PDEA rewards 28 civilian informants with over P9 million for drug-bust intelligence

MANILA — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has rewarded 28 civilian informants with a total of P9.146 million for information that helped authorities carry out major anti-illegal drug operations across the country.

Under Operation: Private Eye, the informants received a combined P9,146,279.85 in cash incentives for intelligence that led to the seizure of shabu, cocaine and marijuana, the dismantling of a clandestine drug laboratory, the eradication of marijuana plantations, and the arrest of high-value drug personalities.

Six informants, whose identities were withheld for security reasons, personally received their rewards during a ceremony at the PDEA National Headquarters in Quezon City on October 8.

The ceremony was attended by PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez, House Committee on Dangerous Drugs Chairperson Mark Anthony Santos of Las Piñas, Dangerous Drugs Board Chairman Oscar Valenzuela, and other PDEA officials.

The remaining awardees received their incentives through PDEA regional offices.

Among the largest rewards was P2 million given to an informant whose information led to the seizure of 40.992 kilograms of shabu and the arrest of two drug suspects during a buy-bust operation along Andrade Street, Barangay Balingasa, Quezon City, on April 21, 2026.

Another informant received P1.508 million for information that led to the dismantling of a large-scale clandestine drug laboratory in Sitio Kaybunga, Barangay Bulacan, Occidental Mindoro, on May 29.

The operation resulted in the seizure of chemicals and liquid methamphetamine hydrochloride, including 30.27 liters of liquid methamphetamine hydrochloride, and the arrest of two drug suspects.

Several informants were also rewarded for information that helped authorities eradicate marijuana plantations.

In Mountain Province, one informant received P240,000 after information led to the uprooting of 12,000 fully grown marijuana plants at Mt. Paras in Sadanga on February 27.

Another received P500,000 for information that led to the eradication of 30,000 fully grown marijuana plants at Mt. Fisak, also in Sadanga, on April 18.

In Kalinga, an informant received P360,000 after authorities discovered and eradicated a marijuana plantation covering 3,000 square meters in Barangay Loccong, Tinglayan.

Around 18,000 fully grown marijuana plants were uprooted and three drug suspects were arrested during a buy-bust operation on May 4.

Nerez said the informants played an important role despite remaining behind the scenes.

“These informants may remain behind the scenes, but the information they provided have helped law enforcement identify drug activities, disrupt criminal networks, and protect communities,” says Nerez.

He emphasized that citizen participation remains crucial in identifying drug personalities, locating clandestine laboratories and marijuana cultivation sites, and supporting anti-drug operations.

PDEA urged the public to report information on illegal drug activities through the Operation: Private Eye hotline at 0917-867-7332.