Hazard pay for public prosecutors eyed

VALENZUELA City Rep. Wes Gatchalian has proposed that public prosecutors be granted hazard pay equivalent to 25 percent of their basic salary.

Gatchalian, in House Bill 7870’s explanatory note, highlighted the realities of constant threat and actual killing of public prosecutors.

“Prosecutors discharge a vital and indispensable role in the Philippine criminal justice system. They are the frontline of the law who ensure that those who are guilty of crimes are justly dealt with. By their very job description, they come face to face with some of the most hardcore criminals in this country, the risk is therefore undeniable,” he said in a statement. The lawmaker cited the killing of

- ecutor Reymund Luna, Makati City

City Prosecutor Johanne Mingao, Rizal Assistant Provincial Maria Ronatay, Mandaluyong City Prosecutor Pablito

- ecutor Rogelio Velasco, among others.

Gatchalian said that granting public prosecutors hazard pay would also insulate them from bribery attempts.

“For some of the most well-connected criminals and syndicates, it is a carrot or stick method. Either they threaten our prosecutors or they attempt to buy them out. My belief therefore is if our prosecutors are properly compensated, it is also a means to shield them from these