PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar has ordered Colonel Neil B. Alinsañgan, the new PNP Intelligence Group (PNP-IG) director, to ensure the continuing success of the PNP-IG in neutralizing terror groups and other wanted criminals in the country, the Journal Group learned.

Alinsañgan, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ‘Sambisig’ Class of 1991 took over as the new PNP-IG director vice Brig. Gen. Warren F. de Leon of PNP Academy Class 1993 who has been transferred to the PNP Directorate for Intelligence after successfully leading the premier PNP intelligence and counter-intelligence unit since November 25 last year.

The turnover of command at the PNP-IG between Alinsañgan, a former PNPA Commandant of Cadets and de Leon was led by PNP The Chief Directorial Staff, Lieutenant Gen. Dionardo B. Carlos. The new PNP-IG director also used to be the Regional Intelligence Division chief of the Police Regional Office 9 in Western Mindanao and was once a Police Attache in China before becoming the PNP-DI Executive Officer last April 15.

One of the youngest active members of PMA Class 1991, the new PNP-IG director was given the task to develop more ‘intelligence-driven information’ that would lead to the neutralization of ‘high-value targets’ specifically those involved in terrorism and major crimes in the country.

He will also play a key role in Gen. Eleazar’s Intensified Cleanliness Policy (ICP) aimed at correcting minor problems in the force before they develop into much bigger ones.

The PNP chief’s ICP aimed to align the organization’s thrusts and programs into three main parts and all anchored on the ‘broken window policy’ which basically states that small problems must be immediately addressed to prevent them from getting worse.

Thus, Gen. Eleazar ordered a full stop to the so-called ‘padrino system’ in the PNP recruitment process by ensuring that recruits will be ‘faceless and nameless.’ He directed all his commanders to ensure cleanliness in their precincts, stations and offices; and sent a message to the whole country that members of the force who will go astray will be punished with either dismissal, suspension or demotion.

He said that reforms in their recruitment system will protect the PNP from erring cops and break the culture of wrongdoings among their ranks.

The PNP-IG which is under the supervision of the PNP Directorate for Intelligence headed by Major Gen. Dennis P. Agustin has fielded undercover officers across the country to further strengthen their intelligence and counter-intelligence mission.

So far this year, PNP-IG-initiated operations in the country have resulted in the neutralization of over 1,000 New People’s Army (NPA) personalities and other most wanted persons.

The PNP-IG have also developed a number of ‘intelligence packets’ used by the PNP Special Action Force, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the 17 Police Regional Offices in tracking down elusive terrorists and other criminals nationwide.

Since late last year, PNP-IG agents literally have not given wanted persons in the country any time to sleep amid a directive from the PNP leadership for them to help account for all lawbreakers still on the lam over the years and prevent them from committing more crimes on the streets.

As a result, nearly 200 wanted persons, all subject of warrants of arrest issued by different regional trial courts nationwide have been hauled to jail by members of the unit.

They include elusive NPA and Abu Sayyaf terrorists as well as persons wanted for non-bailable crimes like rape, murder, robbery-holdup, illegal recruitment and violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Many of the suspects were the subjects of huge cash rewards offered by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of National Defense (DND).

The PNP leadership has commended the PNP-IG for a job well done in accounting for most wanted persons in the country apart from going all-out against terror gangs and their supporters.

The efforts of the PNP-IG have been lauded by the PNP leadership which noted that intelligence information developed by the unit enabled them to further advance their all-out campaign against criminality and terror and help keep the streets much safer 24/7.

The Journal Group learned that over 1,000 wanted persons and other lawbreakers have been neutralized by the PNP as a result of ‘intelligence packets’ provided by the PNP-IG since November last year.

Apart from going after elusive terrorists and other wanted persons, the PNP-IG has also been instrumental in the surrender of nearly 1,000 NPA rebels and their active supporters from November to date.

They also provided other PNP units with reliable information which led in the seizure of hundreds of illegal firearms and dozens of grenades and improvised explosive devices.

At the same time, the PNP-IG accounted for dozens of wanted terror suspects, majority of them members of the ISIS-inspired Abu Sayyaf Group.

The unit also launched operations which netted over 200 Regional, Provincial, City and Municipal Most Wanted Persons.

The PNP-IG achieved their major accomplishments thru the launching of an honest-to-goodness ‘intelligence work’ anchored on solid cooperation with the community and their other intelligence counterparts.

This month alone, there are 35 less most wanted persons in the country as a result of PNP-IG-led operations.

Two of the suspects identified as Haizar Yusop and Jimmy Madjiul were among the top drug targets in the country who are now in jail after being arrested in an anti-narcotics operation in Parang, Sulu which led to the seizure of a kilo of shabu worth P6.8 million the other Saturday, the top cop said.

Yusop and Madjiul were arrested by officers of the Regional Intelligence Unit 9 and the Sulu Provincial Intelligence Team in a sting in Barangay Tumangas in Parang municipality.

Recovered from the possession of the arrested suspects were a camouflage bag containing a kilo of shabu and the boodle money topped by a marked P1,000 bill.

The two suspects are now under the custody of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) facing non-bailable charges for sale and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The other suspects who are all facing non-bailable criminal offenses were arrested in a string of manhunt operations in the countryside. Gen. Eleazar earlier ordered the PNP-IG to join their campaign against most wanted persons in the country by launching ‘intelligence-driven operations’ aimed at tracking down fugitives who have been in hiding for 10 to 20 years or more.

Last week, 17 of the suspects were arrested in separate operations in the countryside. Five of the suspects are wanted for non-bailable murder cases; six for multiple rape and sexual assault and child abuse; one for carnapping; one for violation of the anti-child abuse law; and two for estafa.