THE Patidongan brothers filed on Thursday, August 14, 2025, an administrative complaint against former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director Brigadier General Romeo Macapaz in relation to the case of the missing sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts).
In a press conference, accused-turned-whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan said the complaint was based on the ill-treatment of his brothers, Elakim and Jose, when they were picked up in Cambodia in July.
“Kinuha nila ‘yung cellphone namin ni Jose. Nung binalik na nila, wala nang SIM card at wala nang memory card…May mahahalagang ebidensya doon na makukuha,” said Elakim.
(They took Jose’s and my cellphone. When they returned it, the SIM card and memory card were gone… There was important evidence that could have been retrieved from it.)
“Malaki ang tiwala namin sa kanya nung sinundo niya kami kasi kausap siya (Macapaz) ng kapatid namin (Patidongan), pero nag-iba ang takbo ng… at pinaaresto niya kami sa NAIA,” he added.
(We had great trust in him when he fetched us because he [Macapaz] was in communication with our brother [Patidongan], but things took a different turn… and he had us arrested at NAIA.)
Julie also accused Macapaz of persuading the families of the missing sabungeros to sign an affidavit implicating him as the mastermind in the case instead of businessman and gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang.
“Ang gusto ko, matanggal si General Macapaz at ma-dismiss,” he said.
(What I want is for General Macapaz to be removed and dismissed.)
Jose and Elakim were arrested in an operation personally led by Macapaz in the last week of July.
Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said if not for the efforts of Macapaz, Jose and Elakim, the “missing link” in the case of the missing sabungeros would not have been arrested.
Jose is currently detained at the CIDG facility in Camp Crame due to a robbery conviction.
He was one of the two men captured in a video escorting Michael Bautista, while in handcuffs, out of a cockpit arena in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, on April 28, 2021.
Elakim, on the other hand, was seen in security camera footage withdrawing from an ATM using a card that belonged to Melbert John Santos, who was reported missing on January 13, 2022.
Following the filing of murder charges against Ang, led by the Patidongan brothers as well as the families of the missing sabungeros, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the information provided by the Patidongans was “considered highly reliable” and “foolproof.”
Remulla said Elakim personally witnessed the killing of at least 10 missing sabungeros. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)