Ex-CIDG chief preventively suspended, four others under probe over missing ‘sabungeros’ - Napolcom

Metro Manila, Philippines - The national police leadership ordered a 90-day preventive suspension for a former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief, while four other officers are under investigation for alleged involvement in the missing cockfight enthusiasts or “sabungeros” case, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) said Thursday, Aug. 28.

It said the preventive suspension of former CIDG chief and now Soccsksargen director PBGen Romeo Macapaz was effective immediately over his alleged obstruction in the investigation on the “sabungeros.”

Napolcom vice chairperson and executive officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan said the body found “substantial legal and factual basis” to warrant the preventive suspension, which was sought by Elakim Patidongan, the brother of suspect-turned-whistleblower Julie Patidongan.

It filed an administrative complaint against Macapaz for alleged grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer stemming from Patidongan’s affidavit.

Macapaz allegedly took the cell phones of Elakim and Jose, another Patidongan brother, by force when the two were repatriated from Cambodia in July and deleted some of the text messages.

Elakim said the police officer supposedly concealed the secure digital (SD) cards of the phones that could be material evidence to the probe.

“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,” stated the Napolcom resolution read by Calinisan.

He clarified that the preventive suspension was not yet a penalty.

In late July, the Napolocom charged 12 police personnel for their alleged involvement in the “sabungeros” case, stemming from Julie Patidongan’s complaint. 

Four officers under probe

Meanwhile, Calinisan said four other active police officers tagged in the case are under investigation as well.

“These are names given to us by a possible witness and we’re hoping that that witness surfaces, so we’re really hoping for him to come out,” he told a news briefing.

“We’re establishing linkages also,” he said. “So, bukod dun sa witness namin na nagbabanggit na apat na pangalan, meron pa kami mga sinisilip na pangalan [aside from the four names given by the possible witness, we are looking to more personalities].

From 2021 to 2022, at least 34 “sabungeros” went missing after allegedly cheating in the matches.

Patidongan said the bodies were dumped in Taal Lake in Batangas. So far, authorities have retrieved 401 bones.

Only 163 bones were subjected to DNA tests, with results not matching the samples from relatives.