GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The provincial government of South Cotabato increased its cash incentives for operatives, informants and media workers involved in anti-drug operations.
Boardmember Agustin Dema-ala Jr., Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Padac) action officer, said Friday they raised their budget for the cash rewards, mobilization awards and compensation to further enhance the campaign against illegal drugs in the area.
He said the move was based on the increase in the overall funding of the council this year set by the local government.
Padac was allotted PHP8 million under the province’s 2018 budget, but another PHP6 million in supplemental funding will be augmented later this year.
“We will have an overall budget of PHP14 million so we will have enough funding to cover for our incentives,” Dema-ala said.
The provincial government, through the Padac, has been providing incentives to law enforcers involved in anti-drug operations to mainly boost their morale.
The incentives for media workers is aimed to encourage them to serve as witnesses in illegal drug operations while those for informants is intended to promote more participation from community stakeholders in terms of providing valuable information or tips.
Based on the guidelines set by the South Cotabato Police Provincial Office, Demaa-ala said operating units will receive cash incentives ranging from PHP1,000 to PHP50,000 for the confiscation of metamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu and marijuana during pot sessions, buy busts, transportation and application of search warrants; confiscation of shabu and marijuana with firearms; and, neutralization of involved foreign nationals.
For the media representative, he said the cash incentive was increased from PHP1,000 to PHP1,500 per operation.
The officials said informants will receive cash incentives of PHP2,000 per operation and PHP20,000 will be given to those who can provide accurate information leading to the discovery of shabu laboratories and the neutralization of their operators.
From January to the second week of March, police units in South Cotabato recovered PHP668,000 worth of illegal drugs in 87 successful operations.
This comprised 88.6 grams of shabu worth PHP664,712.25 and 96.4 grams of marijuana leaves worth PHP4,824.
A total of 93 suspected drug personalities have been arrested and 108 cases were filed in various local courts.(HST/PNA)
