logo
Patidongan brothers file complaint-affidavit vs. ex-CIDG chief

Patidongan brothers file complaint-affidavit vs. ex-CIDG chief

GMA Network2 days ago
Julie 'Dondon' Patidongan and his brother Elakim Patidongan on Thursday filed a complaint-affidavit against former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Police Brigadier General Romeo Macapaz and two others before the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM).
In a press conference right after the filing, Dondon accused Macapaz of urging individuals to implicate him in the missing sabungeros case as the mastermind.
'May isang pamilya na nagsabi, katulad ng nakaraan, na tinuturuan na baliktarin lahat ng sinasabi ko, na gagagawin niya ako ang mastermind, at labas na raw dito sa Mr. Atong Ang,' Dondon said.
(A family said, like in the past, that they were instructed to contradict everything I said, that they would make me the mastermind, and leave Mr. Atong Ang out of the issue.)
'Nakausap ko ang isang major na sinabi sa akin, 'Sir, hindi ko gagawin 'yan kung walang nag-utos sa akin.' Sa madaling salita, sinabi ng isang major, inutusan siya ni General Macapaz,' he added.
(I spoke to a police major and they told me, 'Sir, I wouldn't do that if no one ordered me. In other words, the police major said, General Macapaz ordered him.)
Meanwhile, Elakim said his rights were violated when he was taken by Philippine authorities in Cambodia.
'Meron po. Malaki ang ano niya sa pagkuha niya sa amin. Una, hindi niya kami kinausap at kinuha niya ang cellphone namin,' Elakim said.
(There were rights violated. It was a big violation when he took us. First, he didn't talk to us and he took our cellphone," Elakim said.
According to Elakim, there were sets of evidence in their belongings.
The complaints filed against Macapaz and others are misconduct, dishonesty, conduct unbecoming of a police officer, and oppression, according to Dondon.
GMA News Online is seeking the contact information of Macapaz from the CIDG and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to get his statement but the police organization has yet to respond as of posting time.
Macapaz in July said that they are still verifying information that there were cops who were trying to make Patidongan appear as the mastermind in the case.
'Bine-verify pa po namin 'yan Ma'am kasi may order nga po ang DOJ na sila lang ang pwede magsalita for the moment. Linawin muna namin Ma'am kung ano ang issue…' Macapaz earlier said.
(We're still verifying that because the DOJ has issued an order that only they can speak for the moment. We need to clarify the issue first.)
Dondon and the families of missing sabungeros on July 14 also filed a complaint-affidavit implicating 18 cops in the disappearances.
NAPOLCOM announced August 4 that it has imposed a 90-day preventive suspension on 12 involved active police officers. Six other police officers have already been dismissed.
A total of 34 cockfighting enthusiasts have been reported missing from 2021 to 2022. According to the police, the missing personalities were kidnapped allegedly due to match fixing or cheating in the cockfighting games.
Patidongan claimed that the victims were already buried in Taal Lake.
He named businessman Atong Ang as a mastermind in the case and also linked actress Gretchen Barretto to the disappearances. Both have denied the allegations.
On August 1, multiple murder, serious illegal detention, enforced disappearance, direct bribery, and obstruction of justice were filed against Ang, Barretto, and others. — BM, GMA Integrated News
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Philippine Consulate in New York confirms some Filipinos denied entry at U.S. Borders
Philippine Consulate in New York confirms some Filipinos denied entry at U.S. Borders

GMA Network

time14 hours ago

  • GMA Network

Philippine Consulate in New York confirms some Filipinos denied entry at U.S. Borders

Officials from the Philippine Consulate in New York, led by Consul General Senen T. Mangalile (center), addressed the media on border entry issues and provided guidance for undocumented Filipinos in the U.S. Photo by Dave LLavanes Jr. NEW YORK - The Philippine Consulate General in New York has confirmed that some Filipino travelers are denied entry at U.S. borders, often due to discrepancies in travel documents or past criminal records. Speaking during the Consulate's 'Media Hour,' New York Consul General Senen Mangalile said that in some cases, travelers' visas did not match the purpose they stated during border interviews. 'Some of them have visas that do not match what was revealed during the border interview. For example, they may have tourist visas but are suspected of planning to work. Others are turned away because of past criminal records. I'm not saying they were necessarily imprisoned, but there were items in their record that the Customs and Border Protection officers discovered. These are usually the two main reasons travelers are turned away at the border,' Mangalile explained. At present, less than ten cases are being monitored within the Consulate's jurisdiction. The Consulate is coordinating with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on the case of two Filipino detainees from Boston and Philadelphia, who have already served prison sentences and are now awaiting deportation proceedings. 'Thousands of individuals of all nationalities are being deported, and our kababayan are among them. It will take time. Deportation is a costly process. They need to purchase tickets, and in some cases, ICE officers have to escort people. Some flights may even have to be chartered. So, even if our kababayan offer to undergo voluntary deportation, once they are already in the system, they will have to wait for their turn to be removed from the country,' Mangalile said. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Angelica Escalona, in a separate interview, said she will ask for the verification of the information that there are Filipinos are being denied entry in U.S. borders. The Consulate, through the DFA, has funds to assist in the voluntary deportation of Filipinos, but these are available only on a case-by-case basis. 'I believe the DFA's position is very clear — it will be on a case-by-case basis. If there is no threat to the person's life or welfare, I don't think the government should shoulder the cost,' Mangalile clarified. The Consulate's Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) section has also reported an increase in inquiries about voluntary departure. Callers are advised to consult the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) website, which outlines the process. According to DHS guidelines, undocumented immigrants without criminal records are encouraged to leave the country voluntarily to improve their chances of being accepted should they wish to return in the future. Mangalile reiterated the call of Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez for undocumented Filipinos to assess their options. 'I will reiterate what the ambassador said before all of this began. First, if you no longer have any hope of obtaining proper status and legal residency here in the United States, one of your options is to return to the Philippines. Going back to the Philippines is as simple as buying a ticket and boarding a plane," said Mangalile. "If your passport is not updated, you can come to us. If your passport has complications, then one option for you is to obtain a travel document and process your passport once you are in the Philippines. The advantage of this is that you will be going home without being arrested and therefore, theoretically, you will have the ability to return to the United States in the future — this is if you truly have no hope and no legal claim whatsoever," he added. The Consul General also said that "Now, if you see a basis to remain here in the United States, then that is something you will need to decide on, but what can truly help you is an immigration lawyer. We regret, as the Philippine government, that we cannot provide immigration lawyers for all those without legal status here in the United States.' — with a report from Michaela del Callar/BAP, GMA Integrated News

Patidongan brothers file complaint-affidavit vs. ex-CIDG chief
Patidongan brothers file complaint-affidavit vs. ex-CIDG chief

GMA Network

time2 days ago

  • GMA Network

Patidongan brothers file complaint-affidavit vs. ex-CIDG chief

Julie 'Dondon' Patidongan and his brother Elakim Patidongan on Thursday filed a complaint-affidavit against former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Police Brigadier General Romeo Macapaz and two others before the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM). In a press conference right after the filing, Dondon accused Macapaz of urging individuals to implicate him in the missing sabungeros case as the mastermind. 'May isang pamilya na nagsabi, katulad ng nakaraan, na tinuturuan na baliktarin lahat ng sinasabi ko, na gagagawin niya ako ang mastermind, at labas na raw dito sa Mr. Atong Ang,' Dondon said. (A family said, like in the past, that they were instructed to contradict everything I said, that they would make me the mastermind, and leave Mr. Atong Ang out of the issue.) 'Nakausap ko ang isang major na sinabi sa akin, 'Sir, hindi ko gagawin 'yan kung walang nag-utos sa akin.' Sa madaling salita, sinabi ng isang major, inutusan siya ni General Macapaz,' he added. (I spoke to a police major and they told me, 'Sir, I wouldn't do that if no one ordered me. In other words, the police major said, General Macapaz ordered him.) Meanwhile, Elakim said his rights were violated when he was taken by Philippine authorities in Cambodia. 'Meron po. Malaki ang ano niya sa pagkuha niya sa amin. Una, hindi niya kami kinausap at kinuha niya ang cellphone namin,' Elakim said. (There were rights violated. It was a big violation when he took us. First, he didn't talk to us and he took our cellphone," Elakim said. According to Elakim, there were sets of evidence in their belongings. The complaints filed against Macapaz and others are misconduct, dishonesty, conduct unbecoming of a police officer, and oppression, according to Dondon. GMA News Online is seeking the contact information of Macapaz from the CIDG and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to get his statement but the police organization has yet to respond as of posting time. Macapaz in July said that they are still verifying information that there were cops who were trying to make Patidongan appear as the mastermind in the case. 'Bine-verify pa po namin 'yan Ma'am kasi may order nga po ang DOJ na sila lang ang pwede magsalita for the moment. Linawin muna namin Ma'am kung ano ang issue…' Macapaz earlier said. (We're still verifying that because the DOJ has issued an order that only they can speak for the moment. We need to clarify the issue first.) Dondon and the families of missing sabungeros on July 14 also filed a complaint-affidavit implicating 18 cops in the disappearances. NAPOLCOM announced August 4 that it has imposed a 90-day preventive suspension on 12 involved active police officers. Six other police officers have already been dismissed. A total of 34 cockfighting enthusiasts have been reported missing from 2021 to 2022. According to the police, the missing personalities were kidnapped allegedly due to match fixing or cheating in the cockfighting games. Patidongan claimed that the victims were already buried in Taal Lake. He named businessman Atong Ang as a mastermind in the case and also linked actress Gretchen Barretto to the disappearances. Both have denied the allegations. On August 1, multiple murder, serious illegal detention, enforced disappearance, direct bribery, and obstruction of justice were filed against Ang, Barretto, and others. — BM, GMA Integrated News

Over P802M worth of ‘shabu' recovered from Bataan shoreline
Over P802M worth of ‘shabu' recovered from Bataan shoreline

GMA Network

time2 days ago

  • GMA Network

Over P802M worth of ‘shabu' recovered from Bataan shoreline

Over a hundred packs containing suspected shabu worth P802,400,000 were recovered from the shoreline of Barangay Sisiman in Mariveles, Bataan on Thursday, the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) said. In a statement, the PRO3 said a concerned citizen reported to authorities that the sacks of suspected shabu were discovered near a lighthouse. 'The inventory was conducted in the presence of media representatives, barangay officials, and a DOJ representative,' the PRO3 said. According to the police, there were 118 packs of suspected shabu placed inside six sacks. The recovered items were turned over to the Bataan Forensic Unit for laboratory examination and proper disposition. "This significant recovery is a testament to what can be achieved when the community and law enforcement work hand-in-hand. We commend the concerned citizen who came forward and our operating units for their swift and coordinated action,' PRO3 chief Police Brigadier General Ponce Rogelio Peñones Jr. said. 'Every kilo of drugs we take off the streets is a step closer to safeguarding our communities and securing a better future for our nation,' he added. —Joviland Rita/LDF, GMA Integrated News

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store