Despite his 90-day suspension ordered by the National Police Commission (Napolcom), Brigadier Gen. Romeo Macapaz stays as police regional director for Soccsksargen, according to acting Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Brigadier Gen. Randulf Tuaño.
The Napolcom earlier ordered Macapaz’s suspension in light of an administrative complaint filed against him by a whistleblower related to the ongoing investigation into the missing “sabungeros” or cockfighting aficionados.
“He (Macapaz) has not officially received whatever suspension order, whether it is preventive or administrative,” Tuaño told reporters during a press briefing.
“But, the chief PNP’s guidance is that, whatever the decision will be for General Macapaz, the Philippine National Police will honor and serve it,” he added.
Macapaz, who was reportedly spotted at Camp Crame moments after the PNP’s first command conference led by Acting Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr.
Macapaz was charged with cases of grave misconduct, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer, including alleged collusion with police officers allegedly involved in the killings of the missing sabungeros.
The Napolcom said the charges, if substantiated, would constitute severe violations of the norms expected of members of the PNP.
The suspension of Macapaz was based on the complaint of Ellakim Patidongan, who claimed that the police official obstructed the investigation into the missing sabungeros when his and his brother’s cellphones were confiscated after their arrest.
“The preliminary evidence and factual allegations supporting the request for preventive suspension point to a level of involvement that satisfies the threshold of ‘serious or grave’ charges and strong evidence of guilt as contemplated in the above rule,” the Napolcom resolution read.
