DoJ blames DBM, GSIS on delayed pension of dead government prosecutor

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Justice (DoJ) washes hands off the delay in the release of pension of a government prosecutor who was hoping he could use the money for his medical treatment but died without receiving anything.

In a statement issued Thursday, the DoJ said it was not amiss in attending to the application for retirement pay of former acting Cadiz City Prosecutor Marcelo Del Pilar who died of heart attack last April 4, 2013.

Del Pilar, 66, as reported on INQUIRER.net died without getting his retirement fund. His wife, Teresa said they are hoping that the retirement fund could pay for his medical expenses and could save the foreclosure of their house in Bacolod City and pay for their auto loan.

Marcelo was acting prosecutor of Cadiz City in Negros Occidental when he retired on July 15, 2011, after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65, capping 36 years of government service.

“His situation represents an area of concern and the Department is doing everything to convince the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) and GSIS (Government Service Insurance System)) to release the retirement benefits of retired prosecutors,” Justice Undersecretary Leah Armamento said as she expressed condolences to the family of Del Pilar.

The DoJ said the DBM and GSIS joint circular that will address the issue on the retirement benefits of prosecutors under Republic Act 10071 or the Act Strengthening and Rationalizing the National Prosecution Service was signed only on April 15, 2013.

Armamento said DBM director Tina Rose Marie Canda’s request for the release of Special Allotment Release Order worth P397,384,560.00 to cover payment of the retirement gratuity for prosecutors covering the year 2010 to 2012 was resubmitted to the DBM.

On April 4, Armamento said they sent a letter to Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda on the query of Del Pilar.

“However, he passed away on the same day Malacañang was updated of his benefits,” Armamento said belying claims of Del Pilar’s family that they have not acted on their query about the pension.

Lacierda’s office offered to help Marcelo’s family with the medical expenses through the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office but they declined saying they wanted what was due him.