ILOILO — The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) is urging local government units across Western Visayas to adopt Iloilo province’s newly approved reward system for anti-drug informants, describing the measure as a “best practice” that could strengthen grassroots participation in the campaign against illegal drugs.
PRO-6 director Brigadier General Josefino Ligan said the initiative of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Iloilo could serve as a template for other provinces seeking to intensify community-based anti-drug operations.
“It is an initiative and a best practice for the Iloilo provincial government. We are more than happy if other local government units will follow,” Ligan said during a press conference.
“Like I said, this helps our campaign against illegal drugs when all stakeholders collaborate toward ending illegal drugs, especially here in Western Visayas. We will relay this to other local governments and encourage them to follow because this is a very good practice,” he added.
The ordinance, authored by Provincial Board Member June Mondejar, was approved on third and final reading under Provincial Ordinance No. 2026-350.
The measure strengthens the Barangay Bantay Droga (BBD) program and establishes a monetary reward system for individuals who provide verified information leading to the arrest of illegal drug personalities.
Under the ordinance, informants may receive P10,000 for information leading to the arrest of an ordinary resident involved in illegal drugs, P20,000 for the arrest of a barangay kagawad or Sangguniang Kabataan official, and P30,000 for the arrest of a barangay captain.
Covered informants include accredited members of Barangay Bantay Droga such as barangay officials, tanods, barangay health workers, nutrition scholars, Barangay Service Point Officers, child development workers, Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terorismo officials, transport sector representatives, and retired police and military personnel.
Authorities clarified that rewards will only be released after a formal case has been filed against the reported individual.
Ligan also assured the public that all reports will undergo strict validation procedures to prevent false accusations and protect the integrity of police operations.
“When it comes to validation, it will be validated if indeed an actual arrest is made. If there is a positive operation based on the information provided, then that means the information was reliable and validated,” he explained.
He added that qualified informants will receive the incentive from the Iloilo Provincial Government after successful operations.
“We are thankful to the local government for providing this incentive. It will greatly help our efforts — not necessarily to completely eradicate illegal drugs overnight — but at least to significantly minimize the problem,” he said.
Ligan emphasized that addressing illegal drugs requires a whole-of-community approach involving law enforcement agencies, local governments, and grassroots organizations.
He said the Iloilo initiative demonstrates how local legislation can empower communities to actively support anti-drug operations while maintaining safeguards against abuse.
The ordinance also penalizes false reporting, with violators facing a P5,000 fine or imprisonment of up to one year, depending on the court’s ruling.
Meanwhile, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. is expected to issue an executive order creating the Barangay Bantay Droga Task Force, which will oversee the implementation of the ordinance and receive reports from qualified informants.
With the measure now in effect, PRO-6 officials expressed hope that Iloilo’s anti-drug informant incentive system would become a regional model for expanding community participation in the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign./PN
