Pay hike for cops, soldiers waiting for Duterte’s approval

The increase in the salary of soldiers and policemen is now waiting for President Duterte’s approval, an officer of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said that Duterte is standing by his promise to increase the salaries of members of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and National Bureau of Investigation until all gross salaries are doubled.

“I don’t know the technicality of it, but the President is simply standing by his word that he will make sure that those who work will be rewarded amply,” Abella said in yesterday’s press briefing at Malacañang.

Asked if the government has enough funds to realize this promise, he said that the increase would be given in several increments.

Duterte assured the soldiers and policemen on several occasions that he would not renege on his promise to hike the gross salaries of law enforcers.

On Thursday, he also said that the salary increase of public school teachers would follow later.

He did not specify how much more the educators would get.

The President pointed out that many policemen in Metro Manila are driven to corrupt practices because they receive a meager P14,000 monthly pay.