The Valenzuela City Government rewarded a total of PhP 500,000 in cash incentives to 59 Philippine National Police (PNP) officers, barangay and media personnel who managed to secure the conviction of individuals involved in five drug-related cases from 2014 to 2019.

The awarding, which was supposed to take place last March but was postponed because of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, was held at the Audio Visual Room (AVR) of the Valenzuela City Hall on July 24, 2020.

All-out recognition

The ceremony was graced by Valenzuela City Mayor REX Gatchalian, Vice Mayor Lorie Natividad-Borja, and Valenzuela Anti-Drug Abuse Council (VADAC) Action Officer and District 1 Councilor Atty. Bimbo dela Cruz.

In his opening message, VADAC Action Officer Councilor Atty. Bimbo dela Cruz shared that a successful anti-drug abuse campaign has three foundations: education, prosecution, and rehabilitation, “Sa prosecution, maipapakikita ang pangil ng batas. Hindi sapat ang panghuhuli lang. Dapat mapatunayan sa korte ang pagkakasala at mabigyan ang drug offenders ng tamang kaparusahan sa ilalim ng batas.”

Vice Mayor Lorie Borja lauded the efforts of the awardees, “Napakaganda nitong pagkakataon na ito na ating iho-honor o bibigyan ng parangal ang kapulisan natin na nagsikap hanggang conviction—na sumiguradong makukulong at mapaparusahan ang mga nagkasala at nag-violate sa ating mga ordinansa at batas… Sa gitna ng pandemya, kailangan ipakita natin sa buong Valenzuela na hindi tumitigil at hindi tayo nagmamaliw sa ating kampanya laban sa mga ipinagbabawal na droga.”

For his part, Mayor REX Gatchalian explained that the City Government gave incentives to the police not because they were able to pull the pushers out of the streets, but because they were able to see the case through until conviction. He further adds “It is a long, tedious process. Hindi sapat na nahuli lang. Dapat mapagtibay nila ang mga kaso to secure conviction. Then, we can permanently get these pushers off the streets.”

Some cases were all in relation to the illegal Sale, Trading, Administration, Dispensation, Delivery, Distribution and Transportation of Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (R.A. 9165) and large scale manufacturing of dangerous drugs and chemicals.

Reward system

The awarding of cash incentives is mandated under Valenzuela City Ordinance No. 285, Series of 2016, or the “Reward System in Drug Cases Ordinance”. Section 7 of the Ordinance states that, “for every conviction, the team or recipient shall receive an amount equal to Php 100,000 for every accused convict.” The VADAC Reward Committee will then distribute the amount according to each team member’s engagement in the case.

The members who took part in the conduct of a drug operation and further participated in the court proceedings will receive an amount equivalent to 70% of the total amount of the reward for every conviction. The cash incentives awarded ranged from PhP 2,700 to Php 70,000.

PO1 Redentor Pellesco took home the biggest reward amounting to Php 140,000 for acting as the Arresting/Seizing Officer in the cases against Ruben Suba and Crisanto Sta. Maria, who both violated Section 5 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

PO1 Pellesco testified that in August 21, 2018, a regular confidential informant gave him information about the illegal drug activities of Ruben Suba. He then ordered the validation of the information and when it was confirmed, he acted as the poseur-buyer.

In the case vs. Crisanto Sta. Maria, PO1 Pellesco also acted as poseur-buyer and narrated how the exchange of buy-bust money and the plastic sachet containing shabu transpired between him and the accused.

To cap the awarding, Mayor REX thanked the police recipients, saying, “Gusto ko lang kayong pasalamatan sa inyong sakripisyo. Itong incentive naman na ito, maliit lang na bagay para mapasalamatan kayo. Dahil ibig sabihin niyan, may mga na-convict na mga drug pushers o mga hindi magagandang elemento. At gusto ko ring samantalahin [ang] pagkakataong [ito para] magpasalamat dahil alam kong hirap na hirap na rin kayong mga pulis sa COVID-19 response natin. Marami sa inyo nag-positive na, pero tuloy-tuloy pa rin. So, maraming-maraming salamat.”