PDEA urges public: Get rewarded, provide anti-drug info in Operation: Private Eye

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) urged the public to report anti-illegal drug activities in their neighborhood and be rewarded through its “Operation: Private Eye (OPE).

PDEA Director General Isagani R. Nerez explained that the OPE is a reward and incentive program designed to fully engage the participation of the citizenry in the national anti-drug campaign by reporting illegal drug activities taking place in the communities.

“For the first quarter of 2025, a total of P7,061,202.68 cash rewards were given to 16 civilian volunteers whose reports led to the successful conduct of 22 anti-illegal drugs operations nationwide,’’ the PDEA reported.

The Operation Private Eye Reward Committee, which is composed of key PDEA Officers and members from the business, academe and religious sectors with proven integrity and probity, evaluated, deliberated and approved the resolution granting the monetary rewards to the qualified informants.

Nerez stressed that the OPE aims to counter fear and apathy as hindrances to the active involvement of the citizenry in reporting illegal drug activities by ensuring anonymity of the informant and the confidentiality of the information.

The PDEA requires the informants to use codenames and wear masks during the awarding ceremony to hide their real identity.

To report illegal drug activities, the public is advised to forward the information through OPE Hotline Number 09178677332.

“Paying no heed to their own safety, private citizens go out of their way to report illegal drug activities indicating that there is public trust and confidence in PDEA,’’ Nerez said.

Under the “Bagong Pilipinas,” the flagship program of the current administration promotes participatory governance by enlisting the active engagement of the public to foster a genuine sense of ownership in the nation’s fight against the drug menace.

“There is always strength in numbers. The more people engaged in the fight, the more potential for greater success,” Nerez noted.

Further, the PDEA said that a total of P24.95 million worth of illegal drugs were seized following the arrest of 52 suspects during the nationwide operations from April 18 to 25.

In the 51 coordinated operations covering the country’s key areas, including Metro Manila, Dipolog City, Surigao del Norte, Northern Samar, Negros Oriental, Cebu and various provincial capitals, the government anti-narcotics authorities apprehended street-level peddlers, high-value targets and drug syndicate runners.

Among the notable illegal drugs confiscated were recoveries were 3,115.45 grams of shabu, 50 grams of cocaine, 4.94 grams of ecstasy, 4,760 grams of dried marijuana leaves and 14,600 marijuana plants.

The PDEA explained that the operations were executed through strategic buy-busts, routine checkpoint inspections, and intelligence-driven interdictions, leading to “the neutralization of drug activities in barangays, city centers, and transit points across the archipelago.’’

“The regions with major accomplishments include the National Capital Region (NCR), Region VII (Central Visayas), Region VIII (Eastern Visayas), and MIMAROPA with Pasay, Lapu-lapu and Dipolog Cities identified among the major hubs for the latest seizures,’’ the PDEA said.

In Metro Manila alone, multiple buy-bust operations initiated by PDEA RO NCR, PNP-DEG, PDEA SOU NCR, and local anti-drug units led to the confiscation of over 800 grams of shabu from suspected distributors.

The PDEA added that in the Visayas and Mindanao, sustained pressure by PDEA Regional Offices in Leyte, Davao Oriental, and Surigao del Norte dismantled clandestine supply lines linked to local trafficking networks.

Over in Dipolog City, the PDEA pointed out that the operations in the area yielded over 500 grams of seized shabu “and the province of Benguet where large quantities of marijuana plants and province of Cebu were 1.2 kilograms of shabu intercepted.’’

Nerez commended “the unwavering dedication of the operating teams, emphasizing that the aggressive stance against illegal drugs will continue.’’

In line with the directives of the President, the PDEA urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, reaffirming that the fight against illegal drugs requires a whole-of-nation approach.

Nerez stressed that “PDEA and other anti-drug law enforcement agencies’ success this week underscores the importance of synchronized operations and strong community collaboration. Every gram of drugs seized is a step closer to safer communities and a drug-free Philippines.

PDEA assures that intensified operations will persist, targeting high-level drug syndicates, and focusing not just on enforcement but also on supply reduction and preventive education efforts towards a Bagong Pilipinas.

“For reports and continue supporting the campaign by reporting illegal drug activities through PDEA’S Operation Private Eye Hotline 0917-867-7332 and social media platforms through “ISUMBONG MO SA PDEA” Facebook Page; PDEA Hotlines 0917-867-7332; and 0931-027-8212 or visit the nearest PDEA Office,’’ the PDEA continued.