INP, PNP retirees soon to receive same benefits

Retirees of the defunct Integrated National Police (INP) are entitled to the same retirement benefits presently being received by their counterparts at the Philippine National Police (PNP), a Manila Regional Trial Court judge ruled recently. The decision of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32 Judge Juan Nabong Jr. was hailed by at least 650 remaining INP retirees in the country who are now entitled to receive at most triple the amount of pension they are presently receiving.

These INP policemen had retired from service before the passage and implementation of RA 6975 or the PNP Law on Dec. 13, 1990. The law exempts all INP retirees, whose ages now range from 68 to 96, from receiving the same pension of the PNP retirees.

A wide disparity on the prevailing scale of the base pay of the two sets of retired policemen showed that a police corporal in the INP receives a monthly pension pay of P3,225 as compared to his counterpart in the PNP who receives P11,310; a captain who receives P5,248 as against a senior inspector who gets P15,976; and a brigadier general who receives P10,054 as compared to a chief superintendent who gets a montly pension of P18,088.

The INP retirees bewailed the law as a class legislation for having classified the police retirees into two categories: Those who retired prior to 1991 (INP) and those who retired in 1991 onwards.

In his decision, Nabong ruled that "INP retirees are entitled to the same or identical retirement benefits and such other benefits being granted, accorded and bestowed upon PNP retirees under Republic Act 6975, as amended." Nabong also ordered concerned government agencies to immediately effect and implement the proper adjustments on the INP retirees’ retirement and other benefits, retroactive to its date of effectivity.

"A very judicious and fair decision which considers all aspects of police work performed before 1991," said retired police Col. Felicisimo Lazaro, president of the Manila’s Finest Retirees Association, Inc. (MFRAI) who filed before the court a petition for declaratory relief on the legality of a provision of RA 6975 which exempted the INP retirees from receiving the same pension pay of PNP policemen.

A triumph of the forgotten tribes who were the real Manila’s Finest whose exploits during those times have been the envy of all police organizations in the world, Lazaro said. He added he is optimistic that the aging and sickly INP retirees, whom he said are very few and scattered all over the country, will be able to "taste the fruit" of their unsullen service to the people since the budget for the added pension pay have already been included in the current budget.

"The court’s decision will be final and executory if there is no appeal from the concerned government agencies within 15 days from the date of receipt of the ruling," Lazaro said, adding that Sen. Robert Barbers had vowed to accompany the INP retirees to President Arroyo for the implementation of the decision. He added that unless the decision "will be converted into a concrete funding, the INP retirees shall not reap the benefits they highly deserve."

"Thank God after all these years and through Col. Lazaro’s perseverance, I can firmly say that I truly belong to the police organization. My pension pay can now support my family," a teary-eyed 78-year-old retired Capt. Sergio Javier said. "It’s long overdue for us before we go beyond," commented 80-year-old retired Capt. Alfredo Ballat.

Lazaro is calling on all INP retirees nationwide to get in touch with the MFRAI offices at the Western Police District headquarters along United Nations Avenue in Ermita, Manila or call at telephone numbers 525-55-92 and 525-55-95 for registration.