Survivors of KIA veteran cops to get same benefits as retirees
Beneficiaries of Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel who served for at least two decades but were killed on duty are set to receive higher benefits after the 1992 computation guidelines for retirement and separation pay were updated.
In a press statement on Wednesday, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) announced its approval of Resolution No. 2018-435, which will uniformly adopt the computation of the benefits outlined under Republic Act No. 8551, or the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998.
The resolution has been forwarded to the Department of Budget and Management.
Under Section 34 of the law, the monthly retirement pay for police personnel is mandated to be 50 percent of their base pay and longevity pay in the next salary grade higher than the permanent grade last held.
90 percent for 36 years
This increases by 2.5 percent for every year of active service rendered beyond 20 years to a maximum of 90 percent for 36 years of active service or longer.
The new Napolcom resolution amends the 1992 Napolcom Resolution 92-7.
‘Seeming inequality’
“Such amendment is necessary as the PNP (has) observed the seeming inequality (between) the benefits being received by the survivors of PNP personnel who died in the line of duty and had actively served the institution for at least 20 years, and the survivors of those who rendered at least 20 years of active service and had retired from the service,” said Napolcom Vice Chair and Executive Officer Rogelio Casurao.
Under the 1992 resolution, which provides for the establishment of the benefit system for PNP personnel, the separation pay due to survivors of an officer or nonofficer with at least 20 years of active service who dies in the line of duty is computed differently.
They are entitled to a monthly annuity equivalent to only 50 percent of the deceased PNP member’s base and longevity pay based on the next higher grade, to be divided equally among the beneficiaries, with the right to accretion.
