PNP chief: No news yet on Duterte’s Christmas bonus for top cops

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde. INQUIRER file photo / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines—There has not been any news yet on whether President Rodrigo Duterte will give cash gift as Christmas bonus to top officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP), its chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said on Tuesday.

Albayalde said this when asked if the President will give the cash gift just like the time of his predecessor Ronald dela Rosa in 2016, when police officials were supposed to receive cash amounting from P50,000 to P400,000.

“How we wish [that there will be a bonus]. Wala eh, as of this time, walang whatsoever na kahit balita [There is none, as of this time, there is no news whatsoever],” he said.

Despite that, Albayalde said in jest that a bonus from Malacañang for the holidays could be among their “Christmas wish.”

“Well that’s a Christmas wish siguro [maybe],” he said.

On December 19, 2016, or just six days before Christmas on that year, then PNP chief dela Rosa announced that top police officials will get the cash gift from the President following a “successful” war on drugs.

READ: Key police officials get P50k to P400k bonus from Duterte

He reportedly backpedaled the next morning, saying that only P40,000 to P50,000 amount of bonus will be given to high-ranking police officials.

Also on the same day, Malacañang said the hefty cash gift for the PNP “has not been released” and apparently did not come.

READ: Palace says cash gift for PNP members ‘not forthcoming’

A police executive, however, told INQUIRER.net back then that PNP officials have received their bonuses worth at least P100,000 for that year.

READ: EXCLUSIVE: Police exec admits receiving cash bonus from Duterte

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