PNP assures release of pension

CEBU, Philippines - The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Finance Services assured police pensioners of the release of their pension increase once the organization has cleansed its list from ghost pensioners as required by the Department of Budget Management (DBM).

Chief Supt. Rolando Purugganan, director of the PNP Finance Service in Camp Crame, confirmed that the delay in the increase of the pension of over 60,000 retirees is because of the recently discovered ghost pensioners.

After the fraudulent transactions were discovered, Purugganan said the DBM instructed the PNP to cleanse its list before the increase is released.

The PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines had increases for the salaries of their active members and pensioners. Four increases were implemented since the year 2009 which were released in tranches. 

The third tranche for the PNP, which was supposed to be given last year, was put on hold by the DBM after Camp Crame discovered several ghost pensioners.

“Ang PNP nagkaruon nang konteng problema sa implementation ang increase sa third tranche (2011). We were required by DMB to submit a cleanse list,” Purugganan said.

Unlike the PNP, the AFP has distributed to their pensioners their increases for last year (third tranche) and this year (fourth tranche), he said.

Purugganan said most of the ghost pensioners were discovered in the transferred pension or pensions from deceased retirees which were transferred to their immediate family.

He said they have already filed criminal and administrative complaints against five PNP personnel who were involved in the syndicate of pensions in Camp Crame.

As of the moment, around 9,000 pensioners are still affected by the cleansing process.

“We are subjecting the nine thousand to confirmation. Pag naayos natin lahat, 100 percent na ang malinis at matatangap na nila (pensioners),” he said.

Part of the cleansing process, according to Purugganan, is the re-submission of several requirements that would prove their legitimacy as claimants.

The pension funds are already in the custody of the PNP. 

“I have read the fiscal directive granting them (pensioners) their increase for the third tranche that would take effect this June para ma-enjoy na rin nang natitira na hindi pa nagpa-update,” Purugganan said. 

Early this week, several police pensioners held a rally in front of the DBM – 7 where they aired their sentiments on their overdue retirement pension. (FREEMAN)