Duterte eyes up to P100,000 monthly pay for law enforcers –Cayetano

To steer police officers away from corruption, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte plans to increase the monthly salary of law enforcers to as much as P100,000 within three years, his running mate, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, said Monday.

At a press conference baring their platform for the 2016 elections, Cayetano said the proposed salary increase is meant to meet the increasing cost of living particularly in Metro Manila.

"By increasing their pay right away, mami-meet ang increasing cost of living," he said. "Ang gusto ni mayor, each PNP official and policeman will be receiving between P75,000 to P100,000."

Cayetano said at present, a policeman receives between P14,000 to P18,000 every month, which is low considering that the coast of living in Metro Manila is between P30,000 to P35,000.

"So sa unang buwan pa lamang sa opisina, P15,000 to P20,000 na ang deficit mo buwan-buwan. So saan mo kukunin ito?" he said. "Kaya pumapatol kung saan-saan, pangongotong at mga mas elaborate na schemes, scams, at corruption ang mga pulitiko at law enforcers."

He also said that a policeman usually receives his first salary three to six months from the first day he reports to work.

He said a police officer from Bacolod had told them that if the salary increase will be fulfilled, it will be the police officers who will report their erring colleagues.

"Kasi pag ganyan na ang sweldo ng pulis, ayaw namin na 'yung image masisira, may mangyayari sa amin o matanggal kami," Cayetano quoted the police offcer as saying during their conversation.

Special courts

Aside from higher salary, Cayetano said they are planning to reinstitute special criminal courts for heinous crimes including trafficking of illegal drugs.

"This was implemented during the time of FVR (former President Fidel V. Ramos) through the Supreme Court and it was very effective," he said. "Tinigil  ng SC because of the security of judges pero sa special criminal courts, sa loob ng 90 days to 120 days ay tapos na ang paglilitis ng mga heinous crimes, and it serves as a deterrent sa marami."

He said he believes that the executive department should work with the judiciary in providing security to the justices and prosecutors to effectively implement the plan.

"Ma-implement natin ang batas para hindi magamit ng mga kriminal ang kapangyarihan at pera nila, magkakaroon ng hustisya but also a sense of fairness sa ating judicial system," Cayetano said.

Modernization

He added that they also want to modernize the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, and other law enforcement agencies by improving their crime laboratories and trainings especially for investigators, and by providing state-of-the-art crime fighting equipment.

He said they will also be pushing for a clear system for punishment and reward when it comes to crime.

Cayetano believed they can do it through political will; firm, fair, and fearless application of the law and cleansing the ranks of PNP, NBI, and law enforcement agencies.

The senator said Duterte told them not to overpromise and ensure that everything that they will say can be achieved.

"Ang sabi niya let us not overpromise. Katulad ng traffic, hindi naman 'yan maso-solve overnight.  Let us not  draw up a platform na lahat ng sector kasali pero hindi kaya,” said Cayetano. —KBK, GMA News