Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has promised that he will push for the increase in allowances for both soldiers and policemen should he win as senator once more next year.
Trillanes, who is seeking a Senate comeback under Vice President Leni Robredo’s ticket, noted the important role of the soldiers and police in the country’s pandemic response.
“Sa security sector reform, nais ulit nating bisitahin ang pag-increase ng benefits ng ating mga sundalo at pulis (In the security reform, we want to revisit again the increase of benefits for our soldiers and police),” Trillanes said in a radio interview.
The Magdalo leader was referring to the increase of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) and the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) subsistence allowance, quarters allowance, and the combat duty pay.
Trillanes was a senator from 2007 to 2013 and from 2013 to 2019. He was the principal author of the bill that increased the subsistence allowance for the AFP and PNP in 2012 from P90 to P150 at present.
He also authored the AFP Modernization Law, which improved the benefits of active and retired military officers.
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The increase of the subsistence allowance for the military was also expanded to cover other government employees through the Salary Standardization Law 3, where he was also one of the authors.
“Noong una akong tumakbo noong 2007, nangako akong itataas ng sweldo, pension, at Subsistence Allowance ng mga sundalo at pulis. Kasama na rin dito ang pagpasa ng batas para sa AFP modernization. Lahat ng ito ay natupad sa loob ng aking dalawang termino (When I first run in 2007, I promised to increase the salary, pension, and subsistence allowance of soldiers and police. Part of this is the passage of the law for the AFP modernization. These were all fulfilled during my two terms),” he said.
The former senator has proposed for the increase of AFP and PNP quarters allowances from P5,000 to P15,000, depending on the rank.
At present, PNP personnel are receiving only from P400 up to P1,500, while the AFP are receiving from P1,600 up to P3,000.
For combat duty pay of the personnel assigned in conflict areas, Trillanes vowed to push for an increase from P3,000 to 25 percent of their base pay.
Trillanes said that the current rates of these allowances do not reflect the present times and need to be increased to help them cope with the rising costs of living.