Duterte vetoes amendments to survivorship benefits bill — Sotto

Senate President Vicente Sotto III. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has vetoed the bill that grants survivorship benefits to children of deceased retired officials of constitutional offices, Senate President Vicente Sotto III confirmed on Saturday.

“Katulad nung pinadala sa akin kagabi ng sulat ng Pangulo, ang sabi niya vini-veto niya yung survivorship benefits bill,” Sotto said over local radio station DWIZ.

Sotto was referring to the measure which seeks to amend Republic Act 10084 to extend survivorship benefits to dependent children of an official “who is a solo parent, or the surviving parents, or up to two nominated persons of the deceased retiree who died without issue.”

The RA 10084 currently only offers benefits to surviving legitimate spouse of the deceased retired officials of the Commission on Audit (COA), Civil Service Commission (CSC), Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Ombudsman.

The Senate President said the letter cited that the proposed law will affect the pension programs and salaries of government officials.

“E vi-neto niya eh. Kasi makakagulo daw sa salaries, at sa ibang pension program ng gobyerno,” Sotto said.

Malacañang has yet to present a copy of Duterte’s letter to the media. /jpv