By Chito Chavez Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Wednesday nabbed two Filipino-Chinese businessmen from whom were seized two kilos of high-grade shabu and 15 transparent plastic packets containing shabu with a total value of P13.6 million and other items used in their illegal drug deals during a buy bust operation in Quezon City. In his report, PDEA-Intelligence Investigation Service (IIS) (NCR) Director Jigger Montellana identified the suspects as Patrick Bankee, 44, and Alexander Jun Wah ting Lee, 40. The buy-bust operation was conducted between 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. at 33 Don Ramon St. in Talayan Village. PDEA agents also confiscated numerous ATM cards, four cellular phones and the P5,000-buy-bust money. Montellana, in his report to PDEA Director-General Aaron Aquino, said their operatives conducted surveillance on the two suspects for more than a week before they sprung the drug sting. He noted the surveillance was initiated by a confidential informant’s tip as he provided the PDEA team with vital information on the illegal drug activities of the suspects. The two suspects were subjected to inquest proceedings for violation of section 11 and 5 of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as the comprehensive dangerous drug act of 2002. Earlier, Aquino admitted the government needs full public support and cooperation to achieve the goal of a drug-free Philippines in 2022 the year President Duterte’s term ends. In enticing the public to provide vital information to anti-narcotics law enforcers, Aquino said that individuals giving reliable tips to the agency that result to successful anti-illegal drug operation will earn them appropriate cash rewards. Aquino assured that the identities of the tipsters will be treated with outmost confidentiality that assures their safety. The granting of rewards and incentives is under PDEA “Operation Private Eye”, a citizen-based information collection program designed to encourage the active participation of private citizens to report illegal drug activities in their communities. The Private Eye Rewards Committee is composed of members from the academe, non-government organizations, law enforcement, religious and business sectors, who deliberates and approves the granting of cash rewards to confidential informants. The confidential informants (CI’s) are identified only by their codenames for reasons of anonymity. “Operation Private Eye” is one way of encouraging the public to help the government’s anti-drug campaign by providing cash reward for information that result in the seizure of illegal drugs and arrest of drug personalities,” said Aquino.