7 find tipping off narcs lucrative to tune of over P700K

SEVEN persons shared over P700,000 in rewards for their tips to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) that led to the arrest of suspected drug dealers.

The tipsters received a total of P776,475.48 during yesterday’s flag-raising ceremony at PDEA headquarters in Quezon City.

The PDEA’s Operation: Private Eye provides for cash rewards to informants.

PDEA Director General Arturo Cacdac Jr. identified the tipsters using their code names: Maria Clara, Bruno, Asiong, Danger, Harvard, Black Mamba and Caltex.

“Community vigilance is vital in the implementation of the national anti-drug campaign. We need our folks to be our eyes and ears, and let us know if there are illegal drug activities happening around them,” Cacdac said.

Operation: Private Eye is aimed at encouraging citizens to report illegal drug activities in their communities.

Among the tipsters, Maria Clara received the biggest share of P248,742.73 after alerting the PDEA to two suspects that led to the seizure of 4.3 kilos of cocaine in October in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Asiong received P128,037.41 for leading agents to two suspects and the seizure of 1.9 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu”in September in Malate, Manila.

He also received P22,360.42 for a tip that led to the arrest of a suspect and the seizure of 216.5 grams of shabu in July in Binondo, Manila, and P46,285.16 for an operation in Plaza Sta. Cruz, Manila, in which two suspects were nabbed and 501 grams of shabu were recovered.

Bruno received P109,512 for his help in September in Badian, Cebu City, where a suspect was arrested and 26,958 marijuana plants and 1,200 marijuana seedlings were seized.

Danger got P83,395.73 for providing information on a drug suspect who was apprehended in August in Mandaluyong City with 1,011 grams of shabu in his possession.

Black Mamba received P81,543.80 for a June operation in Imus, Cavite, during which a suspect was arrested and 996.9 grams of shabu were recovered.

Harvard went home with P43,378.98 for the arrest of a drug suspect and the recovery of 1,099.6 grams of shabu in June on Seaside Boulevard in Pasay City.

Caltex was rewarded with P13,219.25 for the seizure of 139.15 kilos of marijuana and the arrest of two suspects during a checkpoint operation in Baguio City in January.