FIVE informants got financial reward on Monday for providing information that led to the arrest of high profile drug personalities as well as to the dismantling of several illegal drug laboratories.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Arturo Cacdac handed over a total cash reward of P2,998,358.25 which he called an "early Christmas gift" to the informants identified by their code names Omar, Reggie, Machete, Kulot and Coleen Sarmiento.
The informants were wearing face masks during the simple ceremony in order to protect their identity.
Sarmiento received the biggest reward of P1.5 million as the information she has given the PDEA has knocked down a large scale shabu laboratory in Tarlac last November 6, where 16.51 kilograms and 35.25 liters of shabu were seized.
Cacdac said six foreigners, who allegedly operated the said laboratory, were arrested during the raid.
Reggie received P732,414.84 after providing information that resulted in the seizure of more than 10 kilograms of shabu and the arrest two drug personalities during an anti-drug operation in Binondo, Manila on April 8.
Kulot was the informant against the small scale shabu laboratory in Valenzuela which led to the arrest of six foreign drug personalities and the confiscation of 1,810.10 grams of shabu on October 15.
Kulot received P581,220.69 while Machete and Omar was rewarded with P150,060 and P34,662.72, respectively.
The PDEA chief said Machete gave the information that led to the seizure of 2,355 pieces of ecstasy tablets and the arrest of one drug personality in General Santos City on September 15.
Omar was the tipster behind the arrest of two drug personalities during an entrapment operation in Baguio City last December 3 where 16,991.503 grams of marijuana were confiscated.
The PDEA established the Operation: Private Eye (OPE) as a reward and incentive scheme to urge private individuals to report any suspected illegal drug activities in their community.
The OPE has a rewards committee who came from the academe, non-government organizations, law enforcement, religious and business sectors who decides if the certain informant in entitled of any reward.
“The national anti-drug campaign needs the active participation of private citizens as our eyes and ears in our communities. The anti-drug information they bring to us must be treated with confidentiality and acted upon swiftly,” Cacdac said. (Sunnex)