MANILA — Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Aaron Aquino on Tuesday handed the monetary reward amounting to PHP7,594,992.24 to the agency’s four operating units for their meritorious anti-drug operations.
The rewards were given to PDEA-Special Enforcement Service (PDEA-SES),PDEA-Intelligence and Investigation Service (PDEA-IIS), PDEA Regional Office-National Capital Region (PDEA RO-NCR) and PDEA Regional Office III (PDEA ROIII) during simple rites on Tuesday at the PDEA National Headquarters in Quezon City.
“These PDEA operating units received cash rewards under PDEA Operation: “Lawmen”, an incentive program for law enforcers or members of the anti-illegal drug units/teams or task forces, including the support unit/s after the conduct of laudable anti-drug operations,” Aquino said.
The program was institutionalized through Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Regulation Number 1 issued on August 3, 2016
Classified as meritorious anti-drug operations are: successful arrest of violator/s and seizure, confiscation or surrender of dangerous drugs, plant sources of dangerous drugs, and controlled precursors and essential chemicals (CPECs) in any part of the country, or seizure of high volume or quantity of the same made possible through the conduct of search warrant operation, buy-bust operation, eradication, interdiction, interception, controlled delivery operation, checkpoint, inspection or search and seizure in detention, jail, correctional or prison facility and other legitimate operations.
“Besides issuing awards and recognition, financial reward system is another way of motivating drug law enforcement units go to the extra mile,” Aquino explained.
“Any government agency exercising law enforcement function, or support unit, is entitled to reward under their own ‘Operation: Lawmen’ program. Non-monetary awards through recognition and commendation shall also be given to deserving law enforcers,” the PDEA chief pointed out.
To deliberate and grant the claims of monetary rewards and the appropriate non-monetary awards pursuant to the DDB regulation, PDEA Operation: “Lawmen” Committee was created.
The committee is a five-member panel composed of a Chairperson designated by the Head of Agency/Bureau/Office, the Head/Chief of Financial Management Service/Department of the Agency/Bureau/Office, and representatives from the business sector, academe and religious sector, who have proven themselves for integrity and probity. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan with reports from Rachel Banares, OJT/PNA)
