2 tipsters get P1.8M from PDEA

MANILA, Philippines - Two civilian informants on Friday received P1.8 million in cash rewards from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) under its Operation Private Eye (OPE).

During the turnover of the reward at the PDEA main office in Quezon City, the tipsters were identified through their codenames -- Cold Ice and Bombay -- who both wore ski masks during the ceremony to hide their real identities.

Cold Ice got the biggest reward worth over P1 million for information that led to the confiscation of 14,593.69 grams of shabu and the arrest of three pushers during an entrapment operation at the corner of Examiner Street and West Avenue in Quezon City last August 25.

Bombay was rewarded with more than P757,000 after he supplied information resulting in the seizure of 9,999.71 grams of shabu and the arrest of foreign drug personality in Barangay San Vicente, Quezon City on August 8.

PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr. said that the OPE is a citizen-based information collection program of the PDEA, the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and various non-government organizations involved in the national campaign against illegal drugs.

“OPE is a reward and incentive scheme designed to counter fear and apathy as hindrance to active participation of the citizenry in reporting any suspected illegal drug activities in their neighborhood,” Cacdac said.

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 P1,850,789.03 monetary rewards to thw two informants after a careful study and deliberation.