Cops’ ‘combat’ pay raised to P500

MANILA, Philippines—Police officers on risky assignments will soon receive monthly combat duty pay that roughly approximates that of their counterparts in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Raul M. Bacalzo, on orders of President Aquino, said he has requested the interior and budget departments to release funds for the adjusted combat pay “equivalent to the adjusted combat pay given to military counterparts.”

Under the adjusted scales, Category 1 police officers, or those assigned to areas severely affected by insurgency and other threats, engaged in actual police operations, or providing security to the President, shall have their P340 monthly combat duty raised to P500.

On the other hand, PNP members performing internal security operations qualify under Category 2 of combat duty shall receive monthly combat duty pay of P410.

PNP members under Category 3, or those who perform less hazardous assignments but are exposed to hazardous elements such as radiation, chemicals and biohazards, shall have their P220 combat pay increased to P320.

In all, there are 112,071 PNP personnel eligible to receive the adjusted combat duty pay equivalent to a 47 percent increase, Bacalzo said in a statement.

As recommended in a letter to the President, the pay adjustment will be retroactive to Jan. 1 and will be paid on July 1.

By contrast, soldiers of the AFP receive P500 in monthly combat pay.

An additional daily combat incentive pay of P150 per day shall also be given to AFP members engaged in actual combat operations against armed rebel groups.

On top of the adjusted combat duty pay for the police officers, the third tranche of the legislated salary standardization for PNP personnel shall take effect on June 1, or a month ahead of schedule upon the instructions of President Aquino.

Bacalzo said fiscal reforms under the Integrated Transformation Program over the past two years had enabled the PNP to pay for salary adjustments of active duty PNP personnel.

From these reforms, the PNP managed to settle all outstanding obligations including payment of prior year claims, and other cash and non-cash benefits for police personnel, Bacalzo said.