Dismissed police major released from PNP custody

THE police major linked to the kidnapping of beauty queen Catherine Camilon in Batangas last October has been released from police custody.

PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. announced the release of Maj. Allan de Castro yesterday, four days after the PNP announced his dismissal from the service.

Since De Castro is no longer in the police service, the PNP no longer has any authority to continue holding him under its custody, according to Acorda.

Warrants of arrest have yet to be issued against De Castro, his driver, Jeffrey Magpantay, and two John Does. Magpantay surrendered to the police last January 9, opting to remain in police custody while there is still no arrest warrant issued against him.

The kidnapping and serious illegal detention cases filed against De Castro and his co-accused are still pending before the Batangas prosecutor’s office.

Calabarzon regional police director Paul Kenneth Lucas signed the dismissal of De Castro after he was found guilty of administrative charges for conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

Lucas has said that investigators uncovered “evidence of an illicit and extra-marital affair between the respondent (De Castro) and the missing Catherine Camilon.”

“Since he was dismissed from the service, he is now released from our custody, meaning he is no longer with us,” Acorda said of De Castro, without saying exactly when the suspect was released from police custody.

“But still, the criminal (case) will be pursued by the PNP. We are not letting go of this case,” added Acorda.

De Castro, the erstwhile deputy chief of the Batangas provincial police drug enforcement unit, was relieved from his post and placed under the custody of the Calabarzon regional police office due to his alleged involvement in the Camilon kidnapping.

Asked if the PNP would monitor the whereabouts of De Castro after his release from police custody, Acorda said: “Yes, of course. That will be part of our effort.”

Camilon, who remains missing, was supposed to meet with De Castro last October 12.

Magpantay was seen by witnesses transferring the injured Camilon from her car to a sports utility vehicle (SUV) that was later found in Batangas City on November 9.

Probers