities that she was supposed to meet with De Castro last October 12 prior to her disappearance.
“There were exchanges of text (messages) claiming that he (Castro) would be meeting with the victim prior to her disappearance,” said Fajardo.
Fajardo said Magpantay was seen by witnesses transferring the injured Camilon from her car to a sports utility vehicle (SUV).
The SUV was recovered in Batangas City last November 9. Probers found blood and hair strands believed to be from Camilon.
“They have at least 10 days to conduct a case build-up, its (investigation) is not yet finished, and additional evidence might be submitted to support the case that we filed against them,” said Fajardo.
Fajardo said investigators filed charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention because they had no concrete evidence to prove if Camilon was still alive or not.
“In case additional evidence will be gathered in the coming days in relation to this case, then we are not precluded to file additional cases or at least upgrade the case to another nature of offense depending on the evidence we may gather,” said Fajardo.
