PNP fires cop linked to beauty queen’s disappearance

Police Regional Office 4A Director Brig Gen. Kenneth Lucas says during a press conference on Thursday, January 18, 2024, that Major Allan De Castro was dismissed from service effective January 16, 2024. De Castro is being considered as one of the suspects in the disappearance of beauty queen Catherine Camilon. Image: Facebook/Catherine Camilon

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has dismissed from service an officer linked to the disappearance of beauty queen Catherine Camilon.

According to Police Regional Office 4A Director Brig Gen. Kenneth Lucas, the discharge of Maj. Allan De Castro from the police service took effect on January 16.

Authorities said de Castro is one of the suspects in the case of Camilon, who remains missing to this day.

READ: Suspect in disappearance of beauty queen surrenders

“I would like to announce the dismissal of Police Major Allan Abeña De Castro effective January 16, 2024, signed by me, following an extensive investigation conducted by our Regional Internal Affairs Service 4A (RIAS4A),” Lucas said in a press conference.

“The case against Police Major De Castro stemmed from allegations of conduct unbecoming of a police officer after a series of thorough investigation by the RIAS4A uncovering evidence of an illicit and extramarital affair between the respondent and the missing Catherine Camilon,” he likewise explained.

On November 15, 2023, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Maj. Gen. Romeo Caramat disclosed that de Castro admitted to having a relationship with Camilon.

READ: Cop admits relationship with missing beauty queen, says CIDG

But despite the officer’s revelation, Caramat said de Castro remained silent when it came to matters related to the beauty queen’s disappearance.

Region 4-A’s CIDG deputy Maj. Nilo Morallos revealed in the same forum on Thursday that Camilon may already be dead, citing accounts of witnesses.

READ: DNA found in abandoned vehicle matches with Camilon’s parents

“We are hoping for the best, but we are expecting the worse. Hindi po namin masabi kung wala na po talaga, pero base po sa account ng witnesses namin it appears na ‘yun na nga po, na patay na po,” Morallos said.

(We are hoping for the best but expecting the worst. We can’t say if she’s really gone, but based on the accounts of our witnesses, it appears that she is, that she is dead.)

The CIDG is the primary investigation branch of the PNP.

Based on police reports, the Miss Grand Philippines 2023 candidate was reported missing by her mother and sister days after she allegedly disappeared while traveling from Tuy to Batangas City on October 12, 2023.

The beauty queen’s mother, Rosario, last contacted her daughter around 8:33 p.m. on the same day.