MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Monday gave away almost P13 million in cash rewards to 22 civilian informants under its Operation Private Eye.
PDEA Director General Arturo Cacdac, Jr. personally handed the P12.9-million cash reward to informants identified through their codenames Segul, Silup, Sparta, Clyde, Macmac, Dong, Dazzler, Peter So, Brent, Miami, Jabar, Panzer, Jhong, Balik Loob, Melanie, Alien, Tiger, Repa, Storm, Cold Ice, Goku and Anaconda.
The civilians gave information to PDEA, leading to the successful arrests of several high profile drug personalities during interdiction operations, implementation of search warrant and confiscation of large volume of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, and cocaine.
The PDEA Operation Private Eye is a reward and incentive scheme of the agency designed to encourage private citizens to report any suspected illegal drug activities in their community.
The Private Eye Rewards Committee, composed of members from academe, non-government organizations, law enforcement, religious and business sectors, approved a resolution granting a total of P12.9 million monetary rewards to the 22 informants after a careful deliberation.
"Our 22 informants were identified only by their codenames in order to protect and secure their identities. All information we receive through Operation Private Eye are being handled with utmost secrecy," Cacdac said.
Among the informants, Goku and Anaconda received the biggest reward worth P2 million each.
Goku provided information that led to the arrest of six drug personalities and the seizure of 433.2 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride in Sto. Tomas, Subic, Zambales last August 2013.
On the other hand, Anaconda gave information that resulted in the seizure of 62.7188 kilograms of shabu and the arrest three drug personalities during the implementation of a search warrant at Unit 704 Cathay Mansions, Mayhaligue St., Tondo, Manila last Sept. 6.