PNP retirees ask GMA to help in pension adjustment

MANILA, Philippines - A group of retired police officers are asking President Arroyo to intervene in the alleged continued failure of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to fully implement their pension adjustment for the years 2002 and 2008, despite the release of the money by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

In a letter to Mrs. Arroyo dated March 1, Manila’s Finest Retirees Association, Inc. (MFRAI) vice president for external affairs Artemio Sta. Romana said “the adjustment … to CY 2002 and CY 2008 levels are short of five and a half years and six months, respectively.”

The MFRAI said that whenever there is a pension adjustment, the corresponding pension differential for that year is withheld. The back pension differentials payable by the government to the PNP retirees have reached almost P8 billion, the group added.

The MFRAI officials said said they have been writing letters to Mrs. Arroyo, and they receive favorable responses but still fail to receive the corresponding adjustment of their pension approved by the government.       

“How can that be when there is a budget for such funds? This is anomalous. We will push for an investigation in case we fail to receive our pension adjustment,” the MFRAI said.

The MFRAI said their members who are already old, sickly and dying are hoping that they will be able to get hold of the additional cash benefits intended for them to tide them over in their remaining years. – Nestor Etolle