PHILIPPINE National Police chief General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil yesterday lauded the men and women of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for a job well done in fighting criminality and terror in the country in 2024.

The PNP chief said the PNP-CIDG is living up to its promise to become “not only dependable but also progressive to ensure justice is served to all Filipinos’ and thus, he is challenging all its personnel to ‘really live with integrity.”

Headed by Brigadier Gen. Nicolas D. Torre III, the PNP-CIDG is the premier police unit tasked to undertake the monitoring, investigation and prosecution of all crimes involving economic sabotage, and other crimes of such magnitude and extent as to indicate their commission by highly placed or professional criminal syndicates and organizations.

Speaking during the 72nd founding anniversary of the unit, the top cop said last year, he did not think twice in deciding to name Torre, then Police Regional Office 11 director, as the new PNP-CIDG director.

“The best I can do is to give you a good commander in the person of Nick,” he told personnel of the PNP-CIDG in referring to Torre, a member of PNP Academy Class 1993.

Gen. Marbil cited the major role being played by the PNP-CIDG in the forthcoming May 12 national and local elections.

He said the unit which is now giving every Filipino a “responsible, flexible, dependable and modern” investigation has been behind a many “high-profile arrests” in 2024 amid their pursuit of innovation and coming up with modern investigative techniques.

Gen. Marbil also maintained that “there is no grand conspiracy” in the police force to commit crime and cover them up.

“Lahat nagtatrabaho sa pulisya,” he said even as he added he wants additional reward to policemen involved in drug arrests and seizures, say up to 30 percent of the actual volume of the drugs seized.

The PNP-CIDG in 2024 launched 13,349 law enforcement operations which led in the arrest of 10,797 wanted persons and the confiscation of nearly P3.362 billion worth of crime evidence including 1,439 illegal firearms.

It also registered a 99.50 percent Crime Clearance Efficiency and an 85.92 percent Crime Solution Efficiency after solving 2,729 criminal cases nationwide.

Under Brig. Gen. Torre, the PNP-CIDG continues to refine and implement strategies to enhance its relevance and effectiveness in law enforcement.

At present, it is prioritizing excellence in investigative and detective services, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and professionalism in all operations and upholding the highest standards of service to the public.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon