Rody approves combat pay hike

MANILA, Philippines - Soldiers and policemen could soon receive up to P5,000 across-the-board increase for combat operations, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) disclosed yesterday.

As this developed, sources told The STAR President Duterte’s pronouncement that the joint military exercises between the Philippines and the United States this month would be the last in his term did not sit well with all of the soldiers.

Duterte also admitted earlier there were rumblings within the military because of issues involving the peace talks with the communist
rebels.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said based on Executive Order No. 03 approved by President Duterte and signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Sept. 26, the soldiers and policemen would get a fixed P3,000 monthly combat duty pay plus P300 per day “combat incentive” pay for those directly assigned in operations against insurgents, terrorists and lawless elements.

The Constitution “provides that professionalism in the armed forces and the adequate renumeration and benefits of its members shall be a prime concern of the state,” the EO read.

“Laws and executive issuances have been enacted in cognizance of the heroism and sacrifices of the frontline soldiers and police officers who figure directly in actual combat against various groups which threaten national peace and security,” it added.

The combat incentive pay is subject to the following conditions: the operation must be for a specific combat mission that is duly covered by an operations order (OPORD) or fragmentary order (FRAG-O) for the military or mission order for the police; the personnel involved in combat must be in the published task organization of the AFP OPORD/FRAG-O or the PNP mission order; and total for each individual shall not exceed P3,000.

“There is an urgent need to increase the said benefits to improve the living conditions of the men in uniform who are engaged in combating  threats to national security and public peace and order,” the EO stated.

The increases are retroactive to Sept. 1 and will be given to all officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“Yes, (the increases are) across the board regardless of rank and tax free. DBM is releasing the money soon,” Diokno told The STAR.
Diokno said the increases would cost the government a total of P12 billion for the first four months of implementation from September to December of this year.

Next year, Diokno said another P39 billion would be set aside for the same incentives on top of the salary increases proposed in the 2017 budget still undergoing scrutiny in Congress.

Duterte has often told AFP and PNP members to check their pay slips because the increase in their take home pay would increase.

Initially, the President wanted to double their salaries by yearend but the DBM said it was not viable as the government was using a budget prepared by the previous administration.

“Officers and enlisted personnel of the AFP performing combat duties or activities and uniformed personnel of the PNP engaged in actual police operations (against insurgents, terrorists and lawless elements) as defined in regulations to be issued by the secretary of national defense and the National Police Commission, respectively, are entitled to receive combat duty pay,” the EO said.

Members of the military used to get P500 per month for combat duty while the policemen receive P340 monthly. The soldiers’ combat incentive pay was P150 per day not exceeding P1,500 per OPORD or FRAG-O.

The initial funding will come from the President’s Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund while the succeeding funds for the incentives will be included in the specific budgets of the PNP and AFP through the General Appropriations Act.

Both the PNP and AFP will be required to submit a list of its rosters, which will be validated and made basis for funding in the succeeding years.

AFP unhappy?

All is not well within the military, according to sources, as American forces and their Filipino counterparts prepare for their annual joint military exercises on Oct. 4 at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal.

Duterte has been adamant not to allow Philippine soldiers to participate in more joint training exercises with US forces. He said he did not want any such exercises within his term and that those scheduled this month would be the last.

The holding of joint military exercises between the two countries is provided for under the Mutual Defense Treaty forged in the 1950s.

But the President has yet to make a written order to the AFP related to his pronouncement.

Sources said Duterte’s move was not fully welcome within the AFP.

STAR sources said the statement of the President did not sit well with some quarters in the military as the training program or course for the soldiers in the next few years would be affected. 

The planning of such joint military exercises reportedly take months if not years to determine which areas in the defense departments of both countries will be covered by such activities. 

AFP officials will have to discuss the President’s pronouncement, the sources added.

Duterte said the country was not benefiting from such joint exercises as the American forces were giving the Filipino soldiers nothing but their soiled clothes and not the needed support for their continued training.  – With Giovanni Nilles