Solons seek amendment of retirement benefit system for military

personnel
Two Mindanao lawmakers are seeking an amendment of the retirement and separation
benefit system for military personnel of the armed forces to ensure their surviving spouses
married to them after their retirement and surviving children born out of such marriage, adopted
or acknowledged after retirement shall be entitled to benefits.
Reps. Rufus Rodriguez (2
nd
istrict, !agayan de "ro !ity# and his younger brother
Ma$imo %r. (&arty'list, (bante Mindanao# sought the amendment of &residential ecree )o.
*+,-, as amended by &.. )o. *+./, otherwise known as 01stablishing ( )ew 2ystem "f
Retirement (nd 2eparation 3or Military &ersonnel "f The (rmed 3orces "f The &hilippines (nd
3or "ther &urposes.4
The law covers military personnel who retired from the (3& after 2eptember */, *565.
(ccording to the lawmakers, 2ection . of &.. *+,- defines the survivors of a deceased retiree
who are entitled to the survivor7s benefits under the law.
They e$plained the provision e$cludes the following from entitlement to such benefits8 the
widow who was married to the retiree after his retirement9 the children who were born out of
such marriage9 and the children adopted or acknowledged after retirement.
2uch e$clusions are very pre:udicial to the family of the retiree who is not entitled to
receive benefits simply because the marriage happened after retirement, according to the older
Rodriguez.
0;t is unfair and un:ust. There is no reason for such e$clusion to e$ist as long as the
marriage is valid,4 he said.
;n <ouse =ill ./,*, now pending at the !ommittee on )ational efense and 2ecurity
chaired by Rep. Rodolfo =iazon (>one istrict, Muntinlupa !ity#, the lawmakers sought the
amendment of 2ection 2. of &.. *+,- so that 0survivors4 of retired military person shall mean8
*. 2urviving spouse not legally separated by :udicial decree from the deceased issued on
grounds not attributable to said spouse. &rovided that entitlement to benefits shall
terminate upon the re'marriage of said spouse9
2. 2urviving children of an officer or enlisted man born of his marriage and children, adopted
or acknowledged. &rovided that entitlement to benefits shall terminate when such children
attain 2* years of age or get married9 and
,. ;n default of those mentioned above, surviving, legitimate, adopted or acknowledged
natural children, who have reached 2* years of age, or in their absence, his surviving
parent or parents, or in default thereof, his surviving unmarried brothers and sisters. (,/#
rbb
NR # 3627
OCT. 22, 2014