4-star cops to get P400,000 Christmas bonus

TOP OFFICERS of the Philippine National Police (PNP) are getting as much as P400,000 as Christmas bonus from the President, Police Director-General Ronald M. dela Rosa announced yesterday during the Christmas party celebration at the PNP National Headquarters.

Mr. Dela Rosa said cops “in position” — which is an indication that they are performing — will be given amounts of at least P50,000.00 up to P400,000.00 as a show of support to the force and not to buy loyalty in the crusade against illegal drugs. He cited as an example: “Apat na star, P400,000 (four stars, P400,000.00).”

Mr. Dela Rosa initially declined to answer where the money would be sourced, but later said: “Wag na kayong magtanong kung saan galing. Basta hindi yan galing sa drugs, galing ’yan sa siguro sa intelligence fund ng President. (Don’t ask anymore where it came from, just be assured that it did not come from drugs, maybe it came from the intelligence fund of the President.”

The police chief further noted that this is the first time that officers are being rewarded with such amounts, the biggest compared to previous administrations.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte has allotted a P2.5-billion budget for his intelligence fund, which was defended by Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno, saying it will be used for the war against drugs.—