Noose tightens on kidnappers of beauty queen

THE PNP’s case against the four suspects in the kidnapping of beauty queen Catherine Camilon in Batangas last month has been bolstered by the results of forensic examinations conducted by its Forensic Group.

In a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said some of the hair strands recovered from an abandoned sports utility vehicle (SUV) allegedly used in the kidnapping matched the DNA samples taken from Camilon’s parents.

Witnesses saw three of the suspects, Jeffrey Arreola Magpantay and two John Does, transferring Camilon from her car to the Honda CRV in Bauan, Batangas last October 12.

Magpantay is the driver of police Maj. Allan De Castro, a boyfriend of Camilon. The victim was scheduled to meet with De Castro that day when she disappeared.

De Castro, Magpantay and the two John Does have been charged with kidnapping and serious illegal detention before the Batangas provincial prosecutor’s office Monday last week.

De Castro is currently under police custody while the three others remain at large.

The SUV was found abandoned in Batangas City on November 9. Policemen recovered hair stands and blood, believed to be from Camilon, inside the vehicle.

The hair strands were compared to DNA samples from Camilon’s parents and they matched. The result of the blood examination was not yet available, said Fajardo.