SC orders DBM to explain non-release of retired justices’ monetary benefits

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court has ordered the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to explain its refusal to release the benefits due retired justices.

In a two-page resolution, the High Court asked the DBM to submit its explanation within 10 days upon receipt of the resolution.

Last October, retired justices of the Court of Appeals petitioned the Supreme Court to order the DBM to release the salary increases and special allowance for the judiciary for the retired justices for January to December.

In its five-page petition for mandamus, the Association of Retired Court of Appeals Justices led by its president, Teodoro Regino, claimed that Budget Secretary Florencio Abad “wilfully continues to refuse or neglect and still unlawfully refuses and fails to fund and release the salary increases and the special allowance for the retired justices for 10 months now.”

Petitioner said that due to Abad’s continued refusal, the members of the association have suffered undue injury and damage including moral, nominal, temperate, exemplary and corrective.

“Such damages,” petitioner said, “are to be assessed by the SC as a personal liability of respondent.”