13 PDEA informants get P3.18-million reward

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) yesterday gave around P3.18 million in cash incentives to 13 civilian informants under its Operation Private Eye program, which resulted in 19 successful anti-narcotics operations.

The informants, who wore masks and sunglasses to hide their identities, received the rewards at the agency’s central office in Quezon City.

“Operation Private Eye encourages the public to help the government in its anti-drug campaign by providing cash reward for information, resulting in the seizure of drugs and arrest of suspects,” PDEA chief Aaron Aquino told reporters.

The top five recipients identified through their codenames are Efren, El Guapo, Garfield, Aser and RK.

Efren received P986,889.22 for providing information that led to the seizure of 2,815 grams of shabu during a sting in Makati and another 13,785 grams of shabu in Muntinlupa on March 23.

El Guapo was given P976,583.26 for his tip, which led to the confiscation of 24,039 grams of shabu and arrest of two Chinese in drug stings in Parañaque and Manila last September.

Garfield got P500,000 for the seizure of more than 128 kilos of marijuana and the arrest of a drug suspect in Las Piñas City on Oct. 6.

Aser received P205,992.13 for information that led to the arrest of a drug dealer and confiscation of 15,666 Ecstasy tablets in Pasay City last April and August.

RK was awared P101,921.23 for the confiscation of 4,247 grams of marijuana during a sting in Muntinlupa on Sept. 30.

The other informants are Cobra, Ada, Spade, Chard, Bungo, Abe, Dang and Bantay. They received P405,520 for their information against high-value drug suspects.

Aquino said six PDEA operating units received P2.3 million for their efforts in the war on drugs.

These are the Intelligence Investigation Service and Special Enforcement Service as well as PDEA offices in Central Luzon, Western Visayas, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and National Capital Region.