OCT 26, 2015

NR # 3999B

Full medical assistance to uniformed men wounded while on duty sought

A lawmaker has filed a bill seeking to provide mandatory full medical assistance to soldiers and
policemen wounded while in the performance of their duty.
Rep. Scott Davies S. Lanete (3rd District, Masbate) said House Bill 5933 aims to lessen, if not
totally alleviate, the physical, mental, and financial sufferings of the uniformed men while they are on
duty.
Lanete said the incident involving the death of the Fallen 44 and the wounding of the rest of the
SAF troopers during the Jan. 25 Mamasapano clash raised awareness on the risks members of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) face daily to fight terrorist
organizations and extremist groups in the country.
While our soldiers and policemen fight so the rest of us can be free and sovereign, they risk their
lives without any complaint and hesitation, he said.
The Masbate solon said hearings in the Senate regarding the Mamasapano incident revealed that
members of the PNP stationed in danger zones and tactical units receive a hazard pay amounting to a
meager P240 per month and a combat pay of P340 a month.
It was also revealed that AFP soldiers stationed in conflict areas receive combat pay of only P240
per month, Lanete said.
He said with the risk inherent in such missions, the concerned PNP and AFP troops only receive
measly salaries, allowances and benefits in exchange for the dangers they face in fulfilling their duties.
Lanete, a vice chairman of the Committees on Appropriations, on Poverty Alleviation, and on
Public Order and Safety, said that there are laws already in place to provide financial assistance to
wounded uniformed men while on duty.
But these laws are not adequate enough to help and alleviate their physical, mental,
psychological and financial sufferings, he lamented.
Under the bill, a mandatory full medical combat pay is granted to uniformed men while on duty.
The full medical combat pay shall cover all expenses necessary and related to the immediate care
and recovery of the wounded uniformed men including their post-care and recovery.
The measure further states that all wounded uniformed men shall be entitled to the medical
combat pay the moment they are admitted in a hospital or medical clinic for care and shall continue to be
entitled thereto until such time that a qualified physician declares them fully recovered, both physically
and psychologically.
The bill was referred to the Committees on National Defense and Security and on Public Order
and Safety headed by Reps. Rodolfo G. Biazon (Lone District, Muntinlupa City) and Jeffrey P. Ferrer
(4th District, Negros Occidental), respectively. (30) mvip