The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has assured a fair investigation for Police Brig. Gen. Romeo Macapaz, the former chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), following the filing of administrative charges against him by the brothers of “missing sabungeros” whistleblower Julie Patidongan.
Napolcom Vice Chairman and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan said due process will be afforded to Macapaz, who led the efforts to arrest the two siblings abroad and bring them back to the country.
On Thursday, Aug. 14, Elakim and Jose Patidongan filed complaints of misconduct, dishonesty, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer before Napolcom, accusing Macapaz of maltreatment during their arrest in Cambodia last month.
Also charged were Police Lt. Col. Rossel Encarnacion and lawyer Jairus Vincent Concina.
Julie Patidongan, also known as “Dondon” and alias “Totoy,” claimed that Macapaz’s group confiscated the SIM and memory cards of his brothers’ cellphones, which allegedly contained vital information related to the case of the missing sabungeros.
He further alleged that Macapaz’s team pressured families of the victims to implicate him as the mastermind behind the abductions, instead of businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang.
The arrest of the Patidongan brothers was reportedly linked to Macapaz’s sudden reassignment from CIDG chief to a regional director post in Mindanao.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo confirmed that Macapaz had led efforts to locate the brothers, whom she described as the missing link in the sabungeros case.
Fajardo also revealed that Jose Patidongan had been convicted in a robbery case by the Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court, while Elakim was apprehended for using a fictitious name on his passport.
Elakim was allegedly caught using the ATM card of victim Melbert John Santos, who disappeared in Sta. Cruz, Laguna on Jan. 13, 2022.
Jose was seen in a video escorting another victim, Michael Bautista, who was handcuffed, on April 28, 2021, also in Sta. Cruz.
Julie Patidongan’s complaint previously led to the 90-day preventive suspension of 12 policemen, including a police colonel, whom he implicated in the case. (Aaron Recuenco)
