The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Monday gave away P9.6 million in cash rewards to six informants for providing intelligence leading to successful anti-drug operations.
PDEA director general Wilkins Villanueva personally thanked the six informants through Operation Private Eye (OPE), a reward and incentive scheme to encourage private citizens to report to PDEA any suspected illegal drug activities within their community.
Meanwhile, police arrested four suspected drug pushers in a buy-bust operation Late Sunday night in Taguig City.
The anti-narcotics operation also resulted in the seizure of 61 grams of metamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, worth P414,800.
Southern Police District director Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg identified the suspects as Jose Reyna Monroe, alias Jojo, 43; Elpidio de Asis Lagoc, 32; Michael Loganao, 20, nd Steven John Deguzman, 21.
He said Monroe was listed as a high value individual and the main target of the police operation while the three other suspects were described as street level individuals in the fight against narcotics.
All suspects are believed to be members of a drug syndicate operating in south Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.
The SPD chief said his men from the Taguig City Police – Station Drug Enforcement Unit conducted the buy-bust operation along Kawayan Street in Barangay North Signal Village around 11 p.m.
The authorities also recovered from the suspects a coin purse, and the cash and boodle money used in the entrapment operation.
The suspects are now detained at the Taguig Police detention cell and will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 while the recovered evidences were turned over to SPD Forensic Unit for chemical analysis.
Macaraeg commended his men for their accomplishment.
“I am elated by the perseverance shown by our policemen in bringing notable accomplishments every day. We are vowed to our mandate on intensified Anti-Criminality and Law Enforcement Campaign for a safer southern metro,” he said.
Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office director P/Maj. Gen. Felipe Natividad reiterated the support of the police force to provide necessary assistance to any proceedings required for an in depth investigation on the war on drugs.
“In NCRPO, we constantly remind our personnel to always adhere to existing laws and PNP Directives otherwise they will have to face the consequences of their actions. Nonetheless, we ensure to run after and file charges against those who are proven to have committed violation during the war on drugs,” said Natividad.
In the last three months, a total of P629,935,572 worth of illegal drugs were confiscated in various police operations in Metro Manila under the leadership of Natividad.
“Despite of all the shades faced, we will not stop and continue the momentum in the eradication of illegal drugs in the Metro, the long running societal problem of the region,” said Natividad.