AFP Educational Benefits System to deal for the first time with illegitimate kids

By Ronron
August 1, 2007

The Philippine military’s Educational Benefits System (EBS) is confronted for the first time with the problem of whether or not it will extend its services to the illegitimate children of one of the killed 14 Marine soldiers in the July 10 incident in Basilan.

During the awarding yesterday of scholarship certificates to families of some of the killed soldiers, officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) EBS were not aware that Corporal Russel Panaga, one of the 14 killed, had children with two different women, but none with the third one he married.

“We will have to check that (case) because we have a policy on who is allowed to receive the benefits… The policy is it should only be the legal dependents,” said Lt. Col. Rizaldo Limoso, the General Manager of the AFP EBS.

Panaga, 30, one of the 10 mutilated out of the 14, has two children with Maridel from Sorsogon, and one with Theresa from Davao. But he has no child yet with Marilou of Rizal whom he married seven months ago.

During the awarding ceremony held at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, all three women, donned in black blouses, went on stage to receive one scholarship certificate from the AFP EBS. Marilou received the framed certificate, while Maridel and Theresa followed, bringing along one kid each.

Asked after the ceremony if Panaga’s children with Maridel and Theresa are entitled to the scholarship benefits, AFP Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog, who is also the AFP EBS Board of Trustees Chairman, said: “That needs a careful investigation because supposed to be, it should only be legal dependents.”

“We have to review the case because that is different. Of course, we have to consider the fact that these kids are also his,” Cadungog said.

Limoso would not say yet about the likelihood of Panaga’s illegitimate children being granted the benefits of dependents of fallen soldiers.

He said that since the creation of the AFP EBS in August 2000, more than 6,500 dependents of soldiers have availed of its scholarship grants, from pre-school level up to college. None of these were illegitimate dependents.

But Maj. Gen. Napoleon Malana, the AFP Deputy Chief of Staff (J1), is giving a little hope, saying that the law now is kinder to illegitimate children. “As long as there is proof of parenthood, that can be allowed,” he said.

In a separate interview, Maridel and Theresa were of the impression that their children can avail of the scholarship grant from the AFP EBS as they were invited to attend yesterday’s event.

They were even thankful that the military is extending the services to their children despite their illegitimacy.

Maridel’s children are aged four and two, while Theresa’s is three.

Panaga was among the elements of the 1st Marine Brigade who searched for abducted Italian Catholic priest Fr. Gian Carlo Bossi in Basilan when they came under fire in the morning of July 10 at Barangay Guinanta, Al-Barka.

The government said the perpetrators were mixed members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), and other local lawless elements.

Bossi has since been released nine days after the encounter.

The police and military are expected to serve arrest warrants to 127 identified suspected perpetrators starting Thursday./DMS