By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has imposed a 90-day suspension on former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director, PBGen. Romeo Macapaz, for fabricating a case against a whistleblower in the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of several “sabungeros.”
This was announced by Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan at a press briefing at the Napolcom headquarters in Quezon City on Thursday.
Reading from a four-page resolution, Calinisan said Macapaz was slapped with cases of grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer, including alleged collusion with police officers involved in the alleged killings of the missing sabungeros.
Calinisan said the charges, if substantiated, would constitute severe violations of the norms expected of members of the Philippine National Police.
The suspension of Macapaz was based on the complaint of Ellakim Patidongan, who claimed that the former obstructed the investigation into the missing sabungeros when his and his brother’s cellphones were confiscated after their arrest.
“The preliminary evidence and factual allegations supporting the request for preventive suspension point to a level of involvement that satisfies the threshold of ‘serious or grave’ charges and strong evidence of guilt as contemplated in the above rule,” the resolution read.
“Premises considered, the motion for preventive suspension filed by complainant Ellakim T. Patidongan is hereby granted and thus, Brig. Gen. Romeo J. Macapaz is hereby placed under preventive suspension for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days, effective immediately upon receipt of this resolution.”
The resolution, however, emphasized that the grant of preventive suspension is not tantamount to a finding of culpability on the part of Macapaz.
“The imposition of preventive suspension is not a penalty, but a protective and procedural measure intended to preserve the integrity of the investigation, prevent any undue influence or interference in the proceedings and assure the availability of evidence and witnesses,” it said.
Ellakim, along with his brother, whistleblower Julie Patidongan (alias Totoy), filed the complaint against Macapaz before the Napolcom on Aug. 14.
The Patidongans also accused Macapaz of attempting to make it appear that they were the masterminds behind the abductions of at least 34 cockfighting enthusiasts between 2021 and 2022.
“The Commission, after a careful and judicious evaluation of the records and the motion, finds that there exists substantial legal and factual basis to warrant the grant of the Motion for Preventive Suspension. The gravity of the charges, the preliminary showing of strong evidence of guilt, and the necessity to safeguard the integrity and impartiality of the proceedings collectively justify the imposition of preventive suspension against the Respondent,” read the resolution.
In the complaint filed by the Napolcom’s Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS), Macapaz was accused of deliberately obstructing the probe during two separate incidents in July.
According to the charge sheet, Macapaz unlawfully seized the mobile phones of Ellakim and his brother, Jose Patidongan. He refused to return them despite repeated demands.
Macapaz also allegedly altered key evidence by deleting messages contained in the devices.
His actions “impeded, obstructed, and frustrated the pursuit of justice in the missing sabungeros case, which remains one of the most controversial unresolved cases in recent years,” read the complaint.
In a text message to reporters on Thursday, Macapaz, who has been reassigned to the SOCCSKSARGEN regional police, said he did not hold any evidence but only brought the Patidongan brothers back to the Philippines.
He declined interviews and said he would file his answer to the accusations against him before Napolcom.
Macapaz earlier led the apprehension of the Patidongan brothers from an undisclosed Southeast Asian country and brought them back to the Philippines on July 22.
In a press briefing after the relief of Macapaz as CIDG director, then PNP Spokesperson PBrig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said it was Macapaz who worked to track down the Patidongan brothers and was then investigating how the two were able to leave the country amid the missing sabungeros case.
Ellakim was allegedly caught using the ATM card of victim Melbert John Santos, who went missing in Sta. Cruz, Laguna on Jan. 13, 2022.
Jose, meanwhile, was seen in a video escorting a handcuffed victim, Michael Bautista, in Sta. Cruz on April 28, 2021.
4 more cops under probe
Meanwhile, Calinisan said the Napolcom is also looking into four more active police officers, including a general, who are being implicated by another witness.
“Meron pa mga ilang pangalan, at least four more. We are hoping nga ‘yong lumapit sa atin gawan ng affidavit ‘yong sinasabi niya… (at) tuluyan na lumabas itong taong ito at ipapel niya ‘yong sinasabi niya,” Calinisan said, adding that they would share such an affidavit with the Department of Justice.
“Hindi puwedeng ‘yong justice ay partial, kailangan buo para mas matuldukan na natin itong yugto na ito sa kasaysayan ng bansa natin. So, kung anong kailangan pang imbestigasyon at sino ang kailangan imbestigahan, tuloy lang tayo.”
Calinisan also stressed that they will not turn a blind eye should other officials be involved.
“Lahat po ng tao ay hindi po exempt sa imbestigasyon. Kung meron man silang partisipasyon sa missing sabungeros, sila po ay maaaring imbestigahan at sila po ay iniimbestigahan. Wala po tayong pakialam sa ranggo—you may be the lowest mammal, you may be the highest mammal—basta po ay involved sa missing sabungeros case, we will look into it,” Calinisan said.
