Court asked to lift freeze on P3.9-B PNP funds

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police has asked a Manila court to lift the freeze order it issued on PNP funds amounting to P3.9 billion to be able to pay the pension benefits of police retirees and finance PNP’s operating expenses.

The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32 issued on July 9 a Notice of Garnishment based on a complaint filed by the Manila’s Finest Brotherhood Association (MFBA), which sought to collect their pension benefits from 1991 to 2006.

Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, director of the PNP public information office, said the court order prevents the PNP from withdrawing money from its Landbank account to finance its law enforcement functions.

The ruling stated that withdrawals, releases or transfers should not be made on any deposit accounts, properties or assets belonging to the PNP under the bank’s control or possession if the balance will go below P3.9 billion.

“By next month, we can no longer withdraw from the PNP account at the Landbank. This will affect us because we are withdrawing money from our Landbank account every month for our operating expenses,” Sindac added.

He said the PNP would not be able to pay the pensions of 66,000 retirees belonging to the PNP and the Integrated National Police (INP) for the month of August.

Under the General Appropriations Act (GAA), the PNP has P22 billion in funds for this year.

The pension benefits for the 66,000 retirees are sourced from a pension and gratuity fund of GAA and not from the annual PNP appropriation.

The INP was dissolved in 1991, giving way to  the creation of the PNP.

INP pensioners are seeking their benefits from 1991 to 2006.

In 2007, the monthly pension for INP retirees was set similar to what PNP retirees receive.

With the garnishment order, Sindac said the PNP’s Landbank account should maintain a balance of P3.9 billion to ensure that INP retirees will be paid.

Sindac said the PNP would not be able to access more than P600 million and P1.8 billion for law enforcement and retirees’ pensions, respectively.