Reward up on drug informants in 2 Iloilo towns

By Florence F. Hibionada

Two Iloilo towns will now make official and legal its reward system to informants of the town's illegal drug trade. Yet it is not just any ordinary, unvalidated and wild tips. For the information to be convertible into cash, it must be proven useful in the corresponding police investigation and ultimately, prosecution of the drug suspects.

Such will see implementation in the municipalities of Dumangas and Oton, Iloilo following Tuesday's approval of related municipal ordinances before the Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP).

In Dumangas, tipsters will find solace and reward in Municipal Ordinance No. 2005-09, "An ordinance giving reward to person who gives information leading to the prosecution of any person for violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972, as amended and for other purposes."

In Oton, similar provisions under Municipal Ordinance No. 2005-141, "An ordinance giving commensurate reward to informant (s) who provides information that shall result to the neutralization and/or final conviction of drug suspect(s) or offender (s) in the Municipality of Oton, Iloilo."

The Iloilo SP in granting its nod on both measures found such to be valid and within the inherent powers of the two local government units.

Illegal drug trade has since been amongst the continuing and prevailing concerns in a number of Iloilo towns. Northern Iloilo's Estancia remains on the list of provincial police as possible entry and transhipment point with regular ferry trips to and from other port destinations in Luzon and Mindanao.

SP approval came through after the reports and recommendations of the committees on Public Order and Security and Ordinances, Legal Matters and Inter-Government Relations chaired by Board Members Angelo Briones and Domingo Oso Jr. respectively.