Subpoena issued vs. dismissed cop implicated in Camilon’s disappearance

A SENATE committee issued on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, a subpoena against a dismissed police official who has been implicated in the disappearance of Miss Grand Philippines 2023 contestant Catherine Camilon.

During the opening of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs and committee on justice and human rights’ inquiry into the disappearance of Camilon, two of the alleged primary suspects in the case—former Maj. Allan de Castro and his driver Jeffrey Magpantay—were a no show.

In a letter addressed to the committee, de Castro said he was unable to attend the proceedings as he was taking care of his wife who is currently eight months pregnant.

“I am personally attending to her and our incoming child as I am of the impression that there is a great risk on both my wife and my child who is still in her womb,” said de Castro.

“I would like to personally apologize and hereby promise to attend...your joint hearing as soon as I can, after I have ensured that my family’s health and well-being are safe from danger. I will [furnish] the honorable committees the necessary proof of my wife’s medical condition for your reference,” he added.

Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who had served the Philippine National Police (PNP) as its chief, described de Castro’s excuse as a “flimsy alibi.”

“He did not give birth, and he is not giving birth. Why can’t he attend? If you are listening right now, Major de Castro, I know you are monitoring, you should come here. Your reason that your wife is pregnant is not valid,” said dela Rosa, chairman of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs chairman.

“My wife delivered three children without me by her side. I was there in the mountains operating against the NPA (New People’s Army). Three of my children were born without me by my wife’s side. His wife is still pregnant. Very flimsy alibi,” dela Rosa added.

Magpantay, for his part, said in his letter that his lawyer was sick and that his vaccination card for Covid-19, a requirement of the panel, was missing.

This prompted dela Rosa to move for the issuance of a subpoena against de Castro and Magpantay to make sure they will face the panel in the next hearing or risk arrest.

With the absence of de Castro and Magpantay, dela Rosa suspended the hearing on the matter a few minutes later.

Complaints for kidnapping and serious illegal detention were filed against de Castro, Magpantay and two other John Does over the disappearance of Camilon, who was last seen in a mall in Lemery, Batangas on Oct. 12, 2023.

De Castro was dismissed from the service for grave misconduct after he admitted having an illicit affair with Camilon.

Magpantay surrendered to the police on Jan. 9 for security reasons but he has yet to issue any statement about the matter, while de Castro refused to appear in any of the court proceedings related to the case.

Two witnesses implicated Magpantay and two other unidentified individuals, claiming to have seen the group transferring the blood-covered body of a woman, whose features matched Camilon’s, from one vehicle to another in a remote area of Bauang, Batangas.

The vehicle where the woman’s body was said to be transferred was recovered in Batangas City, and the hair strands and blood stains found inside matched with the DNA of Camilon’s parents.