Ex-CIDG chief Macapaz faces admin raps over sabungeros probe

Former CIDG chief, and now Soccsksargen police head, Gen. Romeo Macapaz.

MANILA, Philippines — Former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Brig. Gen. Romeo Macapaz was administratively charged before the National Police Commission (Napolcom) in connection with the probe of abducted cockfighting enthusiasts (sabungeros).

Last week, Elakim Patidongan – the brother of whistleblower Julie Patidongan – accused Macapaz of unlawfully seizing their cellphones and taking their subscriber identity module (SIM) and memory cards while being repatriated from Cambodia.

On Friday, Napolcom’s Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS) filed charges against Macapaz before the agency’s Legal Affairs Service for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

In a press conference, IMIS chief Edman Pares explained in Filipino: “We only found probable cause against one individual, Brigadier General Macapaz.”

CIDG officers Lt. Col. Rossel Encarnacion and lawyer Jairus Vincent Concina were also named in Patidongan’s complaint.

However, Pares noted, “His two co-accused in those cases were dropped because we did not see probable cause to file a case against them.”

The Patidongans further alleged Macapaz attempted to paint them as the masterminds behind the reported kidnapping-killings of the sabungeros between 2021 and 2022.

READ: Why are the Patidongan brothers suing ex-CIDG chief Macapaz?

Macapaz and the Philippine National Police previously maintained that they did intend to charge the Patidongans, but only so that they could be entered into the witness protection program.

Last July 28, the then-CIDG chief was transferred, and he is now serving as director of the Police Regional Office Soccsksargen (PRO 12).

Macapaz declined to comment and told INQUIRER.net that he would only be answering to Napolcom about the case. /apl /jpv