Brothers tagged in ‘sabungeros’ case sue former chief of CIDG
Two brothers linked to several missing “sabungeros” on Thursday filed an administrative case for the dismissal of former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Police Brig. Gen. Romeo Macapaz in the National Police Commission (Napolcom).
Whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan and his brother Elakim Patidongan accused Macapaz of misconduct, dishonesty and conduct unbecoming of a police officer in connection with the case of the disappearance of 34 cockfighting enthusiasts between 2021 and 2022.
The two men, who are under police custody, are considered key witnesses in the “missing sabungeros” case.
The complaint also names Lt. Col. Rossel Encarnacion and lawyer Jairus Vincent Concina as respondents.
Lawyer Manuel Angelo Ventura, representing the Patidongan brothers, told the Inquirer that Elakim was the main complainant while his brother provided corroborative testimony.
Atong’s ‘shield’?
Elakim and a third brother, Jose Patidongan, were arrested by authorities led by Macapaz in Cambodia and brought back to the Philippines on July 22.
“They took Jose and my cell phone and when they returned it, there was no SIM card, no memory card. There was a lot of important evidence there to be found,” said Elakim, referring to information about the missing sabungeros. They refused to elaborate.
The brothers also alleged that Macapaz acted to shield gaming tycoon Atong Ang from scrutiny while attempting to implicate Julie as the mastermind in the disappearance of the sabungeros.
Macapaz refused to comment and told the Inquirer that he would respond to the complaint at Napolcom.
On July 28, Macapaz was assigned as the chief of the Police Regional Office of Soccsksargen. Police Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano took over his post.
The Philippine National Police had denied that Macapaz’s reassignment was related to the case of the missing cockfight enthusiasts.
‘Muddling’ the probe
PNP spokesperson Police Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo last month said that it was “very unfair” to Macapaz to be accused of “muddling the investigation” of the missing sabungeros.
Jose Patidongan is facing an arrest warrant for robbery after his conviction by a Mandaluyong City court. Police said he was also identified in a video escorting handcuffed sabungero Michael Bautista out of a cockpit arena in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, in April 2021.
Elakim was allegedly using a passport under the alias Robert Baylon. Police said CCTV footage showed him withdrawing money from an ATM using a card belonging to missing sabungero Melbert John Santos, who disappeared in January 2022.
Manila abduction
Their brother, Julie, is one of several men accused of kidnapping six sabungeros in Sta. Ana, Manila in 2022. Those abducted remain missing.
Ang also filed cases of, among others, intimidation, grave threats, coercion and slander, and incriminating innocent persons against Julie. Ang alleged that Julie, alias Totoy, threatened to implicate him in the disappearances of the sabungeros unless he was paid P300 million.
The families of the missing sabungeros have filed multiple murder and serious illegal detention charges against Ang.
Napolcom Vice Chair and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan said the Patidongan brothers’ complaint would be evaluated by the agency’s Investigation and Monitoring Inspection Service (Imis).
“If they (Imis) feel this should continue, they make Gen. Macapaz answer first, after which they will review whether it [the case] should continue. They will forward it to the Legal Service for a formal charge of those concerned,” Calinisan said.
‘Missing link’
Justice Undersecretary Eliseo Cruz said the Department of Justice (DOJ) was very supportive of the witnesses because “they need them for the cases to prosper.”
“We all expect that all those involved in this case, their actions are aligned with the DOJ,” he added.
The PNP earlier said that the Patidongan brothers could be part of the “missing link” in the investigation of the disappearance of the cockfighting aficionados.
Earlier, complaints were also filed against 12 police officers linked to the case.
The pretrial hearing on the case of the missing sabungeros concluded on Thursday.
Calinisan said that both sides—the complainants, the families of other victims and the police officers implicated—faced each other on Thursday morning and evidence were marked, affidavits reviewed, and certain facts admitted to shorten proceedings.
