AFP welcomes solon's move to scrutinize MUP pension system

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 31, 2023): AFP welcomes solon's move to scrutinize MUP pension system (By Priam Nepomuceno)

AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar (PNA file photo)

MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday welcomed a lawmaker's move to look closely into the proposed pension system for military and uniformed personnel (MUP) pension system in the upcoming deliberations for next year's national budget.

"We are very thankful to (ACT Teachers Party-list) Rep. France Castro for her concern to our retired AFP personnel and veterans. We assure her that the AFP leadership is one with her in ensuring the well-being of our soldiers after retirement," AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said in a statement.

He added that this pension system is one way of recognizing the untiring services and selfless sacrifices of Filipino soldiers in the performance of their duties as protectors of the people and the state.

Aguilar said military personnel who have rendered at least 20 years of service deserve to get pension.

"The AFP thanks our lawmakers for taking the steps to reform the MUP pension system. Rest assured that the AFP will remain faithful to our mandate," he added.

Castro, who is also House deputy minority leader, said she and the Makabayan bloc would carefully look into the MUP pension system during the upcoming budget deliberations.

"Talagang bubusisiin namin ang MUP pension budget dahil ayon nga sa Department of Budget and Management (DBM) ay aabot ito ng PHP300 bilyon sa 2024 budget tapos pumasok pa ngayon ang mga isyu na maaari pa daw makuha ang pensyon ng mga drug cops at ang overpayment/underpayment ng pensyon (We will closely look into the MUP pension budget as the Department of Budget and Management said that it amount to PHP300 billion of the 2024 budget. Adding to this is the issue that drug cops could still get their pension along with overpayment/underpayment)," she added.

This came as the Commission on Audit (COA) instructed the AFP to reconcile and update its Pension Management Information System (PenMIS) after it noted discrepancies on the list of pensioners which resulted in PHP17.095 million in overpayment and PHP2.301 million in underpayment last year.

In the same audit report, the COA also called out the AFP over its failure to timely tag and delete from the pension payroll a total of 1,026 delinquent pensioners who were remiss or delayed in giving updates on their status for several months to more than a year.

“These resulted in the continuous payment to unverified pensioners of monthly pension benefits totaling PHP159.420 million,” the COA said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1206829