Solon moves to raise troopers’ P240 combat pay

MANILA, Philippines—Did you know that the Special Action Force (SAF) commandos who were sent on that deadly mission in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, received only P240 in combat pay a month?

This has moved a member of Congress to file a bill raising the combat duty allowance of police and military personnel deployed to conflict areas by up to half of their monthly salary.

Cebu City Rep. Gabriel Luis R. Quisumbing, vice chair of the committee on national defense and security, has filed House Bill No. 5455 increasing the combat pay of commissioned and noncommissioned Philippine National Police personnel.

In addition, the bill will also provide a mission allowance to PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel “exposed to adversity, combat situations and hazards unusual to peacekeeping.”

Under the bill, the monthly combat pay of P240 will be raised to 25 percent of a service man’s base pay. The mission allowance will be 50 percent of the base pay.

Quisumbing is seeking quick passage of the measure, citing Section 5, Article XVI, of the Constitution which provides that professionalism in the Armed Forces and adequate remuneration and benefits for its members shall be a prime concern of the state.

Quisumbing said the dire situation of policemen like the SAF 44 and military personnel assigned to critical areas was “lamentable” and should be corrected immediately.

“With the risk inherent in such missions, PNP troops receive only measly salaries, allowances and benefits in exchange for the dangers they face in fulfilling their duty,” Quisumbing said.