I am not against an increase in the rates of combat duty pay and combat incentive pay to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and extending the same allowances to the Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel.

Our soldiers and police officers often risk their lives to ensure the safety and well being of citizens and they more than deserve an increase in their allowances especially those who are in active combat duty.

But the proposed increase in the combat duty pay and combat incentive pay of the AFP and PNP personnel as contained in President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 3 is inordinately excessive to the point of being hyperbolic even as it is clearly disadvantageous and discriminatory to other government workers.

Under E.O. No. 3, the combat duty pay is increased from P500.00 a month to 3,000.00 a month or a whopping increase of 500%, while the combat duty pay of uniformed personnel of the PNP is increased from P340.00 per month to P3,000.00 per month or an increase of 782.35%. Combat incentive pay was increased from P150.00 a day but not exceeding P1,500.00 per month to P300.00 per day but not exceeding P3,000 per month or an increase of 100%.

Just as important as the work of soldiers and police officers are the tireless efforts of our government doctors and nurses, social workers, public school teachers and barangay health workers and even the often overlooked workers who literally do the dirty jobs that no one else wants to do – our garbage collectors, street sweepers and city sewer cleaners – jobs that are both dirty and risky due to traffic accidents and the danger of contamination.

Any increase in the allowances of AFP and PNP personnel should not be to the detriment of other civil servants.

If the increases in bonuses and incentives are adequately reasonable, then they can be said to be an apt recognition and remuneration for services like combat duty.

However, if the increases are inordinately huge, then this can be akin to buying the loyalty of uniformed officers and personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police for ulterior reasons.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN