Headlines

10 drug informants get P4.6-M reward

Dennis Carcamo - The Philippine Star

March 23, 2015 | 2:05pm

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Monday gave out P4.6 million cash rewards to 10 informants under its Operation Private Eye (OPE) project.

The OPE project is a reward and incentive scheme designed to encourage private citizens to report any suspected illegal drug activities in their community.

PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr. lauded the civilian informants identified only as Axcel, Noy, Tolendoy, Paulo, Abel, Brix, Coleen Sarmiento, Cold Ice, Ice and Jun, for providing information that led to the arrest of several local and foreign drug personalities.

The information also led to the confiscation of voluminous amounts of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, and the dismantling of two large-scale clandestine laboratories used in the manufacture of illegal drugs.

"The ten informants wore masks during the ceremony in order to protect their anonymity. All information we receive through OPE are being handled with utmost confidentiality," Cacdac said.

He added that OPE Rewards Committee, which is composed of members from the academe, non-government organizations, law enforcement, religious and business sectors, has approved in a resolution granting a total of P4.6 million rewards to the informants following a careful deliberation.

Among the informants, “Jun” received the biggest reward of P1.9 million. His information relayed to PDEA Regional Offices 2 and National Capital Region resulted in the dismantling of a large-scale clandestine shabu laboratory, the seizure of 260.25 kilograms of shabu, and 24 kilograms of ephedrine.

Jun's information resulted to the arrest of five suspects during a raid in Barangay Newagac, Gattaran, Cagayan on February 26.

Meanwhile, "Ice" received P693,130.34 cash award after providing information to authorities that led to the seizure of 38.65 kilograms of shabu and the arrest a drug personality during an airport interdiction operation in Barangay Sto. Niño, Parañaque City on January 5.

P612,917.40 was given to "Cold Ice" who provided information to anti-narcotics agents, resulting in the arrest of five drug personalities and the confiscation of 9,308.34 grams of shabu during an entrapment operation in Barangay Loyola Heights, Quezon City on January 30.

"Coleen Sarmiento" was rewarded with P500,000 after he supplied information to operatives that led to the seizure of 17.0195 kilograms of shabu, the arrest of six foreigners and the neutralization of a shabu warehouse during a raid in Camiling, Tarlac on Nov. 6, 2014.

"Brix" got P333,588.78 after providing anti-drug information to Manila Police District who seized 4,971.8 grams of shabu and nabbed a drug suspect during a raid in Ermita, Manila on May 20, 2014.

"Abel", whose information relayed to authorities resulted in the arrest of four drug suspects and the seizure of 3,994.63 grams of shabu in Western Bicutan, Taguig City on Oct. 23, 2014, was awarded P263,843.19.

"Paulo" received P190,252.24 cash award after supplying information which led to the seizure of 4,896.61 grams of shabu and the arrest a foreigner following a sting operation in Barangay Old Capitol Site, Quezon City on Nov. 21, 2014.

A cash reward of P66,929.49 was given to "Tolendoy" who provided information resulting in the arrest of two foreigners and the seizure of 5,046.98 grams of shabu during an entrapment operation in North Fairview, Quezon City on May 25, 2014.

P52,332.53 was awarded to "Noy" whose anti-drug information relayed to PDEA Regional Offices 10 and 11 led to the seizure of 1,139.43 grams of shabu and the arrest of five drug suspects in Kalilangan, Bukidnon on Sept. 12, 2014.

"Axcel" whose information resulted in the confiscation of 523.7194 grams of shabu during a lawful search in Barangay Talon 5, Las Piñas City on Nov. 25, 2014. He was awarded P48,583.92.

"To fully encourage the participation of private citizens in the fight against illegal drugs, PDEA continues to give monetary rewards to deserving informants. With the increasing numbers of them coming out in the open to report illegal drug activities, soon we will have a vast network of eyes and ears in our communities," Cacdac said.