SPEAKER Martin Romualdez has refiled a bill that seeks to provide a P5,000 monthly hazard pay to government prosecutors assigned to high-risk cases.
Under House Bill No. 2664, prosecutors handling inquest proceedings, preliminary investigations, and court cases involving terrorism, illegal drugs, corruption, money laundering, and other dangerous offenses will be entitled to the monthly allowance.
The proposed hazard pay will be tax-exempt and will not reduce any existing benefits.
Romualdez, a lawyer and president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa), stressed the need to protect prosecutors who regularly face threats due to the sensitive nature of their work.
“In the performance of their duties, they are exposed to dangerous environments and handle cases involving national security and notorious criminals. As a result, many prosecutors have received death threats—and some have even been killed,” Romualdez said.
At least 13 prosecutors have been killed in the line of duty over the past decade, according to the bill’s explanatory note.
The proposed measure also covers prosecutors stationed in conflict zones, remote areas, and places affected by calamities. It directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to issue implementing rules within 60 days after the bill’s enactment.
The initial funding will be sourced from the DOJ’s existing budget, with subsequent allocations to be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
A similar version of the measure was approved by the House on final reading during the 19th Congress. Romualdez expressed confidence that it will again gain strong support from lawmakers in both chambers.
