PNP chief assures extra X-Mas bonus for cops

CEBU – Despite the recent “Moscow Scandal” that rocked the police organization, Philippine National Police chief Jesus Verzosa assured policemen will still receive an extra bonus this December.

During his visit to Cebu last week, Versoza told the local media that aside from the yearend bonus, there will be an extra cash bonus for all those in the police organization.

However, he did not mention any amount, saying that he still have to refer to the law and look at the savings of the PNP where the funds for the extra cash gift will be taken.

Last year, President Gloria Arroyo ordered the giving of P10,000 extra cash gift to each of all the state workers as performance bonus. Of the amount, P7,000 was given by Malacañang while the remaining P3,000 was from the agency or unit.

Only P7,000 was released to each of those in the police service last year because the PNP did not give the P3,000 counterpart funding.

Retired Chief Supt. Eliseo de la Paz, who formerly headed the PNP Directorate for Comptrollership, said in a Memorandum dated December 14, 2007 that the PNP does not have savings to support the remaining P3,000.

Dela Paz recently become controversial after he was caught having in his possession 105,000 euros or P6.9 million, which he failed to declare when he and the other top PNP officials went to Moscow, Russia, for an international police conference. The money was believed to be taken from the coffers of the PNP.

In 2006, Arroyo ordered the release of P5,000 extra bonus for PNP, but only P2,500 was released in December and the other half was released in February that was called as the “Valentine Bonus.”

Some policemen in Central Visayas, when sought for comment on the extra bonus that was recently announced by Verzosa, said they will only believe once they see the check.

Verzosa visited Cebu last Thursday for the first time since his assumption as PNP chief and barely two weeks after the Moscow incident. – Ferliza C. Contratista/WAB (THE FREEMAN)