Pubdate: Thu, 12 Jan 2006
Source: Philippine Star (Philippines)
Copyright: PhilSTAR Daily Inc. 2006
Contact:  http://www.philstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/622
Author: Non Alquitran
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

P7.3 M RELEASED TO INFORMANTS - PDEA

A total of P7.32 million in reward money has been handed out to 58
drug informants last year, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
(PDEA) said yesterday.

PDEA director General Anselmo Avenido Jr. assured the public that as
long as the requirements for the claim for reward money are submitted
and the rightful claimant is verified, the corresponding amount would
be released immediately.

"We would also like to assure everybody that there is no slackening in
the national anti-drug campaign and there is no let-up in our fight to
eradicate the drug problem," Avenido said.

The PDEA chief issued the clarification following a report that blamed
the failure to reward informants as the main reason why the government
has been losing the war against drug syndicates.

"For 2005, a total of P7.32 million was given to 58 informants under
"Operation Private Eye," which is the PDEA's rewards and incentives
scheme," Avenido said.

Under Private Eye, informants who provide information that leads to
the confiscation of illegal drugs are given cash. The identity of the
informant is kept confidential.

Avenido emphasized that anybody can be a drug informant. An applicant
must fill up an information report form (IRF) and place his thumbmark
for identification.

He stressed, however, that a multi-sectoral rewards committee
"adjudicates all claims."

Avenido claimed that PDEA received P50 million from the Philippine
Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) as standby fund and not P50 billion
as reported.

At least 49 shabu laboratories and warehouses were busted by the
Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) since it
launched an all-out war against drugs syndicates three years ago.

Confiscated were equipment, raw materials and finished products worth
P3.8 billion.

However, anti-drug agents insisted yesterday that AIDSOTF informants
have not been rewarded by PDEA, especially those involved in the drug
busts in Antipolo City, Cebu City and Davao City.

"The PDEA should check its records because they may be quick to
release rewards for their own informants and from other agencies
involved but not to those from AIDSOTF," an anti-drug official said.

Despite limited resources and manpower, AIDSOTF dismantled seven shabu
laboratories, four ketamine laboratories and five chemical storage
facilities last year. 
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MAP posted-by: Tom