Suspect in missing Batangas beauty queen surrenders to police

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 9) — The driver of the police officer tagged as prime suspect in the disappearance of Miss Grand Philippines 2023 candidate Catherine Camilon surrendered to authorities on Tuesday.

In a statement, the Police Region 4A (PRO-4A) said the suspect, identified as Jeffrey Ariola Magpantay, 33, submitted himself together with his live-in partner at Balayan Municipal Police Station in Batangas.

Magpantay is allegedly the driver of Police Major Allan De Castro, the prime suspect in the Camilon case.

Police said the suspect expressed willingness to cooperate and subject himself to appropriate legal processes in relation to the charges filed against him.

«Jeffrey Magpantay is determined to cooperate with the legal process by submitting a waiver of detention, which was signed by his legal counsel,» the PRO-4A statement read.

The suspect will face charges in connection to the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of the missing beauty queen, police said.

«This act of Mr. Magpantay signals his commitment to face the charges levied against him in a lawful and transparent manner,» said PRO-4A PBGen Director Paul Kenneth Lucas.

The 26-year-old Camilon was reported missing on Oct. 12. She was last contacted by her mother on the same night, and told her family she was at a gasoline station in Bauan town.

Meanwhile, De Castro admitted that he was having an affair with Camilon despite being a married man.

On Nov. 13, kidnapping and serious illegal detention complaints were filed against De Castro and three other suspects.