Police paid P8.9M to 41 tipsters in 2012

MANILA -- A total of P8.99-million cash reward has been given this year to individuals who provided vital information to authorities that led to the neutralization of 46 most wanted criminals, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

Police Director Ager Ontog, PNP Director for Intelligence, said the latest to be given with cash reward were seven confidential informants who passed knowledge to authorities that led to the neutralization of seven top most wanted men in Western Mindanao and Luzon.

The seven informants were rewarded P4.25 million for their cooperation with the police.

Ontog said some of the wanted suspects were involved in separate criminal activities of extremist forces in Mindanao while the others were affiliated with the communist underground movement.

Three of the seven fugitives were killed during armed encounters with government forces while the rest were captured.

Those slain were identified as Rolanda Pamorada of the New People's Army (NPA); Edres Sabak, a suspect in the Kidapawan City bombings in 2007; and Ben Raffy, Abu Sayyaf group (ASG) member wanted for kidnapping in connection with the Lamitan Siege in 2001.

Meanwhile, among those arrested were ASG members including Jul Wahid, also involved in the Lamitan Seige; and Hadji Teng Usman, who is wanted for charges of multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder in connection with the Kidapawan City bombings.

Also captured was NPA leader Edgardo Molina, who carried a P1-million reward.

Last July, the PNP awarded P2.3 million-reward to confidential informants who provided vital information that led to the arrest of 22 most wanted fugitives included in the PNP Order of Battle, a list of persons wanted by the law for various criminal offenses.

On May 29, the PNP also gave P2.4 million-reward to 16 confidential informants who tipped authorities that led to the arrest of 17 top most wanted persons. (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Sunnex)