(Photo courtesy of PNP Public Information Office)
MANILA – A total of 13 informants received cash rewards amounting to more than PHP3 million from the Philippine National Police (PNP).
PNP officer-in-charge and deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen. Jose Chiquito Malayo handed a total of PHP3.31 million in cash rewards to the claimants during awarding rites in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Monday.
These claimants provided vital information that led to the arrest of 14 fugitives from justice listed as Most Wanted Persons, Malayo noted.
“It's around PHP3.31 million as reward money for our informers and per data, the crimes committed considered heinous and sensational are those double murder and similar threat. There is money allotted for that but these wanted persons that I would (recommend) for rewards are being deliberated by the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and even jointly with DND (Department of National Defense),” Malayo told reporters.
The accused are the subject of warrants of arrest issued by courts for involvement in heinous crime cases ranging from murder, rape, forcible abduction with rape, multiple frustrated murder, and multiple attempted murder.
Granting monetary rewards to persons (except government employees) who are instrumental to the arrest, surrender, or death in legitimate operations of Most Wanted Persons is among the programs of the Philippine National Police for the immediate arrest of wanted persons in the country, Malayo said.
"Let these resounding achievements of our PNP units and personnel serve as the core of our 'MKK=K o ang Malasakit, Kaayusan at Kapayapaan tungo sa Kaunlaran' as our peace and security framework way forward transforming the PNP into a stronger and responsive police organization. Tulong-tulong po tayo para sa isang mapayapa at maunlad na bansa (Let's work together towards a peaceful and progressive nation)," Malayo said.
He added that the informants remain anonymous for their security and protection.
“We would appreciate their contributions for the arrest of most wanted persons but we would also want to consider their security because they face some resbak (retaliation) from these arrested persons. Kasama po yun sa concern namin (That is included in our concerns),” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) also handed over cash rewards worth PHP9.6 million to 11 informants during the awarding ceremony at its headquarters in Quezon City on Tuesday.
In a separate statement, PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva commended the informants identified through their codenames -- Dream, Indah, Aquaman, Bruno, Datu, Jojo, Mashu, Marvin, Mambo, Ali and Tin for providing information that led to the seizures of large amounts of illegal drugs, and the arrests of high-value targeted drug personalities under the PDEA Operation: Private Eye.
The PDEA “Operation Private Eye” is a citizen-based information collection program designed to encourage the active participation of private citizens to report illegal drug activities in their communities.
The Operation Private Eye Rewards Committee, composed of members from the academe, non-government organizations, law enforcement, religious, and business sectors, approved a resolution granting the monetary rewards to the 11 qualified informants for the third quarter of calendar year 2022 after a careful deliberation.
“Human intelligence – or HUMINT – remains a critical factor in determining success in any intelligence-based operation. We cannot thank the public enough for continuing to trust the PDEA and our partners in law enforcement and the military as we relentlessly pursue these illegal drug traffickers until our territories are finally free of the drug menace,” Villanueva added. (PNA)
