Ex-CIDG chief Macapaz under preventive suspension over missing sabungeros case

The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) on Thursday said it has imposed a 90-day preventive suspension against former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief and now Police Regional Office 12 (PRO12) director Police Brigadier General Romeo Macapaz.

In a press conference, NAPOLCOM vice chairperson and executive officer Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan read the resolution against Macapaz for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer. 

“Therefore, premises considered, the motion for preventive suspension filed by complainant Elakim T. Patidongan is hereby granted,” Calinisan said.

“And thus, Police Brigadier General Romeo G. Macapaz is hereby placed under preventive suspension for a period not exceeding 90 days, effective immediately upon receipt of this resolution,” he added.

GMA News Online has sought comment from Macapaz through PRO12 public information office but it has yet to provide a statement as of posting time.

PRO12 spokesperson Police Major Rissa Hernaez told GMA News Online that Macapaz is on leave and is not in the area of responsibility. However, she said she will try to reach out to him.

On August 14, brothers Julie “Dondon” and Elakim Patidongan, who were linked in the missing sabungeros case, went to the NAPOLCOM to file a complaint-affidavit against Macapaz.

Calinisan said Elakim claimed that Macapaz impeded the investigation of the missing sabungeros case by unlawfully taking the phone of the complainant and his brother Jose after they were taken into custody in Cambodia.

According to Elakim, Macapaz deleted some messages in their phones and even concealed the SD cards knowing that these are material evidence in the missing sabungeros case.

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.

Dondon 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.

On August 1, multiple murder, serious illegal detention, enforced disappearance, direct bribery, and obstruction of justice were filed against Ang and others.

Ang and Barretto have denied any involvement in the abduction of the cockfighters. —VAL, GMA Integrated News