President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said public school teachers will also get a pay raise soon, following his promises of increases in the salaries of police officers and soldiers.

"Sunod iyon," he said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.

He also denied playing favorites, and claimed that it was necessary to prioritize the pay hike for the police officers because they are frontliners in the government’s war on drugs, and the Armed Forces because soldiers stake their lives for the welfare of the country.

"Inuna ko ang army pati pulis kasi sa drug [war] ko…Ito, buhay [ang itinataya]. 'You go to Mamasapano then die there.' 'Yes, sir!' Inuna ko sila kasi they keep the country strong," Duterte said.

However, he said it will take time for police and soldiers to feel their pay increase, because it will be done in stages.

“By months tayo. If there’s [government] income…they will feel it,” he said.

Last week, Duterte signed the P3.35-trillion budget for 2017, which included a provision to increase teachers’ cash or chalk allowance to P2,000 from P1,500.

Earlier in December, Duterte also cancelled cash bonuses to be given to high-ranking police officials.

PNP chief Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa had announced that Duterte allocated P100,000 to P400,000 for each top cop, but later said that they will now only each get a sack of rice.