Ex-CIDG chief Macapaz replacement not related to missing sabungeros —PNP

The Philippine National Police on Thursday said the replacement of former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Police Brigadier General Romeo Macapaz was not related to the case of missing sabungeros.

“There is no truth na mayroon pong nag-request na tanggalin po siya sa CIDG,” PNP spokesperson Police Brigader General Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing. 

(There is no truth that someone has requested Macapaz be removed from the CIDG.)

“Again, it would be very, very unfair to say that there was a request from the Chief PNP to be removed from the CIDG. I would say this with all certainty no one and nobody could dictate to the Chief PNP,” she added.

Fajardo said it was Macapaz, a one-star police general, who requested to be removed from the CIDG to become the head of a police regional office, which is an entry level for a two-star police general.

She said Macapaz had reservations when PNP chief Police General Nicolas Torre III chose him to lead the CIDG considering that promotions of police officers with less than one year remaining in service is prohibited.

“That position (PRO head) is for two-star. Hindi na po mapo-promote si General Macapaz because wala na po. Meron po tayong rule if you are less than one year ay hindi ka na po mapo-promote,” she said.

(That position is for two-star. General Macapaz will no longer be promoted. We have a rule that if you are less than one year old, you will no longer be promoted.)

The family of some missing sabungeros recently alleged that members of the CIDG were urging them to file charges against whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan.

“Isa ‘yan sa mga ulat sa amin na may mga kumikilos na ganyan na gustong mangyari..Kaya na-relieve ‘yung service director ng CIDG,” said Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla. 

(That's one of the reports we received, that there are individuals acting in such a way, wanting that to happen... That's why the service director of the CIDG was relieved.) 

Macapaz said that they are still verifying information that there were cops who were trying to make Patidongan appear as the mastermind in the case. 

“Bine-verify pa po namin ‘yan Ma’am kasi may order nga po ang DOJ na sila lang ang pwede magsalita for the moment. Linawin muna namin Ma’am kung ano ang issue…” said Macapaz in a text message to GMA Integrated News. 

(We're still verifying that, Ma'am, because the DOJ has issued an order that only they can speak for the moment. We need to clarify the issue first, Ma'am.) 

A total of 34 cockfighting enthusiasts have been reported missing from 2021 to 2022. According to the police, the missing personalities were kidnapped allegedly due to match fixing or cheating in the cockfighting games.

Patidongan claimed that the victims were already buried in Taal Lake.

He named businessman Atong Ang as a mastermind in the case and also linked actress Gretchen Barretto to the disappearances. Both have denied the allegations.—AOL, GMA Integrated News