Retired police officers threaten to hold rally unless pension adjustment is implemented

By Ronron
April 13, 2007

Retired officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) are not afraid to be water cannoned and sprayed with teargas once they hold rally at Plaza Miranda in Manila City come April 27 if the adjustment of their pension and three other demands are not granted or assured by the government.

Retired Director Guillermo Domondon, President of the PNP Retirees Association, Inc. (PRAI), told reporters in Camp Crame Friday that their members are ready to fill up the historic rally site in Quiapo District if their demands remain to fall on deaf ears in the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the PNP.

Domondon laid out four demands from the DBM and the PNP that they hope to be resolved within a week. These are: 1) full release of their pension adjustment worth P4.9 billion; 2) implementation of their differential pay; 3) construction of the 12 million-peso worth PRAI office; and, 4) that the retirees be accorded courtesy and respect when they claim their pension.

He also lamented that some of the retirees are denied of free hospitalization benefits at the PNP General Hospital, contrary to what is mandated by law.

“Sometimes you really have to make noise to be heard. But if our demands will be settled, or if we just get a commitment that they will be resolved, then we might not push through with our planned rally,” Domondon said in Filipino.

Asked if they are prepared to be watered down or sprayed with teargas if they hold the rally, Domondon said: “We’re willing to do that… We will fight for this.”

But he assured that if it pushes through, it will be a peaceful rally.

In response to their demands, PNP Director for Comptrollership Director Noe Wong explained that the pension adjustment for the 31,000 retirees is delayed due to lack of budget appropriation due to the reenactment of the 2005 budget.

But he said it is now being addressed with the passage of the more than P1 trillion budget for this year, and the request for supplemental budget.

“The DBM Secretary, however, has assured that the Department will immediately act on the deficit to fully implement the pension adjustment,” Wong said.

As to the building of PRAI, Wong said he will have to confer it with PNP Chief Gen. Oscar Calderon for inclusion in the next budget proposal.

Wong said the PNP failed to provide the P6 million fund that former PNP chief Gen. Arturo Lomibao and Calderon promised to PRAI because they had a change in priorities, in favor of housing projects for those in the active service.

Wong said a coordinating meeting with other units in the PNP will be held to address the treatment problem that Domondon raised for his fellow retirees.

The PNP General Hospital also denied the allegation that it is outrightly turning down retirees who are seeking medical attention there. The Hospital said it sometimes has to ask some retirees to go other medical facilities due to lack unavailability of hospital beds, medicines and other medical supplies.

“The policy of taking care of the morale and welfare of personnel does not only apply to policemen inn the active service but to the police retirees as well. We take good care of the retired sector of the PNP because all of us are destined to join their ranks soon,” Wong said.

Domondon said they “will see” if the PNP will be able to deliver these new promises.

“I trust that he will abide by these commitments,” Domondon said./DMS