Prosecutor Del Pilar’s separation, retirement benefits

We would like to clarify a news article which came out today (Apr. 22) in the Philippine STAR entitled “GSIS, DBM blamed for death of retired fiscal” by Edu Punay.

On July 25, 2012, Atty. Marcelo del Pilar (+) filed a claim for separation benefit with the GSIS Bacolod Branch. In view of his outstanding obligations to GSIS for various loans, he withdrew his application for separation benefit on the same day. He then went to the DOJ Head Office and inquired about his retirement under RA 10071 (Prosecution Service Act of 2010) and to request remittance to GSIS of his loan repayment for the said balance.

DOJ remitted the loan repayment to GSIS on August 13, 2012, which immediately posted the same as payment, for his outstanding consolidated loan balance. On August 8, 2012, Atty. del Pilar visited the GSIS Bacolod Branch Office and again manifested his intention to withdraw his application for separation benefits since he first wanted to avail of his retirement benefit under RA 10071 through the Department of Justice ‘without prejudice” to his benefits under RA 8291.

Last January 2013, the Department of Budget and Management and the Government Service Insurance System started to draft a joint circular providing the guidelines and procedures on the payment of retirement benefits for prosecutors under RA10071.

The joint circular was the result of several meetings among representatives of DOJ, DBM, and GSIS. Under the circular, GSIS will pay the benefits prosecutors are entitled to, covering the period until May 28, 2010 (when they ceased to become regular members of GSIS); the national government, through DOJ/DBM will pay the difference between the benefits prescribed by RA 10071 and the amount they received from GSIS.

DBM submitted the circular to GSIS on April 3, 2013 for signature. Unfortunately, on April 4, 2013, Atty. del Pilar passed away. GSIS undertook a further review of the circular, considering this is the first time that two agencies, DBM and GSIS, are undertaking a joint payment arrangement covered by special retirement schemes. GSIS signed the circular on April 17, 2013 and transmitted the same to DBM on the next day.

Even pending the approval of the joint circular, GSIS currently continues to process the retirement / separation benefits of prosecutors under RA 8291, albeit until May 28, 2010. Since the enactment of RA 10071, GSIS has released the pension  benefits of 83 retired prosecutors.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to clarify the issue. — MARGIE A. JORILLO, Vice President, Corporate Communications Office, GSIS