MANILA, Philippines — The National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Thursday said it has placed a high-level officer under a 90-day preventive suspension over an alleged attempt to tamper with the investigation on the missing cockfighters (sabungeros).

Brig. Gen. Romeo Macapaz, former director of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), was suspended following a complaint filed by Elakim Patidongan, brother of suspect-turned-whistleblower Julie, before the Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS), said Napolcom Vice Chairman and Executive Officer Rafael Calinisan

Patidongan alleged that Macapaz “lawfully took” the cellphone of their brother, Jose, and refused to return it without a valid reason.

Police general suspended for ‘obstruction’ of evidence in case of missing sabungeros

Moreover, Macapaz, who is now Police Regional Office 12 director, allegedly altered the messages contained in the cellphone and deleted some. He even allegedly concealed SD cards of the phone despite knowing that these were material evidence to the case.

“The complainant alleged that considering respondent’s high position and influence as director of CIDG, now PRO-12 director and the gravity and seriousness of the offense, a preventive suspension order against him is warranted to prevent possible miscarriage of justice,” Calinisan said, reading portions of the motion.

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“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,” he said.