10 tipsters get over P5-M reward from PDEA

MANILA, Philippines - Ten civilian informants on Wednesday received over P5 million cash rewards from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) under the agency's Operation Private Eye.

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 P5.8 million in monetary rewards to the 10 informants after careful deliberation.

PDEA chief Arturo Cacdac Jr. said the 10 informants were identified through their codenames: Shoal, Philly, Master, Gohan, Daredevil, Bigboy, Superman, Thunder, Spartacus, and Wild Cat.

The civilians provided information which led to the successful arrests of several high-value drug personalities and foreign drug personalities during interdiction operations, implementation of search warrants, and confiscation of large volume of shabu, ephedrine, fly high capsules and ecstasy tablets.

“Our 10 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.

The 10 informants received their cash rewards during PDEA's 12th anniversary celebration at its main headquarters in Quezon City.

Among the informants, "Wild Cat" got the biggest reward of P2 million. Wild Cat provided information that resulted in the seizure of 24 kilograms of ephedrine and 27.5 kilograms of shabu during the implementation of a search warrant in Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City last February 12.

"Spartacus" received P1.151 million cash award after providing information that resulted in the seizure of 17.48 kilograms of shabu and the arrest two drug personalities during an airport interdiction operation at Zamboanga International Airport on Nov. 8,2013.

The PDEA awarded P743.3 million to "Thunder" who provided information that resulted in the seizure of 10.10 kilograms of shabu and the arrest of three drug personalities during a buy-bust operation in Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City last February 27.

The PDEA Operation Private Eye (OPE) is a reward and incentive scheme of PDEA designed to encourage private citizens to report any suspected illegal drug activities in their community.