Same benefits for police retirees pushed

This file photo shows members of the Philippine National Police. (Photo from the PNP)

MANILA, Philippines — Three lawmakers have filed bills granting the same benefits to police officers who reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 and those forced to retire earlier after being permanently disabled in the line of duty.

Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and ACT-CIS party-list Representatives Edvic Yap and Jeffrey Soriano filed House Bill Nos. 6911 and 6912, which seek to amend Republic Act No. 6975, citing the disparity in benefits given to regular police retirees and those who leave the service because of a total permanent physical disability (TPPD).

Both bills seek to amend section 73 of RA 6975, entitling TPPD retirees to benefit adjustments based on the prevailing scale of the base pay of active police personnel and removing the time limit on their dependents’ entitlement to their pension.

The lawmakers said that the inability of TPPD retirees to reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 or render 20 years of service should not be taken against them.

RA 6975 as amended entitles regular retirees to monthly retirement pay adjustments based on the prevailing scale of the base pay of active personnel while TPPD retirees are entitled only to 80 percent of their last salary.

In addition, if a TPPD retiree dies within five years after retirement, their family will receive their pension only for the remainder of the five-year period while the kin of police personnel, regardless of the length of service and who are killed in the line of duty, get a continuous monthly annuity.

—JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE