EER! tern. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REPUBLIC OF THE PHISPPENES First Regular Session ) JUL 21 A10:35 SENATE RECEWED E S. No. - Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN GRANTING HAZARD PAY TO ALL PUBLIC PROSECUTORS EXPOSED TO HAZARDOUS SITUATIONS AND PERFORMING HAZARDOUS DUTIES RELATED TO ASSIGNED CASES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE Public prosecutors are core pillars of the criminal justice system, upholding the rule of law and prosecuting criminal offenders under inherently hazardous conditions. Since 2016, at least thirteen (13) prosecutors have been killed, with most cases remaining unresolved. Notable fatalities include Mati City Prosecutor Rolando Acido (October 2016); Quezon City Prosecutor Johanne Noel Mingoa (January 2017); Caloocan Assistant Prosecutor Diosdado Azarcon (May 2017); Assistant Prosecutor Maria Ronatay (July 2017); Former Prosecutor Pablito Gahol (September 2017); Quezon Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Reymund Luna (September 2017); Prosecutor Rogelio Velasco (May 2018); Retired Prosecutor Geronimo Marabe, Jr. (May 2018); Prosecutor Madonna Joy Ednaco Tanyag (June 2018); Former Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro (January 2019); Manila Senior Assistant 1 Rappler, List: Judges, prosecutors, lawyers killed under Duterte gov't, published on November 8, 2018. Available at https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/216239-list-judges-prosecutors-lawyers-killed-under-duterte-govemment/. (Accessed on June 20, 2025)
Prosecutor Jovencio Senados (July 2020)2; Cavite Assistant Prosecutor Edilberto Mendoza (December 2021);3 and Davao Occidental Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Eleanor P. de la Peña (June 2024). 4 These senseless acts expose the extreme perils faced by prosecutors, demoralizing the National Prosecution Service (NPS), which, despite its resolve to uphold the law "at any cost," acknowledges the significant risks involved. 5 To recognize the perilous nature of their duty, and the profound personal sacrifice demanded, it is imperative to establish a clear and equitable legislative framework for granting hazard pay to all public prosecutors exposed to dangerous situations and duties. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. FRANCIS NA PANGILINAN Senator 2 The Strait Times, Top Manila Prosecutor shot dead, becomes 50t in list of slain lawyers, judges, published July 8, 2020. Available at httos://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/top-manila-prosecutor-shot-dead-becomes=50th-in-list-of-stain- lawyers-judges. (Accessed on June 22, 2025). 3 Rappler, On last day of 2021, Cavite prosecutor becomes 66* lawyer killed under Duterte. Published on December 31, 2021. Available at https://www.rappler.com/philippines/cavite-prosecutor-edilberto-mendoza-killed-66th-lawyer-duterte/. (Accessed on June 20, 2025). ho ps/whilstar. headliness 10601235206/diental Prosecutor. Published ental pres e, 2024 Avalable ar June 20,2025). NPS condemns ambush of QC deputy prosecutor. Published on 13 May 2018, Available at PNA, httos://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1035125. (Accessed on June 20, 2025).
- TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session JUL 21 A10:36 SENATE RECEIVED S S. No. _ Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN AN ACT GRANTING HAZARD PAY TO ALL PUBLIC PROSECUTORS EXPOSED TO HAZARDOUS SITUATIONS AND PERFORMING HAZARDOUS DUTIES RELATED TO ASSIGNED CASES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR Be enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title.- This Act shall be known as the "Hazard Pay for Public
Prosecutors Act."
Sec. 2.- Declaration of Policy.- It is the policy of the State to maintain peace
4 and order, protect life, liberty and property, and promote the general welfare of the 5 people for the enjoyment of the blessings of democracy. To realize this policy, the 6 State recognizes the indispensable role of the public prosecutors in our criminal 7 justice system. To this end, the State shall provide the necessary support to ensure 8 that the public prosecutors are properly compensated as they perform their 9 functions in hazardous situations related to their assigned cases.
Sec. 3. Coverage.- All public prosecutors of the National Prosecution Service
of the Department of Justice who are actually performing any of the hazardous 12 duties and are exposed to the conditions described in Section 4 of this Act, as certified by the Secretary of Justice or his/her duly authorized representative, including public prosecutors who are tasked to authorize the prosecution of 15 hazardous cases mentioned in this Section, or who approve, review, reverse, or 16 modify resolutions on inquest proceedings or preliminary investigations involving
1 such hazardous cases, are likewise entitled to receive hazard pay as provided in this 2 Act.
Sec. 4. Hazard Pay.- All covered public prosecutors are entitled to receive a
4 monthly hazard pay of Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) in addition to their regular 5 compensation, while in the performance of the following duties: (a) Assigned to conduct the inquest proceeding, preliminary investigation, or prosecution of cases involving crimes against national security and the law of the nations, the fundamental laws of the State, public order, and those crimes committed by public officers as defined and penalized under Act No. 3815, otherwise known as "The Revised Penal Code"; (b) Assigned to conduct the inquest proceeding, preliminary investigation, or prosecution of cases involving Republic Act No. 3165, as amended, otherwise known as the "Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002", Republic Act No. 10591 otherwise known as the "Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act", Republic Act No. 3019, as amended, otherwise known as the "Anti-Money Laundering Act", and Republic Act No. 11479, otherwise known as "The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020"; (c) Assigned to conduct the inquest proceeding, preliminary investigation, or prosecution of cases involving transnational crimes, including illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, money laundering, terrorism, arms smuggling, trafficking in persons, piracy, and other crimes with significant impact on the political, economic and socio- cultural stability and security of the country; (d) Assigned to conduct the inquest proceeding, preliminary investigation, or prosecution of cases involving illegal logging, illegal mining, illegal fishing, illegal dumping of hazardous waste, as well as the destruction, exploitation, illegal gathering, smuggling, illegal trade, or trafficking of all kinds of flora, fauna, marine life, minerals, precious metais, and other natural resources, and all other crimes, offenses and prohibited acts with significant impact on the environment; (e) Assigned or exposed to hazardous situations including assignment in strife-torn or embattled areas, distressed or isolated stations, disease-
infested areas, and areas declared by a competent authority to be under a state of calamity or emergency; (f) Assigned to conduct the inquest proceeding, preliminary investigation, or prosecution of offenders who have been previously convicted of any of the crimes mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d) of this Section; and (g) Assigned to other hazardous duties and circumstances analogous to the foregoing.
Sec. 5. Tax Exemption and Non-Diminution of Benefits.- The hazard pay
9 provided in this Act shall form part of the exclusions from taxable gross income in accordance with Section 32(b) (7)(e) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, 11 ad amended: Provided, That nothing in this Act shall be construed to diminish, in 12 any manner, any benefit granted to duly appointed public prosecutors under existing laws, rules and regulations, local ordinances, and other issuances.
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations.- Within sixty (60) days after
the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Budget and Management, and the 16 Department of Justice shall jointly promulgate rules and regulations for the effective 17 implementation of this Act.
Sec. 7. Appropriations.- The amount necessary for the initial implementation
19 of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriation of the Department of Justice. Thereafter, such amounts as may be necessary for the 21 continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations 22 Act.
Sec. 8. Separability Clause.- If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in force and effect.
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause.- All laws, decrees, executive orders, administrative
27 orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, that are inconsistent with this Act are 28 hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
30 its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,