MANILA, Philippines – Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Tuesday said hefty cash bonuses for star-rank officials will no longer be released, adding cops might instead get sacks of rice.
Dela Rosa said his announcement of the cash gift, done on Monday at a Christmas party for police officials, might have led to the money not being released.
"Pero iyong kahapon na ini-announce ko, supposed to be naghihintay kami kahapon. Kaso noong nag-presscon tayo, maraming nagtatanong kung saan ang source, saan galing,” Dela Rosa said in an interview with media.
“Siguro na-discourage ang Malacañang magbigay hanggang ginabi na lang walang dumating," he said.
Dela Rosa said Malacañang told him it see if it can find money to buy the ranking officials sacks of rice before yearend.
On Monday, Dela Rosa announced that President Rodrigo Duterte had allocated bonuses of from P100,000 to P400,000 for star-rank officials.
Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Monday that he asked the PNP chief where the cash gifts were supposed to come from and that he was told the money had not been released.
“They have not yet received anything and, apparently, nothing is forthcoming,” Abella said in a separate press briefing.
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The PNP chief confirmed that Malacañang told him that bonuses were not in the budget.
“Sabi naman ng Malacañang walang pera, hanapin na lang nila kung saan ‘yung pera na iyan,” he said.
In jest, Dela Rosa said top police officials were angered by the canceled bonus.
“Sayang nga e. Galit nga ‘yung mga opisyal ko – mga general. Bakit daw nabulabog pa imbis na makatanggap na sila, marami pang nagku-kwestyon sa source, binawi tuloy ng Malacañang. Hindi na tuloy natuloy,” he said.
According to Senior Superintendent Dionardo Carlos, PNP spokesperson, whether or not the Palace releases the bonuses, performance-based bonuses for qualified police personnel were already released on December 16.
Carlos also said Dela Rosa appealed to the public not to make the bonuses an issue .
“It’s the decision of the giver, if it’s not going to happen we’re still very much happy,” he said.
Asked if Dela Rosa will now be more careful with his announcements, the PNP chief replied he will say what he wants to say.
“Hindi niyo pa rin ako mapipigilan… kasi ako transparent ako na tao, kung ano ang nararamdaman ko, feeling happy ako e, nasa festive mood tayo, dahil nga Christmas na.”