BY CHITO CHAVEZ
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) handed out on Monday a total of P4,914,416.74 in cash reward to 22 confidential informants whose valuable tips to the agency led to successful anti-drug operations.
In simple rites at the PDEA headquarters in Quezon City, PDEA Director General Wilkins M. Villanueva handed out the reward to the masked informants to conceal their identities for their personal safety.
However, only three informants who garnered the highest monetary reward attended the ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Informant “NONONG” took the highest reward of P1,250,035.86 for providing information resulting in the confiscation of 117,697.56 grams 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.
Next was informant “DARK HORSE” who pocketed P594,696.67 for supplying information that led to the seizure 19,483.9 grams of shabu and the arrest of two drug personalities during an interdiction operation in Matnog Seaport, Matnog, Sorsogon on January 16, 2020.
Informant “FERDI” received P542,156.57 for providing information that resulted in the seizure of 15,007.27 grams 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, 2020.
Villanueva said that the masked cash reward recipients are only identified through their code names.
He said 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.
Villanueva said that Operation Private Eye is one way of enticing the public to assist the government in its fight against illegal drugs.
The rewards are approved by the Private Eye Rewards Committee composed of the members from the academe, non-government organizations (NGOs), law enforcement groups, religious, and business sectors.
Villanueva noted that committee members extensively deliberate relevant concerns before approving the grant of cash rewards to the confidential informants. (Chito A. Chavez)
