Miss Grand Philippines 2023 candidate Catherine Camilon (Instagram photo)
BAGUIO CITY – Police agents recovered a sports utility vehicle allegedly connected to the disappearance of Miss Grand Philippines 2023 candidate Catherine Camilon in Batangas City.
In a presser here on Friday, Philippine National Police spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the Batangas City Police Station recovered an abandoned red Honda CR-V in a vacant lot at the corner of Dumuclay Road and Star Tollway in Barangay Pallocan East on Thursday.
She added that the vehicle was seen by residents in the area on Wednesday and reported to the police the next day.
"The car is now in the custody of our forensic group, particularly the regional field unit in Batangas. They would conduct a forensic examination which includes macro etching of the engine and together with our Highway Patrol Group, they would check its chassis and engine number so we can determine who is the owner of this vehicle. We would also check if we can lift fingerprints or bloodstains from it," Fajardo said.
Earlier this week, two witnesses who came forward to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group - Calabarzon (CIDG - 4A) said they saw the body of a woman covered in blood being transferred by three men from a Nissan Juke to a Honda CR-V on the evening of Oct. 12, hours before the 26-year-old Camilon was reported missing.
Camilon, of Tuy town, was last seen alive in a mall in Lemery town. She also called up her family to say she was in Bauan and was going to a meeting in Batangas City.
On Oct. 27, the Police Regional Office - 4A identified a police officer as a "person of interest" in Camilon's disappearance.
The unnamed officer was relieved from his post and was transferred to its Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit's custody.
A reward of PHP250,000 was put up for anyone who has credible information on the whereabouts of the beauty pageant candidate who is also a teacher. (PNA)
