Why cop in Camilon disappearance was released from custody

Catherine Camilon

MANILA, Philippines — On January 16th, the police officer who was the primary suspect in the case of the missing beauty pageant candidate Catherine Camilon was formally dismissed from service and released from the restrictive custody of the Police Regional Office (PRO) – 4A (Calabarzon) headquarters.

But why was he held in the restrictive custody of Calabarzon police in the first place? And why was he released shortly after his dismissal?

PRO-4A chief Brigadier General Paul Kenneth Lucas explained that they immediately placed then-Police Major Allan De Castro under restrictive custody after he was linked to the disappearance of Camilon.

He said this is a “preventive measure” or a rule that applies not only to De Castro but to all erring personnel — so as not to compromise the investigation in any case they are involved in.   

“We do this so he cannot use his position to influence the case, and so we can monitor his movement within Camp Vicente Lim [PRO-4A headquarters],” Lucas told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview on Wednesday.

According to the police official, the administrative cases filed against De Castro only came after a series of investigations conducted by the Regional Internal Affairs Service 4A, which yielded evidence of his “illicit and extramarital affair” with Camilon. 

The former police officer also admitted his relationship with Camilon shortly after PNP lodged kidnapping and serious illegal detention complaints against him and three others.

Lucas, however, earlier said that the then-police officer remained tight-lipped when on matters related to Camilon’s disappearance. 

Last month, PNP chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said that he had already signed the dismissal order of De Castro after he was found guilty of conduct unbecoming of a police officer.  

Lucas explained that they only have 60 days to resolve De Castro’s case; following his dismissal from service the PNP no longer has the authority or jurisdiction over him — now a former police officer and an ordinary citizen.

Where is De Castro now?

In a separate phone interview, PRO-4A Public Information Office chief Chitadel Gaoiren said De Castro is in Tuy, Batangas and has been tending to his eight-month pregnant wife — who was rushed to the hospital the night before the Senate began its probe on his case. 

The inquiry of the upper chamber’s Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs stemmed from the proposed Senate Resolution Nos. 913 and 767, both filed by Sen. Raffy Tulfo.

During the hearing on Tuesday, De Castro and another suspect, Jeffrey Magpantay, did not show up, which prompted the panel to issue a subpoena against them. 

Lucas assured the public that PNP still has its eyes on De Castro and has kept in touch with him in case there are developments in the missing beauty queen’s case.