A TOTAL of 22 informants on Monday received cash rewards amounting to more than PHP4.91 million from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
The informants, identified only through their codenames provided information that resulted in successful anti-drug operations, confiscation of illegal drugs and arrest of drug personalities.
The informants received their cash rewards in a ceremony at the PDEA National Headquarters in Quezon City, spearheaded by PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva and members of the Private Eye Rewards Committee.
The granting of rewards and incentives is under PDEA “Operation Private Eye”, a citizen-based information collection program designed to encourage the active participation of private citizens to report illegal drug activities in their communities.
“Operation Private Eye” is one way of encouraging the public to help the government’s anti-drug campaign by providing cash reward for every information that resulted in the seizure of illegal drugs and the arrest of drug personalities,” Villanueva said in a statement.
He added that the informants remain anonymous for their security and protection.
However, due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, only three informants who garnered the highest monetary rewards were allowed to attend the simple rites. They are: Informant “Ferdi” who received PHP542,156.57 for providing information that resulted in the seizure of 15 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, and the arrest of three drug personalities during a buy-bust operation along Molino Boulevard, corner Aguinaldo Highway, Talaba 4, Bacoor, Cavite on March 5.
Informant “Dark Horse” received PHP594,696.67 for supplying information that led to the seizure of 19.4 kilograms of shabu, and the arrest of two drug personalities during an interdiction operation in Matnog Seaport, Matnog, Sorsogon on January 16.
Informant “Nonong” received PHP1,250,035.86 for providing information resulting in the confiscation of more than 117 kilograms of shabu, and the arrest of one drug personality during a buy-bust operation in 21 B. Tabayoc Street, Barangay Sienna, Quezon City on December 24, 2019.
In a related development, the agency’s six operating units have also received monetary reward amounting to PHP5,916,765 for their meritorious anti-drug operations.
Villanueva personally handed the rewards to PDEA-Intelligence and Investigation Service (PDEA-IIS), PDEA-Special Enforcement Service (PDEA-SES), and the agency's regional offices in the National Capital Region, Bicol, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas.
“These PDEA operating units received cash rewards under PDEA Operation: “Lawmen”, an incentive program for law enforcers or members of the anti-illegal drug units/teams or task forces, including the support unit/s after the conduct of laudable anti-drug operations,” Villanueva said.
Operation: “Lawmen”, having been institutionalized through Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Regulation No. 1, series of 2016, on August 3, 2016, took effect on September 3, 2016. The program is the counterpart of Operation: Private Eye (OPE), a reward and incentive scheme for civilian informants.
“Besides issuing awards and recognition, financial reward system is another way of motivating drug law enforcement units to go the extra mile,” the PDEA chief said. (By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)
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