THE year that has just passed saw the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) headed by Brigadier General Ronald O. Lee scoring big in its mandate to go after all kinds of criminality and pursue its legal offensive against the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), the Journal Group learned yesterday.

The unit’s major contribution to the overall successful effort of the PNP in particular and the Marcos administration’s peace and security programs in general has earned it huge commendation from the PNP leadership headed by General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr.

Thru their intensified and enhanced anti-criminality flagship projects being implemented nationwide, the PNP-CIDG performed credibly in fighting criminality and violence, officials said.

“These flagship projects have proven to be an effective and efficient law enforcement tool in providing maximum or ultimate result in response and support to maintain peace and security in the country,” said Brig. Gen. Lee, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ‘Tanglaw-Diwa’ Class of 1992.

Records showed that in 2022, the PNP-CIDG conducted a total of 8,621 manhunt operations which led to the arrest of six National Most Wanted Persons or MWPs; 237 Regional MWPs; 464 Provincial MWPs; and 945 City and Municipal MWPs.

The operations likewise resulted in the jailing of 440 other Wanted Persons facing non-bailable cases for involvement in heinous crimes and 6,826 other wanted persons.

Out of the 2,470 leaders and members of known criminal gangs hauled to jail by members of the unit, 305 were found to be included in the wanted list of the PNP Directorate for Intelligence headed by Major Gen. Benjamin C. Acorda Jr.

Brig. Gen. Lee said that in their campaign against loose firearms last year, a total of 1,582 operations were conducted by his men across the country leading to the arrest of 780 suspects and the killing of 13 others following shootouts with arresting officers.

The operations resulted in the seizure of 918 firearms, 4,095 explosives, and 15,241 pieces of assorted live ammunition. A total of 387 cases for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 and RA 9516 or illegal possession of explosives were filed against the arrested suspects.

In their campaign against violators of the Intellectual Property Rights Code, smuggling, manufacturing, distribution, and trading of counterfeit products and items, the PNP-CIDG launched 183 operations which resulted in the arrest of 299 persons, confiscation of more than P50 million worth of counterfeit items and the filing of 97 cases in court against the arrested suspects.

Brig. Gen. Lee said they also conducted nine operations against illegal recruiters and human traffickers in 2022 leading to the arrest of 15 suspects and the filing of four charges in court.

The PNP-CIDG likewise conducted other law enforcement activities which resulted in the arrest of 639 lawbreakers and the filing of 210 criminal complaints against them before different courts nationwide.

The unit also arrested 487 suspects and recovered over P75 million worth of illegally-cut forest products as a result of its efforts to protect the environment and natural resources from wanton destruction. A total of 150 cases were filed against the apprehended violators.

Brig. Gen. Lee said his men at the same time figured in 61 police operations which resulted in the arrest of 114 known drug personalities, the recovery of nearly P6.8 million worth of illegal drugs and the filing of 28 cases for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 against the arrested drug personalities.

The unit likewise conducted 1,233 operations against illegal gambling and game-fixing leading to the arrest of 4,136 suspects, the seizure of nearly P2.9 million in cash bets and the filing of 1,083 cases in court.

Last year also saw the PNP-CIDG thru its National Capita Region Field Unit headed by Colonel Hansel M. Marantan being able to neutralize the notorious Warla Criminal Group, a syndicate composed of transwomen who have gained notoriety for gunrunning and kidnapping foreign nationals in Metro Manila.

The PNP-CIDG was also instrumental in the solution of the murder of radioman Percy Lapid. This after confessed Lapid gunman Joel Estorial surrendered to PNP-CIDG officers in Region 4-A before being turned over to the Special Investigation Task Group Lapid of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) headed by Major Gen. Jonnel C. Estomo.

Thanks to the good old-fashioned police work done by the SITG Lapid and the PNP-CIDG, Estorial spilled the beans which led to the indictment of a number of suspects in the killing.

The PNP-CIDG also pressed its effort to give true justice to the 34 ‘missing sabungeros’ leading to the indictment of a number of suspects in the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of several of the victims in Laguna and Manila..

Lastly, the unit scored big in its legal offensive against the CPP-NPA after a Manila court ordered the forfeiture of more than half-a-million pesos in rebel fund seized from two arrested suspects in Tacloban City.

Brig. Gen. Lee said that a financial investigation conducted by his men on the accused rebel personalities identified as Mariel Domequil and Frenchie Mae Cumpio has resulted in a court victory for the government.

This after Executive Judge Carolina C. Icasiano-Sison of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 18 last December 7 issued a decision ordering the forfeiture of the P557,360 worth of assets seized from the suspects following a CIDG Region 8 operation triggered by a search warrant issued by Judge Eligio Petilla of the Tacloban City Regional Trial Court Branch 22.

“We would like to announce that we have scored a landmark case with the civil forfeiture decision issued by Judge Icasiano-Sison which granted the petition filed by the PNP-CIDG thru the Anti-Money Laundering Council. The decision made the Asset Preservation Order on the amount of P557,360 seized from the respondents permanent. In short, their properties were forfeited in favor of the government,” said Brig. Gen. Lee.

The official said these accomplishments became huge milestones not only for himself but for his predecessors, the CIDG, the PNP, and the whole nation as well. These successes were a concerted effort and a unified desire of those involved in a program to have a more a peaceful and safer nation for all Filipinos, he explained.

“To the men and women of the CIDG and our partners in law enforcement, my high praises for an excellent job. Gaya nga po nang nasabi ko, ito ay hindi ko lang tagumpay ngunit tagumpay nating lahat. Tayo ay nagka-isa upang maisakatuparan ang ating misyon na masugpo at masupil ang kriminalidad sa ating bansa. To the Filipino people, rest assured that under my stewardship, we will remain dedicated to our duties of seeking the truth, find justice for the victims, and lawful punishment for offenders,” the official said.