Senate summons ex-cop tagged in beauty queen’s disappearance

MANILA, Philippines — A Senate panel has ordered the issuance of a subpoena against a police official and his driver over the disappearance of beauty queen Catherine Camilon.

The Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs chaired by Sen. Ronald dela Rosa summoned Maj. Allan de Castro and his driver, Jeffrey Magpantay, to shed light on the whereabouts of Camilon.

Sen. Raffy Tulfo moved for the issuance of the subpoena after De Castro and Magpantay snubbed the hearing yesterday.

De Castro said he needed to look after his wife, who is eight months pregnant. Magpantay said his lawyer was sick.

Dela Rosa described De Castro’s alibi as “flimsy.”

De Castro, who was dismissed from the police service on Jan. 13, allegedly had an affair with Camilon.

Magpantay and De Castro are facing complaints for kidnapping and illegal detention in connection with the disappearance of Camilon.

Camilo’s mother, Rosario, sought the help of the senators to find the victim, who has been missing since Oct. 12, 2023.

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

On Nov. 7 last year, witnesses said they saw the beauty queen “bloodied and unconscious” while being transferred by three men to a red Honda CRV.

Police said the hair strands and blood recovered from the vehicle matched the DNA profile of Camilon’s parents.