ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -- The 13 members of Zamboanga City’s bomb squad, which is under the command of the Western Mindanao Regional Explosives and Ordnance Unit, have gone on "silent protest," posting stickers and leaflets on their vehicles demanding the release of their hazard pay.

Senior Superintendent Jose Bayani Gucela, chief of the Regional EOD unit, confirmed to the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net) that the "release of hazard pay has been delayed since 2005."

"I, too, have not received the hazard pay, and the hazard pay is an incentive to personnel exposed to hazardous condition," he said.

Senior Superintendent Lurimer Detran, city police chief, explained that release of hazard pay for the bomb squad is "subject to availability of funds and we are not responsible for the said benefits. It must come from Camp Crame."

Gucela, in a phone interview, said vouchers for the hazard pay have already been approved but funds are unavailable.

"We received an order from the Department of Budget Management that there is no cash available," he said.

A low-ranking bomb squad member gets at least P4,000 monthly hazard pay.

Gucela said it is not only the bomb squad that has not received the hazard pay, but also "those assigned in the crime laboratory, the X-ray technicians and other personnel assigned to hazardous conditions."

Vice Mayor Mannix Dalipe said the local police command should look into the problem.

"They are reporting 24 hours a day…they are holding highly sensitive tasks so I don't think they deserved a delayed hazard pay," Dalipe said.