Jamaine Punzalan

Former CIDG chief PBGen. Romeo Macapaz in a photo published on July 29, 2025. Courtesy of CIDG

Article (news)

CIDG- MACAPAZ

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175634868083820250729-macapaz-CIDG3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former CIDG chief PBGen. Romeo Macapaz in a photo published on July 29, 2025. Courtesy of CIDG </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Soccsksargen police chief PBGen. Romeo Macapaz has been preventively suspended over a witness complaint for alleged obstruction in the investigation on the disappearance of dozens of sabungeros or cockfighting enthusiasts when he was still head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the National Police Commission (Napolcom) said Thursday.  </p><p>Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan said Macapaz was given a 90-day preventive suspension following the complaint of witness Ellakim Patidongan, who alleged that Macapaz seized his and his brother Jose’s cellphones and deleted some messages.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/27/doj-evaluation-done-for-complaints-related-to-missing-sabungeros-case-1910">DOJ: Evaluation done for complaints related to ‘missing sabungeros’ case</a></div><p>Macapaz, according to the complaint, also concealed the SD cards of the cellphones.</p><p>The two brothers are siblings of whistleblower Julie Patidongan, who are also linked to the disappearance of cockfighting enthusiasts. They are regarded as supposed <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/31/2-brothers-of-missing-sabungeros-whistleblower-totoy-arrested-pnp-1111">“missing links” in the case.</a></p><p>According to a three-page resolution by the Napolcom, there was evidence to show that Macapaz was exerting efforts to harass, intimidate, coerce, or unduly influence the Patidongans into withdrawing the complaint or retracting their sworn statement, or to tamper with evidence.</p><p>“The Commission en banc released the preventive suspension based on this ground... The charge is serious or grave and the evidence of guilt is strong,” Calinisan said in a media briefing.</p><p>He said the suspension was warranted to avoid a possible miscarriage of justice.</p><p>Macapaz has returned to Camp Crame to face investigation and respond to the allegations, according to Calinisan.</p><div><iframe width="1101" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dsqg9cs_zw0" title="Ex-CIDG chief sinampahan ng reklamo kaugnay ng mga nawawalang sabungero | TV Patrol" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>In a text message, Macapaz said he did not hold any evidence but only brought the Patidongan brothers back to the Philippines. He declined interviews and opted to respond directly to the Napolcom.</p><p>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.</p><p>Ellakim was allegedly caught using the ATM card of victim Melbert John Santos, who went missing on January 13, 2022, in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.</p><p>Jose, meanwhile, was seen in a video escorting a handcuffed victim, Michael Bautista, in Sta. Cruz on April 28, 2021.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FOUR MORE POLICE OFFICERS INVOLVED</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Calinisan said the Napolcom was looking into four more active police officers, including a general, who were being implicated by another witness.</p><p>“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,” he said.</p><p>(No one is exempt from investigation. If they have participation in the missing sabungeros case, they may be investigated and are being investigated. We don’t care about rank — you may be the lowest mammal, you may be the highest mammal — as long as you are involved in the missing sabungeros case, we will look into it.)</p><p>“Hindi naman puwedeng you’re looking into an investigation tapos nakapikit ‘yong mata mo for certain personalities,” he added.</p><p>(You cannot conduct an investigation while keeping your eyes closed for certain personalities.)</p><p>Whistleblower Julie Patindongan earlier said dozens of missing sabungeros were murdered by rogue police, allegedly for rigging matches at the height of the country&#x27;s pandemic-era craze for betting on live-streamed cockfights, or &quot;e-sabong&quot;.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/15/online-cockfighting-thrives-in-philippines-despite-ban-and-murders-1125">Online cockfighting thrives in Philippines despite ban and murders</a></div><p>Divers have spent more than a month searching Taal Lake for the bodies of the men.  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/7/missing-sabungeros-case-more-human-bones-clothes-found-in-taal-lake-1720">Missing sabungeros case: More human bones, clothes found in Taal Lake</a></div><p>The justice department on Wednesday said prosecutors would proceed to the preliminary investigation stage and start issuing subpoenas in connection to the sabungeros&#x27; case.</p><div><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3vWX4ytFG_4" title="Complaints in missing sabungeros case cleared for preliminary investigation | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lqJbzfVVap8" title="LIVE: House holds hearing on the missing sabungeros case | August 27" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Former police CIDG chief PBGen. Romeo Macapaz will face a 90-day suspension in connection to the administrative complaints over his alleged tampering of evidence in the "missing sabungeros" case, the National Police Commission said Thursday.</p>

Former police CIDG chief PBGen. Romeo Macapaz will face a 90-day suspension in connection to the administrative complaints over his alleged tampering of evidence in the "missing sabungeros" case, the National Police Commission said Thursday.

Ex-CIDG chief suspended Macapaz over alleged obstruction in missing sabungeros case

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Ex-CIDG chief suspended Macapaz over alleged obstruction in missing sabungeros case

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 28, 2025 10:43 AM PHT

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Updated August 28, 2025 12:44 PM PHT

Read More:

CIDG

PNP

Macapaz

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sabong

sabungero

Taal

missing sabungero

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