MARCH 31, 2015

NR # 3787B

Mission allowance and increased combat duty pay for cops pushed
Rep. Gabriel Luis R. Quisumbing (6th District, Cebu City) has filed a bill increasing
the combat duty pay of all commissioned and non-commissioned Philippine National
Police (PNP) personnel.
House Bill 5455, to be known as PNP Combat Duty Pay Increase, also provides a
mission allowance to the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel
who are exposed to adversity, combat situation and hazards unusual to peacekeeping.
Under the bill, the monthly combat duty pay for commissioned and noncommissioned PNP personnel shall be increased from P240 to 25% of their base pay.
The mission allowance, on the other hand, shall represent 50% of their base pay, the
bill provides.
Quisumbing sought the immediate passage of the measure citing Section 5 of
Article XVI of the Constitution, which provides that professionalism in the armed forces
and adequate remuneration and benefits of its members shall be a prime concern of the
State.
Quisumbing, a vice chairperson of the House Committee on National Defense and
Security, lamented that government forces in conflict areas receive only P240 per month
as combat pay.
This pay is given only to police and military personnel assigned to critical areas or
tactical units like the 44 members of the Special Action Forces 55 th Company who died in
Mamasapano, Maguindanao, according to Quisumbing.
With the risk inherent in such missions, the concerned PNP troops only receive
measly salaries, allowances, and benefits in exchange for the dangers they face in
fulfilling their duties, Quisumbing said.
The amount necessary to implement the proposed act for the current year shall be
charged against the savings of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Likewise, the national government shall appropriate annually and include in the
General Appropriation Act the amount corresponding to the total annual coast of the
increase in combat pay. (30) mrs