DBM orders Napolcom to stop paying ‘redundant’ police benefits

MANILA, Philippines — Upon orders of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the National Police Commission (Napolcom) said it will stop payment of benefits for policemen who have become permanently incapacitated, or have died while in the performance of duty or killed in action.

In a letter to the Napolcom dated Nov. 19, 2019, the DBM said that payment of police benefit claims by the commission is tantamount to “double payment of pension” considering that the Philippine National Police (PNP) also grants the same benefit.

The payment of the benefit claims, the DBM said, is inconsistent with Section 8, Article IX-B of the Constitution which prohibits the grant of additional or double compensation.

The police benefits being administered by Napolcom are also deemed “superseded” by Republic Act 6975, the law that established the PNP under a reorganized Department of Interior and Local Government, as amended by RA 8551 or the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998.

“When RA 6975 was enacted establishing the PNP, the Napolcom ceased to exist. What is left from the functions of Napolcom are those related to policy and program coordination,” read the letter signed by Budget Secretary Wendel E. Avisado to Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año.

In an advisory dated Jan. 3, Napolcom asked all regional directors to advise affected claimants/pensioners of the recent development.

The effective date of the stoppage will be announced upon advice by the commission.