Patidongan’s brod suffering from PTSD

MANILA, Philippines — One of the brothers of whistle-blower Julie Patidongan is reportedly suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD, said to be one of the reasons why he distrusts other people including the police.

Elakim Patidongan and his brother, Jose, have filed administrative complaints against former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Brig. Gen. Romeo Macapaz Jr. and two other CIDG officials, accusing them of misconduct, dishonesty and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

An assessment by a CIDG official showed Elakim has PTSD, the reason why he and his siblings went against Macapaz who was responsible for extracting them from Cambodia.

Elakim detailed in his sworn affidavit submitted to the National Police Commission (Napolcom) that there has been an order to have him and Jose killed.

They are believed to be the missing links in the investigation into the kidnapping and disappearance of sabungeros or cockfight enthusiasts.

However, an evaluation of Patidongan showed that due to the ordeal he and his brother have suffered, it was not easy for him to trust people around him.

The assessment report, a copy of which was obtained by The STAR, is among the pieces of evidence submitted by the CIDG to the Napolcom to counter the administrative cases the Patidongan brothers have filed.

The assessment concluded that Elakim and Jose would not have agreed to be rescued by the CIDG officers if their lives were not in danger.

Elakim said he and Jose were at their safehouse in Cambodia when they were instructed to get ready as they would be brought to Myanmar.

The brothers went to a hotel in Phnom Penh. Afterwards, they said they got word about an order to have them killed.