Double pay for cops, others draws nearer

Three Senate committees on Wednesday passed a joint resolution that sought to nearly double the base pay of soldiers, policemen, coast and jail guards and firemen by January next year.

Senate joint resolution No. 9, authored by Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, got the nod of the committees on national defense and security, public order and dangerous drugs and finance at a hearing on Wednesday.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chair of the public order and dangerous drugs committee, said the base pay of uniformed personnel would “almost double” as a result of the joint resolution with the House of Representatives. —Christine O. Avendaño