News Update PDEA awards P5M to 6 informants in drive vs illegal drugs

Six people on Friday received a total of P5-million reward from the Philippine Drug enforcement Agency (PDEA) for their contributions in the campaign against illegal drugs trade.

The PDEA gave the reward to the six people – who took part in the agency's "PDEA Operation: Private Eye" – during the agency’s eighth anniversary celebration.

"These concerned citizens provided vital information that aided PDEA and other drug law enforcement agencies in the conduct of anti-drug operations against high-value targets," said the PDEA in a statement. But it did not identify the six cash-award recipients for security reasons.

Also at Friday’s event, the PDEA gave GMA News anchor Mike Enriquez, host of television program Imbestigador, a non-cash award.

Nine government officials were also given the “PDEA Director General's Award," including Rep. Roque Ablan, chairman of the House Oversight Committee on Dangerous Drugs, and Sen. Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, former chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board.

During the event, PDEA director general and Senior Undersecretary Dionisio Santiago highlighted his agency's accomplishments from its founding on July 30, 2002.

PDEA was among the "Top 10 Least Corrupt Agencies of the Philippine Government" in the 2009 Global Competitiveness Survey Report.

"This feat is unusual for a law enforcement agency, but our continuous cleansing of ranks and anti-corruption initiatives catapulted us to the height of positive public perception," Santiago said.— Mark Merueñas/LBG,