New PNP requirement for retirees

CEBU, Philippines - The Police Retirement Benefit Administration Service (PRBAS) – 7 clarifies that the reason behind the delay in distribution of retirement benefits is the failure of several retirees to comply with new requirement provided by Camp Crame.

SPO3 Dennis Sosmeña, officer-in-charge of PRBAS-7, confirmed reports that Camp Crame discovered some ghost pensioners in the masterlist of retirees last year. As part of their efforts to clean their list, Sosmeña said, Crame stalled the distribution of pensions last year. Retirees were asked to submit new sets of requirements to verify their claims.

“It was only last May that we (PRBAS-7) were informed by Crame of the changes in the requirements,” Sosmeña said in Cebuano.

He admitted that they continue to receive complaints from retirees.

For this year alone, PRBAS-7 recorded a total of 89 police officers due for retirement.

Under the new policy, PNP Chief Nicanor Bartolome promised retirees that pensions will be released a month after they retire.

Last Monday, several police pensioners held a rally in front of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) – 7 where they aired their sentiments on overdue retirement pension.

Camp Crame said they are currently improving the payment system after receiving reports that they are losing millions every year to ghost pensioners. 

The PNP is trying to protect their funds by releasing the pension of over 51,000 retires through ATM. Pensions were given through checks before the new policy of the PNP.

Syndicates reportedly recruit women who pose as widows of policemen. The fake widows also submit supporting documents to the PRBAS employees who are involved in the scam. The PNP have filed complaints against several policemen involved in the said scam. –(FREEMAN)