Legislator calls for higher pay, allowance

Rep. Luigi Quisumbing files a bill in seeking to raise PNP personnel’s combat pay from P240 per month to an amount equivalent to 25 percent of their base pay and to raise the mission allowance given to PNP troopers in conflict areas equivalent to 50 percent of their base pay

REP. Luis Gabriel Quisumbing (Cebu, sixth district) wants the National Government to increase the combat pay and mission allowance given to personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

He yesterday filed a bill in Congress seeking to raise PNP personnel’s combat pay from P240 per month to an amount equivalent to 25 percent of their base pay.

The measure also seeks to make the mission allowance given to PNP troopers in conflict areas equivalent to 50 percent of their base pay. Once approved, personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines will also benefit from the increase in mission allowance.

Explanation

Quisumbing filed the bill three weeks after 44 PNP Special Action Force troopers died in a gun battle with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

“With the risk inherent in such missions, the concerned PNP troopers only receive measly salaries, allowances, and benefits in exchange for the dangers they face in fulfilling their duties,” Quisumbing said in the bill’s explanatory note.

Quisumbing wants all commissioned and noncommissioned personnel of the PNP to receive combat pay, which is only given to those assigned in conflict areas.

His bill cites a provision in the Constitution mandating the State to make professionalism in the armed forces and benefits of its members a prime concern.

Source of funds

Once enacted, the funds needed for the increase will be taken from the savings of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) during the first year. For the succeeding years, the National Government will include the needed funds in the General Appropriations Act.

The DILG and PNP are tasked to create the rules and regulations if the bill law gets enacted.

Two Cebuanos were among the SAF troopers killed in Maguindanao last Jan. 25. They were PO2 Romeo Cempron and PO1 Windel Candano.

The troopers were on a mission to capture Malaysian terror suspect Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and suspected Filipino bombmaker Abdul Basit Usman. Marwan was killed while Usman escaped.