MANILA – The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has ordered a 90-day suspension of Police Brigadier General Romeo Macapaz, former chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), who is currently the director of Police Regional Office–Soccsksargen (PRO 12).

Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan read the resolution during a press conference on Thursday, August 28, 2025. The resolution, dated August 22, 2025, stemmed from complaints filed by whistleblowers in the case of the missing cockfight enthusiasts.

Calinisan said the Napolcom found substantial legal and factual basis to suspend Macapaz amid the ongoing investigation, following the filing of complaints against him by Ellakim Patidongan, brother of whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

The Napolcom resolution stated:
“Accordingly, 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.”

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

“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,” Calinisan added.

Ellakim filed the administrative complaints on August 14 against Macapaz for allegedly obstructing the investigation into the case of the missing sabungeros.

He said that when Macapaz brought him and their other brother, Jose Patidongan, back from Cambodia in July as part of the Philippine National Police’s investigation, the police general confiscated their cellphones and altered valuable evidence that could have helped the case.

Ellakim was reportedly the person seen in security camera footage withdrawing from an ATM using a card owned by Melbert John Santos, a sabungero who was reported missing on January 13, 2022.

Jose, meanwhile, was one of two men captured in a video escorting another sabungero—handcuffed Michael Bautista—out of a cockpit arena in Sta. Cruz, Laguna on April 28, 2021.

Calinisan clarified that the grant of preventive suspension against Macapaz is not tantamount to a finding of culpability. He explained that the suspension is not a penalty but a procedural measure intended to preserve the integrity of the investigation, prevent undue influence or interference, and ensure the availability of evidence and witnesses throughout the process.

Meanwhile, Calinisan revealed that they are investigating at least four more PNP officers, including another police general, for possible involvement in the case.

“These are names given to us by a possible witness and we are hoping that the witness surfaces. We are really hoping for him to come out. He is providing us names and the involvement of these names,” Calinisan said, noting that this witness knows a lot of information. “Marami siyang alam,” the Napolcom official said.

Calinisan added that as the investigation progresses, more names of policemen allegedly involved in the case are emerging.

“Kung sino ‘yung mga involved diyan, kung sino ‘yung mga nagprotekta diyan, kasama sa iniimbestigahan namin ‘yan. Ang ginagawa nating imbestigasyon ay factual, ang ginagawa nating imbestigasyon ay exhaustive kasi ‘yun dapat ang gawing imbestigasyon. Pero it is not in any way targeting certain personalities,” he pointed out.

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