OPERATIVES of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested more than a thousand people during law enforcement operations throughout the country last month.
In a statement issued yesterday, the CIDG said the arrested 1,046 suspects included 16 foreigners and 178 “most wanted persons” at the national, regional, and provincial levels.
They were arrested during 837 operations, which also led to the seizure of 118 loose firearms, six explosives, 127 assorted magazines, 1,896 rounds of assorted ammunition, and P169.51 million worth of consumer products and other pieces of evidence.
The suspects were arrested through the flagship campaign plans of the CIDG, such as Oplan Pagtugis (campaign against wanted persons), Oplan Salikop (campaign against organized crime and criminal groups), and Oplan Paglalansag Omega (campaign against private armed groups and loose firearms).
The CIDG said it filed 110 criminal complaints before the National Prosecution Service last month.
CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III commended CIDG personnel for last month’s “very good harvest.”
“With the confiscation of the illegal and sub-standard products, we significantly prevented the health risk these may cause to the consuming public, we helped the government collect the correct taxes by implementing the law,” said Torre.
With the arrest of the suspects and seizure of firearms and explosives, Torre said they accounted for a significant number of the so-called “guns, goons, and gold” of Philippine politics.
“Thus, we prevented their utilization for the coming election,” he added.
Torre assured the public that the CIDG remains steadfast in implementing the law and unyielding in the fight against all crimes.
He added that the CIDG is “relentless in accounting for and confiscating loose firearms and explosives to ensure a safe and peaceful national and local election on May 12. Your CIDG is dauntless, your CIDG means business.”
