Latest Update on the Disappearance of Catherine Camilon
CATHERINE CAMILON CASE UPDATE – Allan de Castro, a dismissed police officer, and his bodyguard Jeffrey Magpantay have been apprehended in Balayan, Batangas, in relation to the kidnapping of the beauty pageant contestant.
The arrests, which occurred on September 14, were confirmed by Police Colonel Jack Malinao, the provincial police director. The apprehensions were executed during separate manhunt operations conducted in Barangay Caloocan, Balayan.
De Castro and Magpantay face charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention. These charges are being adjudicated at the Batangas City Regional Trial Court, Branch 3. Their arrest followed the formation of the Batangas PNP Special Intelligence and Tracker Team, established under the direction of the provincial police director to execute the arrest warrant.
The case had initially been dismissed on April 16; however, a motion for reconsideration filed by Camilon’s family was granted on August 15. Consequently, an arrest warrant was issued on September 4, leading to a successful operation that resulted in the suspects’ detention.
Police Major Dave Mercado, Chief of the Batangas PNP Public Information Office, indicated that the regional director promptly organized the Special Intelligence and Tracker Team to address the warrant and apprehend the suspects. Mercado commended the team for their effective execution of the operation.
“[K]aya agad-agad po nagpa-create ang ating regional director sa supervision ng ating provincial director ng Special Intelligence and Tracker Team para mai-serve ang warrant of arrest at ma-apprehend ang mga suspek,” he said as per ABS-CBN News.
Currently, both de Castro and Magpantay are held at the Balayan Custodial Facility while awaiting further legal proceedings. Their arrest represents a significant development in the ongoing investigation into Catherine Camilon’s disappearance, highlighting continued efforts to seek justice for her and her family.
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