Retired cops bare 'anomaly' in INP pensioners' list

A group of retired Manila policemen said yesterday they uncovered an alleged anomaly in the list of retired members of the Integrated National Police (INP) who are receiving their monthly pension.

The Manila’s Finest Retirees Association, Inc. (MFRAI), headed by retired police colonel Felicisimo Lazaro, said the names of 160 retired firemen were included in the list of INP retirees.

The Supreme Court ruled on May 9, 2007 that the 1,529 surviving INP retirees be entitled to the same pension benefits being granted to their counterparts in the Philippine National Police.

“Some 160 firemen were deceitfully misrepresented as INP police retirees by deliberately superimposing the letter P (for policeman) on the letter F (for fireman) before each name in the payroll list,” Lazaro told The STAR.

The retired firemen were never petitioners in any court action that granted the claim for INP retirement benefits, so their inclusion in the roster of INP retirees is a fraud, Lazaro said.

Lazaro said they were able to secure the payroll list from the PNP Finance Center. He said the alleged anomaly could result in the loss of more than P10 million yearly in the annual budget intended for the INP retirees.

Lazaro has written Senior Superintendent Mansue Lukban, chief of the PNP’s Benefits and Pension Administration Division, and Chief Superintendent Orlando Pestaño, director of the PNP’s Finance Division, to investigate and identify the perpetrators of what he described as a scam.

“Such dishonesty is abominable and unconscionable (and) commands punitive action,” Lazaro said in his letter.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said they “will check on this. Anyway, our records are transparent but just the same, we will look into the veracity of this report.”

INP policemen had retired from service before the passage and implementation of Republic Act 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 as the PNP retirees.

Lazaro said adjustment of the INP benefits was only given last year through the intercession of then senator and now Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Sen. Panfilo Lacson. – With Jaime Laude