PNP releases P1.8B for cops' Christmas bonus

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday announced its release of P1.8 billion for the year-end bonus of its 150,000 active police personnel.

The PNP said its Directorate for Comptrollership released P1,837,449,867 through the PNP Finance Service and subsequently credited to the individual automated teller machine, or ATM, payroll accounts of active uniformed and non-uniformed personnel.

Chief Supt. Felixberto Lagiwid, Director of the PNP Finance Service,  said cops who are not yet enrolled in the ATM payroll system will receive checks through the Regional Finance Service Offices.

Lagiwid said the year-end bonus represents 50 percent of the 13th month pay and other cash benefits mandated by law for all government workers.

The PNP released the  first tranche of the 13th month pay for this year last May.

PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor said, however, that the release of the 13th month pay to PNP personnel with pending administrative and criminal cases is deferred as an administrative policy.