QUEZON CITY — Eight civilian informants of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) received monetary rewards for information that led to successful anti-drug operations, at a ceremony held in PDEA Headquarters in Barangay Pinyahan on Thursday, May 22, 2025.

Four of them received P2 million each under the agency’s “Operation: Private Eye” reward system.

The rewards were personally handed out by PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez, Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Secretary Oscar Valenzuela, and other PDEA top officials during a ceremonial event.

Under “Operation: Private Eye,” informants are recognized and compensated for valuable information that contributes to the agency’s drug busts and seizures.

According to PDEA, the amount of the reward depends on the quality and quantity of the illegal drugs confiscated.

The informants helped the agency seize several kilos of illegal drugs worth millions of pesos.

Each informant received between P40,000 and P2 million in cash.

“Nire-recognize natin dito 'yung kanilang sakripisyo, effort and patriotism nila, alam naman natin delikado, eto tumutulong pa rin sila sa ating pamahalaan, dito sa laban sa iligal na droga,” said Valenzuela.

Nerez also explained how rewards are calculated.

“Depende doon sa quantity and sa purity, pag 'yung purity namin should be more than 50 percent, para entitled ka sa reward, less than that then you are not entitled to it, so 'yung computation is all about sa quantity and purity,” he said.

Since 2003, PDEA has implemented this reward system as part of its efforts to encourage public participation in drug law enforcement. Each quarter, ₱18 million is allocated to fund the rewards.

“Malaki 'yun dahil ang operations ng PDEA is always intelligence based, and these informants provide 'yung intelligence. So from there nagkakaroon tayo ng case build up, evidence gathering. Then after evidence gathering pag na-satisfy natin yung probable cause of arrest in the application of search warrant then PDEA moves on for the arrest of 'yung target natin so napakalaki ng role ng ating informant,” said Nerez.

One of the rewardees, identified only as alias "Sigbin," received P2 million plus over P150,000 in additional rewards. He became an informant after his brother died from drug use.

“Kasi po isa sa pamilya ko naging sangkot din sa drugs, 'yung kuya ko po namatay dahil sa droga. Kaya napag-isip isipan ko na papasok na lang ako na maging private eye ng PDEA. Kasi sila lang din naman 'yung pinagtitiwalaan ko eh, kaya 'yun na-ano ko talaga na maging ano ako nila, private eye,” she said.

“Makatulong ako sa bayan po, tapos mga bata po dapat tigilan na nila ang pagdro-droga dahil walang madudulot po sa ano po talaga,” she added.

Alias Sigbin helped authorities capture her brother’s former drug supplier. With the reward money, she has since put up a small business and saved for her family’s future.

“Opo, alam ko po. Kasi 'yung kapatid ko po isa sa naging biktima nito eh, siya lang po kasi nag-iisa kong kapatid na lalaki kaya sabi ko sa kapatid ko hanggat saan kaya ko, tutulong ako sa bayan. Kaya ako talaga kusang lumapit sa PDEA para maging isang private eye nila,” she said.

“Hindi po. Para rin po sa pamilya ko rin, may anak na rin po ako eh. Hanggat may natanggap ako nakapag-ano na rin ako ng tindahan,” she added.

Aware of the dangers, alias Sigbin said she has prepared for any eventuality.

“Siyempre, kasi wala po akong asawa, ako lang po naghanap buhay para sa mga anak ko kaya itong mga natanggap ko na-ano ko para sa kanila, malay natin 'di natin alam na balang araw mamatay ako so may ma-ano ako sa mga anak ko sa pamilya ko,” she said.

PDEA assured that they have measures in place to protect informants.

“We have our agent handlers, and our agent handlers are responsible for the security of our informants. And yun ang inaassure natin sa kanila dahil once na may masamang nangyari sa mga informants natin that is a black eye sa gobyerno, lalo na sa DDB at PDEA,” said Nerez.

For those with information on illegal drug activities or who wish to become a PDEA informant, you may call the PDEA Intelligence Service hotline at 0917-867-7332 or visit their official website at https://pdea.gov.ph.