Police officers march at the Philippine National Police grounds in Camp Crame in Quezon City. (File photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police on Wednesday admitted that a number of police officers have opted to retire from the service early because of proposed changes in the pension system for military and other uniformed personnel (MUP).
But the number of police officers opting for early retirement was less than 1 percent of the 228,000-strong police force and the PNP already has a long-standing system to refill vacancies due to early retirement and the usual cases of attrition.
Citing figures from the PNP Retirement and Benefits Administration Service, Col. Jean Fajardo said that from Jan. 1 to July 13, a total of 1,793 police personnel, who have rendered at least 20 years of active service, have availed of optional retirement.
The figure was already 73 percent of the average number of PNP personnel who opted to retire early for the past five years at 2,440 per annum.
“We must admit that there are many police officers who were doubtful in supporting the new MUP pension scheme, because it will create a substantial decrease in the take-home pay of the current personnel to contribute to their pension. Some availed of early retirement,” Fajardo told reporters in Camp Crame on Wednesday.
“[But] the PNP as a whole will not be affected by this, as these are addressed immediately by our attrition quota requirements,” she said.
“Aside from our regular quota, the PNP has an attrition quota as it foresees the number of personnel that would retire the following year,” Fajardo added.
Fajardo noted that PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said last week that there have been consultations with PNP personnel across the country and they now have a better understanding of the pension scheme that has not been finalized.