A lawmaker has called on the House Committee on Veterans
Affairs and Welfare to review the discrepancies in the computation of pension
of retired Chief Master Sergeants (CMS) and Senior Master Sergeants (SMS) of
the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Rep. Gary C. Alejano (Party-list, Magdalo), a vice chairman
of the Committee on National Defense and Security, sought the review after a
group of retired CMS and SMS approached his office and questioned the basis of
computation used by the AFP for the implementation of laws on their retirement
pensions.
“The retired CMS and SMS cited discrepancies in the pension
they are receiving after observing that there are retirees who have the same
rank and length of service as them, but are receiving higher pensions. These
inconsistencies impair the essence of the law in providing adequate and just
remuneration and benefits to the retired CMS and SMS,” said Alejano.
Alejano called for the review through House Resolution 2416,
saying the House needs to revisit RA 8820 to provide for a correct
interpretation of the law particularly on Retirement and Separation to avoid
discrepancies in the amount of pension being received by retirees with the same
rank and length of service.
“It is imperative for the Committee on Veterans Welfare and
Affairs chaired by Rep. Herminia B. Roman (1st District, Bataan )
to review the provisions of Republic Act 8220 to identify and resolve the
sources of the alleged discrepancies and to ensure that CMS and SMS retirees
are given adequate care and benefits,” said Alejano.
Enacted on Oct. 9, 1996, RA 8220, otherwise known as “An Act
Creating The Ranks Of Chief Master Sergeant/Master Chief Petty Officer and
Senior Master Sergeant/Senior Chief Petty Officer in the Enlisted Ranks Of the
AFP,” created the grades of Chief Master Sergeant/Master Chief Petty Officer
(E-9) and Senior Master Sergeant/Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8) and makes
them a component part of the noncommissioned officers' grades of the AFP.
The ranks were created to provide career development and
promotion to the rank of Master Sergeant, who with the absence of the newly
created ranks, may be forced to remain in the service for a long period of time
under the same rank.
The law further provides the enlisted personnel who attain
the rank of Master Sergeant/Chief Petty Officer, Senior Master Sergeant/Senior
Chief Petty Officer and of Chief Master Sergeant/Master Chief Petty Officer
shall, upon retirement, be entitled to the retirement pay and benefits of a
Second Lieutenant/Ensign: Provided, That a Chief Master Sergeant/Master Chief
Petty Officer retired from the AFP, shall receive a gratuity equivalent to that
of a Second Lieutenant/Ensign, plus one-half of the difference between the
gratuity of a Second Lieutenant/Ensign and a Master Sergeant/Chief Petty
Officer, and a Senior Master Sergeant/Senior Chief Petty Officer shall receive
a gratuity equivalent to that of a Second Lieutenant/ Ensign, plus one-half of
the difference between the gratuity of a Chief Master Sergeant/Master Chief Petty
Officer and a Master Sergeant/Chief Petty Officer, payable in one lump sum.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=819388
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