Failure to release reward money hurting drive vs drug syndicates

The failure of the government to reward drug informants is hurting it’s war against drug syndicates.

For the past six months, not a single drug laboratory or warehouse was neutralized because informants are now shying away after the government reneged on its promise to give cash rewards.

"Wala ng gustong magtrabaho sa amin dahil ang paniwala ng mga informants namin, hindi totoo ang reward system ng gobyerno (Nobody would like to work for us anymore as the informants believe that the government’s reward system is not reliable)," a police official said.

When President Arroyo launched an all-out war against drug syndicates three years ago, at least 49 shabu laboratories and warehouses were busted.

Confiscated equipment, raw materials and shabu finished products reach P3.8 billion.

An anti-drug agent admitted that the shabu and equipment haul was made possible with the information volunteered by informants who are after the reward money promised by the government.

After the successful drive against drug syndicates, a number of drug informants tried to collect the reward money due them but the government has yet to release the payments up to now.

Some informants have even sought the intervention of President Arroyo to fasttrack the release of the reward money.

Mrs. Arroyo has earmarked P50 billion for the war against drug syndicates and part of the money was set aside as incentives to informants.

Earlier, the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) reported that the government’s relentless drive against drug syndicates left a supply vacuum in the country and drove the price of shabu to an all-time high of P6,000 per gram in some areas.

"Gusto naming ma-sustain ang kampanya laban sa droga, pero mahirap gawin sa ngayon dahil ayaw makipag-cooperate ng mga informers dahil walang pampaganang reward (We want to sustain the campaign against illegal drugs but we are having a hard time because our informers refuse to cooperate with us due to the absence of reward money)," the agent added.

An anti-drug official admitted that the drug syndicates are employing the same modus operandi in their operations but now have their businesses tightly-secured, making it hard for police officials to neutralize them.

"The drug syndicate’s bosses have learned their lessons and are now employing tight security on their illegal businesses which make it hard for us," said the anti-drug agent, noting that inside information provided by people in the know would be a big help.