Police find more hair strands in van linked to Catherine Camilon; P500,000 reward offered for info on suspect
Police found more hair strands in the abandoned van linked to missing beauty queen Catherine Camilon at a vacant lot in Batangas City.
GMA News’ 24 Oras reported on Nov. 21 that the hair strands didn’t match the DNA of her parents, unlike the earlier ones and blood that did.
"Ilan lamang po doon sa hair strands ang nag-match po doon sa DNA profile po ng nawawala po nating biktima,” said Jean Fajardo, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Fajardo said it’s a possibility that the hair strands belonged to three men who witnesses earlier said were transferring a bloodied victim from a red Honda CRV to another vehicle.
“Maaaring galing po sa kanila itong iba pang mga ebidensiyang na-recover po sa red CRV,” Fajardo said, adding they’re still conducting forensic examination and searching for more clues.
Four suspects were previously sued for kidnapping and illegal detention in relation to Camilon's disappearance. This includes Police Major Allan de Castro, who admitted having an "illicit relationship" with her, De Castro’s personal driver and bodyguard Jeffrey Magpantay, and two John Does.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo is offering a P500,000 reward to anyone who can give information about Magpantay. Camilon’s family appeared on Tulfo’s show and sought his help.
De Castro is also facing administrative cases.
De Castro was reportedly the person Camilon was going to meet on Oct. 12, the day of her disappearance, and the one who gave her the Nissan Juke.
Camilon was last spotted in a shopping mall in Lemery hours before she was reported missing. She, however, last told her mother, Rosario, that she was at a gasoline station in Bauan.
The beauty queen said she’d go to Batangas City for a meeting with Balisong Channel, an online media company where she was a former talent. But Balisong Channel said she didn't visit its office and was last there on Dec. 13, 2021.
Camilon, who's also a public school teacher in Tuy, joined Miss Grand Philippines last July, during which Nikki De Moura of Cagayan de Oro won the crown.