76,000 cops to receive 100 percent salary hike — PNP

Some 76,000 Police Officers 1 will receive a 100 percent increase in their base pay starting this January with President Rodrigo Duterte’s signing of the joint resolution authorizing the salary hike of military and uniformed personnel.

Chief Superintendent Joselito Vera Cruz, Directorate of Comptrollership executive officer, said the PO1s will now receive P29,668 monthly base pay from P14,834 last year.

Vera Cruz said all other ranks will receive an average increase of 58.70 percent.

“Apparently hindi kaya ng budget natin na double the salary lahat ng ranks. As you can see, ‘yung lowest ranking police officers ang ating binigyan ng priority,” he said at a press conference.

He said the increase in salary will be in two tranches.

“‘Yung pinag-uusapan natin ngayon ay for fiscal year 2018, for 2019 there will be another adjustment in base pay. Kapag tinignan mo, nirationalize nila (Congress) e. Siguro sa wisdom ng members of Congress kaya nila ginawa yung ganung adjustments,” he said.

In 2019, those with the rank of Senior Police Officer 4 and above will receive additional increase.

Vera Cruz said that with the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN), the personal income taxes of PNP uniformed personnel is lower than the previous tax rate. 

He said the monthly withholding tax of uniformed personnel are decreased by 69.24 percent for PO1s up to 21.36 percent for Director General.

He said the base pay hike will also increase other allowances such as longevity pay, flying pay, sea duty pay, instructor’s duty, and higher benefits upon retirement.

He said the hazard pay shall also be fixed at P540 per month.

‘Loan sharks’

Vera Cruz said that with the bigger salary pay, the police officers will refrain from getting loans and eventually being victimized by loan sharks.

“Siyempre mas lalaki ang kanilang net take home pay so siguro mase-settle na nila mga utang nila and I believe this is the time for them to start their savings. Kasi dapat ang mentalidad ng pulis is income minus savings equals expenses, hindi ba. Dapat meron savings,” he said.

He believed the police officers will now think twice before getting into trouble or wrongdoings .

“Siguro ‘yung mga pulis natin ngayon na nagbabalak gumawa ng mga kalokohan at mga hindi magandang gawa, mag iisip nga sila ngayon, hindi lang twice, thrice maiisip nila ‘yung mawawala sa kanila once na mawala sila sa serbisyo kasi ang hirap maghanap ng trabaho na magpapasweldo sa iyo ng almost P30,000 base pay,” he said.

He also expressed belief that more will apply to the PNP now.

“Sa tingin ko mas marami (ang maga-apply) kasi medyo malaki na yung base pay and sa PNP huwag ka lang gagawa ng kalokohan masasabi natin meron kaming security of tenure so we wil be assured na meron kaming trabaho up to 56 years old basta huwag ka lang gagawa ng kalokohan para hindi ka matanggal sa serbisyo,” he said.

PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Dionardo Carlos said they need 21,000 more new police officers.

The PNP has 182,000 uniformed and 11,000 non-uniformed personnel. — RSJ, GMA News