ADJUDGED as the Philippine National Police (PNP) Best National Operational Support Unit in 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Philippine National Police Intelligence Group (PNP-IG) marks its 45th founding anniversary Tuesday, February 20, 2024, after a year of ‘intelligence-driven’ operations which netted over 2,000 Enemies of the State.

The ‘lean but mean’ unit headed by Brigadier General Romeo J. Macapaz is known to have silently but effectively continued its mission in 2023 when it sustained its mission to deliver big-time accomplishments on threat groups and other concerns while continuing to professionalize and enhance its intelligence and counter-intelligence operations.

PNP chief, General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. will lead Tuesday’s awarding of medals and plaques of appreciation to outstanding personnel of the unit as well as its stakeholders.

The awardees include Colonel Evelio B. Degay, Lieutenant Col. Jackie C. Candelario, Major Delta F. Navarra, Captain Jervis Allen M. Ramos, Police Executive Master Sergeant Donnie S. Avanceña, Police Chief MSgt. Shielo L. Quimat, Patrolman Christopher Ryan M. Balcueva, Police Staff Sgt. Romarico T. Docalas and Non-Uniformed Personnel Elen A. Corciega and Cosme D. Culdong.

Also to be awarded are the Regional Intelligence Unit 3 as Best Regional Intelligence Unit, the Counter-Intelligence Division as the Best Operating Division, the Cagayan Provincial Intelligence Team under the Regional Intelligence Unit 2 as Best Provincial Intelligence Team and the PNP-IG Advisory Council headed by retired Major Gen. Rolando DR Añonuevo.

Known for its motto ‘Por La Patria’ or For the Fatherland, the PNP-IG’s anniversary theme is ‘Serbisyong Nagkakaisa Para sa Bayan, Handog ng PNP Intelligence Group tungo sa Kaayusan, Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran.’

The PNP-IG in 2023 vastly contributed to the attainment of peace and order in the country through its enhanced intelligence and counter-intelligence operations earning it commendations from Gen. Acorda who himself is a former PNP Director for Intelligence.

The PNP-IG has envisioned to be a more highly-capable, effective and credible police intelligence unit by 2030. Brig. Gen. Macapaz said this year, they also aim to achieve more ‘high-impact acccomplishments to make their existence more relevant and fulfilling.

Under the member of PNP Academy ‘Patnubay’ Class of 1995, the PNP-IG last year intensified its intelligence operations which led in the neutralization of 166 Local Terrorist Group or LTG members; 1,356 Communist Terrorist Group or CTG personalities, two of them members of the CPP/NPA wanted for 55 counts of terrorism financing.

The unit also neutralized 130 Criminal Gang members and 72 Potential Armed Group members during the period.

In support to the PNP’s Oplan: Manhunt Charlie or the nationwide campaign against wanted persons, the PNP-IG helped arrest a total of 1,066 Most Wanted Persons including MWPs who were the subject of government reward money amounting to P4.465 million. The captured MWPs were the subject of bounties ranging from P750,000 to 280,000.

Members of the unit also helped in the campaign against loose firearms by neutralizing 96 personalities and accounting for 424 assorted illegal guns that could have been used to commit violence in the streets.

The PNP-IG likewise provided intelligence support to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group’s campaign against illegal online gambling last year.

During the period, it formulated the Coplan: Hongtai Fraus which resulted in the service of search warrants against the owners, maintainers and facilitators of illegal POGO establishments in Mabalacat City in Pampanga and in Las Piñas City which led in the rescue of hundreds of foreign nationals and Filipinos who were found to be victims of trafficking in person.

Intelligence packet provided by the PNP-IG to other police units led in the confiscation of 5.22 kilograms of shabu worth more than P35 million, over 20 kilos of dried marijuana leaves valued at more than P100,000 and the uprooting and destruction of over 300,000 pieces of fully-grown marijuana plants and seedlings in the countryside.

Lastly, the unit intensified its counter-intelligence operations as part of its effort to rid the 228,000-strong police force of misfits and scalawags.

As a result, Year 2023 saw the PNP-IG causing the arrest of 45 police personnel involved in different illegal activities.

Their sustained intelligence efforts against threat groups and wanted persons have contributed to the maintenance of peace and order in the country amid the PNP’s all-out program to ensure that the Philippines will be a much safer place to live, work and do business.

The PNP-IG has also developed a web-based system called CAMDIGS which stands for Collection, Analysis and Monitoring of Data Intelligence Group System to record and monitor Action Agents, Barangay Information Network or BIN Informant Data and Information Reports of the unit.

The system also helps analyze geographical information of the patterns, relationships, and connections of information based on the database of information reports involving threat groups.

The PNP-IG also was responsible for the mass surrender of 50 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters or BIFF in Parang, Maguindanao last May 15 and the neutralization of BIFF and Moro Islamic Liberation Front members in Barangay Didtaras in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat on September 24 last year.