Senate probe sought on missing beauty pageant candidate

Catherine Camilon (Image: Facebook/Catherine Camilon)

MANILA, Philippines — A resolution directing the appropriate panel to conduct an inquiry on the disappearance of beauty pageant candidate Catherine Camilon was filed in the Senate.

In Senate Resolution No. 913, Senator Raffy Tulfo said the involvement of police officers in heinous crimes have been increasing in the past months.

Police Major Allan de Castro, one of the suspects in the case, last November admitted having a relationship with Camilon, according to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director, Major General Romeo Caramat.

De Castro was dismissed from service effective January 16, 2024.

“There is a need to review the screening process ofpolice officers as well as the retention assessment of officers in active duty,” said Tulfo.

Camilon was reported missing on October 12, 2023.

On the night she disappeared, Camilon reportedly left her home  in Batangas and drove a gray Nissan Juke.

“On November 7, 2023, Major General Romeo Camarat Jr., director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), reported that two witnesses had seen a bloodied and unconscious Ms. Camilon on the night of her disappearance being transferred by three men to a red Honda CR-V from her gray vehicle,” Tulfo’s resolution reads.

“On November 8, 2023, the red Honda CR-V was found in a vacant lot where PNP Forensic Group found 17 hair strands, fingerprints, and 12 swabs of blood samples,” it added.

To date, Camilon has yet to be found.