Police officials split on proposal to raise retirement age

MANILA, Philippines - The proposal of the Senate to pass a law raising the retirement age of officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) drew mixed reactions yesterday from senior police officials.

During a joint hearing of the committees on national defense, peace and order, and illegal drugs, Sen. Francis Escudero said that retiring at age of 56 is too early for military and PNP personnel.

Detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a former Navy officer, had earlier sought to fix the AFP and PNP’s retirement age at 65 but it was rejected by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, citing the fact that the proposal was junked by the PNP in 2002.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III suggested that the PNP look into the possibility of increasing the retirement age to 60 if 65 is not amenable.

National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Leocadio Santiago said the Senate move is a good idea.

Santiago warned lawmakers that the proposed law must be implemented in the next two or three years to prevent accusations that “somebody is out to perpetuate himself in power.”

“The police officials who are retiring in two or three years’ time should be allowed to retire before the law is implemented for our junior officers to assume sensitive posts in the PNP. Otherwise, it (law) would be self-serving,” said Santiago, who is set to retire in 2012.

Santiago’s predecessor, Director Roberto Rosales, said he is not in favor of extending the PNP retirement age to 60.

Rosales, who is now head of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) in Northern Luzon, said 56 years old is the right retirement age as he expects the proposal to just die down.