Amid rumors of unrest and alleged resignation of police and military following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte early this week, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. increased the subsistence allowance for the officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in an executive order signed on Friday.

Executive Order (EO) no. 84 that was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin states that the subsistence allowance will retroactively increase from P150 to P350 on January 1, 2025.

“It is imperative to increase the Subsistence Allowance of all Officers and Enlisted Personnel of the AFP, to protect and promote their welfare, in recognition of their sacrifices and perseverance, in defending and upholding the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the order stated.

The EO noted that the current subsistence allowance of the military is “no longer adequate to meet the daily sustenance of an active-duty soldier, which is essential for their well-being and performance of their duties.”

The increase will also cover trainees and probationary second lieutenants/ensigns undergoing training, Citizen Military Training cadets, and reservists.

The funds needed to implement the increase will come from the available appropriations for the AFP under the General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Republic Act No. 12116) and other funding sources identified by the Department of Budget and Management.

The AFP will also include the funding requirements for continuing to implement the increase in its future budget proposals.

It states that the order will take effect immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation

The AFP’s subsistence allowance was last adjusted in 2015 pursuant to Congress Joint Resolution No. 5 (s. 2015).

In 2018, Duterte fulfilled his campaign promise to double the salaries of police and military by signing into law the Congress Joint Resolution modifying the Base Pay Schedule for Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP).

According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) the "Congress Joint Resolution (JR) no. 1, s. 2018 doubles the base pay of a Police Officer (PO) I in the Philippine National Police or a Private in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and equivalent ranks in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA)."

The alleged resignation of police and military personnel was circulated in social media following the arrest of Duterte who was immediately flown to The Hague on Monday.

The allegation was dismissed by the police and military assuring the public that it remains professional, non-partisan committed to its constitutional mandate of defending the nation and serving the Filipino people. Robina Asido/DMS