DNA evidence in van linked to Catherine Camilon's disappearance matches with parents
The DNA evidence collected from the abandoned vehicle linked to Catherine Camilon's disappearance matched her parents, according to police.
The Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) conducted the test after the red Honda CRV was recovered by the Batangas City Police Station at a vacant lot in Batangas City on Nov. 9.
In a report on GMA's 24 Oras on Monday, Nov. 20, CIDG) Director Police Major General Romeo Caramat Jr. said that the hair strands and blood found on the SUV matched the beauty queen's parents.
"The hair strands and the blood na nakita doon sa sasakyan ay nag-match doon sa DNA profile na binigay ng magulang ni Ms. Catherine Camilon," Caramat said, noting that the DNA evidence concurrently matches the statement of the two witnesses who saw the beauty queen on Oct. 12.
The police said that the witnesses, at that time, saw the Miss Grand Philippines 2023 candidate bloodied as she was being transferred from a red CRV to a gray Nissan Juke, which was also identified as Camilon's own vehicle.
"Ang mga witnesses natin ang hindi nagsisinungaling. There is corroborative evidence na 'yung nakita nilang babae, binubuhat ng mga suspects natin ay certainly si Ms. Camilon 'yon," Caramat told 24 Oras.
"Mas bumigat 'yung kaso na sinampa natin sa suspects kasi nagtutugma sa sinabi ng mga witnesses natin," he added.
Despite having strong evidence against the suspects, Caramat said that PNP-CIDG will continue to search for more clues, particularly fingerprints on the vehicle and Camilon's own SUV.
Three suspects were previously charged in Camilon's disappearance, including Police Major Allan de Castro, who admitted having an "illicit relationship" with the beauty queen. de Castro was He was reportedly the person Camilon was supposed to meet on the day of her disappearance and the one who gave her the Nissan Juke.
The beauty queen is still considered missing, with the PNP still hoping that she will be found alive soon.