P272-M in PNP pension missing

At least 12,000 police retirees denounced the Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday for its alleged failure to increase their pensions although the funds have already been allocated for the purpose.

Retired Director Guillermo Domondon, president of the PNP Retirees Association Inc. (PRAI), said the PNP should explain what happened to some P272 million that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) earmarked last year for the payment of the pensions of retired officials.

Domondon said PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and other police officials could not answer their repeated questions why the PNP has not increased retiree’s pensions although the DBM had allocated some P1.357 billion for the purpose in the PNP’s budget for 2002.

Sen. Robert Barbers, a former Manila police colonel and interior secretary, has proposed a resolution seeking a Senate investigation on the multimillion-peso controversy.

Citing records from the DBM, Domondon said P272.932 million of the amount was meant for the pensions of some 12,000 to 17,000 retirees and was released last year when Deputy Director Reynaldo Velasco was still comptroller.

Velasco is now the chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

But the retirees have not received the increase in their pensions and the PRAI have noted irregularities in the disbursement of the funds.

"Where is it now? Why was it not given to the retirees? None of the retirees have received it... Definitely it was not used for its intended purpose," Domondon said, claiming that "double entries of alleged claimants" has prompted the DBM to exclude the backlog from the PNP’s budget this year.

Domondon said that in a letter dated Nov. 15, 2002, he had already informed Ebdane of the reported double payments and complained of the lack of an efficient list of beneficiaries but no action has been taken on his complaint.

Domondon said that if the PNP continues to refuse to act on their complaint, the PRAI would stage protest rallies at Camp Crame.

It’s Signey’s fault – Velasco

Velasco, for his part, denied that there was any double-payment of pensions during his term as PNP comptroller and even bragged that he was able to get funds to pay a three-year backlog on retirees’ benefits.

"The money for the retirees is really not enough," Velasco said, adding that he asked the DBM in July 2002 to allocate funds for the increase in pensions.

"As early as April, I wrote the DBM. the problem is my successor never followed it up," Velasco said, referring to incumbent PNP comptroller, Director Victor Signey.

Velasco also blamed irregularities raised by the DBM to the PNP department of records and personnel management which prepares the list of retiree-beneficiaries.

He claimed he left enough funds in the PNP coffers and Signey should focus on his job as comptroller rather than blaming other people.

"As far as I know, I left enough funds when I left. It there is a deficit, he should have followed it up with the DBM," Velasco said, adding that it was Signey’s job to address the PNP’s funding problems.

"He cannot go on finger-pointing. When I was comptroller, I did my job. I think I have left enough funds... I was never remiss in my duties," he said.

Velasco said that during his term as comptroller, the PNP paid about P6.75 billion in benefits to active and retired police personnel and that he was ready to answer questions in the proper forum.

"What will I do with some P300 million? That is small compared to the P6.75 billion that we are able to pay during the time of (former chief Director General Leandro) Mendoza. Signey should work hard to convince the DBM (to release the funds). It is a small amount so he will not find it hard to convince (the DBM)," Velasco said.

He said the P272 million could be procured from the DBM’s Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund.

It’s Velasco’s fault – Signey, PRAI

But Signey, in a text message to The STAR on Friday, tossed the blame to Velasco and refused to answer phone calls.

"Pls. ask General Velasco, it happened during his term as comptroller of the PNP," read the text message from Signey.

Signey said he would issue a statement explaining his side on the issue tomorrow.

Domondon also appeared to be blaming Velasco and said the NCRPO chief may be liable for graft or technical malversation for alleged diversion of funds.

The PRAI, however, will postpone the filing of charges against Velasco or any other PNP official until after the Senate investigation proposed by Barbers.

The Association of Chiefs of Police of the Philippines Inc. (ACPPI) also vowed to assist the retirees in their plight.

"We will intercede for the retirees," he said. "The ACCPI is one of the groups approached by the police retirees’ organization to act on their complaint."