The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has ordered the 90-day preventive suspension of former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director, Police Brigadier General Romeo Macapaz, in connection with the ongoing investigation into the “missing sabungeros.”
During a press briefing at the agency's headquarters at Quezon City on Thursday morning, NAPOLCOM Commissioner Vicente Rafael Calinisan underscored that the suspension does not equate to a finding of guilt but is intended to preserve the integrity of the investigation.
“Wherefore, premises considered, the Motion for Preventive Suspension filed by Complainant Ellakim Patidongan is hereby GRANTED and thus, PBGEN ROMEO J. MACAPAZ is hereby placed under preventive suspension for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days, effective immediately upon the receipt of this resolution,” the order stated.
The move comes after Ellakim Patidongan, brother of sabungero whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, filed a complaint accusing Macapaz of obstructing the probe.
The complaint alleged that Macapaz unlawfully seized the cellphones of Ellakim and his brother Jose Patidongan, refused to return them, and even tampered with evidence by deleting messages and concealing SD cards relevant to the case.
“Complainant Patidongan claimed that the Respondent knowingly and willfully obstructs, impedes and frustrates the investigation of the “Missing Sabungeros” case by unlawfully taking his cellphone and of his brother Jose Patidongan, and refusing to return the same without any valid reasons,” wrote in resolution.
”Moreover, Respondent altered the messages contained in the cellphones by deleting some of the messages. He even allegedly concealed the SD cards of the cellphones despite knowing that these are material evidence in the missing Sabungeros case,” the resolution added.
Last week, Napolcom filed separate administrative cases against Macapaz for grave misconduct, dishonesty, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer before its Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS).
The Patidongan brothers accused Macapaz of trying to pin the blame on them by portraying them as the "masterminds" behind the abductions of at least 34 cockfighting enthusiasts between 2021 and 2022
Macapaz, who previously served as CIDG Director, is now the Regional Director of Police Regional Office 12 based in General Santos City.
