5 tipsters get cash rewards from PDEA
MANILA, Philippines – Five police informants went home with fatter pockets Monday after the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency handed them a total of nearly P3 million for helping the authorities in recent anti-narcotics operations.
The early Christmas gift of P 2,998,358.25 was divided among the informants, who received their reward on Monday at the PDEA headquarters in Quezon City.
PDEA Director General Arturo Cacdac Jr. said the reward was provided for under Operation Private Eye, a program aimed at encouraging citizens to report illegal drug activities in their communities.
“The national anti-illegal drugs campaign needs the active participation of citizens as our eyes and ears in our communities. The information they bring is treated with confidentiality and acted upon swiftly,” Cacdac said.
The five informants wore masks to protect their identities at Monday’s rewarding ceremonies, which coincided with PDEA’s regular Monday morning flag ceremony. They were identified only through their codenames: Omar, Reggie, Machete, Kulot and Coleen Sarmiento.
The tipster known as “Coleen Sarmiento” got the biggest chunk at P1.5 million. She helped the authorities in the dismantling of a large-scale clandestine shabu laboratory, the seizure of 16 kilos and 35 liters of shabu, and the arrest of six foreigners during a raid in Camiling, Tarlac, last November 6.
“Reggie” received P732,414.84 for the information he gave about two drug personalities and the seizure of 10 kilos of shabu in an operation in Binondo, Manila last April 8.
“Kulot” was awarded P581,220.69 for a tip that led to the arrest of six foreigners and the seizure of 1.8 kilos of shabu at a small-scale shabu laboratory in Industrial Estate Rincon, Valenzuela City, last October 15.
“Machete” received P150,060 for his information leading to the seizure of 2,355 Ecstasy tablets and the arrest of a drug personality in General Santos City last September 15.
“Omar” got P34,662.72 for helping the PDEA arrest two drug suspects and confiscate 16.9 kilos of marijuana in Baguio City last December 3.
The monetary rewards are determined by the Private Eye Rewards Committee, composed of members from the academe, non-governmental organizations, law enforcement, religious and business sectors.
