Eighty-five - (85) DOJ prosecutors who retired since 2010 to 2012 can now claim their retirement gratuity differential.
In a Memorandum dated 17 May 2013, Assistant Secretary for Finance Zabedin M. Azis and Prosecutor General Claro A. Arellano informed Secretary Leila M. De Lima of the release by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) of Two Hundred Forty-Six Million Seven Hundred Ninety-Five Thousand Two Hundred Nineteen Pesos (P246,795,219.00) to cover the retirement gratuity differential (5-year Lump Sum) of the 85 retired prosecutors, out of the Pension and Gratuity Fund for the year 2013 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
"This is a welcome development for the Department, specifically the National Prosecution Service (NPS), and especially for the prosecutors who had worked so hard and had relentlessly dedicated the best time of their lives to uphold the rule of law," the Secretary said.
The 85 prosecutors-recipients include Acting Cadiz City Prosecutor Marcelo del Pilar who died last April 4 without having received his retirement pay. His family is now entitled to receive Four Million One Hundred Thirty-Five and One Hundred Sixty-Seven and Sixty-Eight Centavos (P4, 135,167.68) covering his unpaid Retirement benefits.
Previously, the DBM and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) was set to sign a Joint Circular on April 15, 2013 to fast-track the payment of the prosecutors' retirement benefits who bowed out from service for the period 2010 to 2012 under the new National Prosecution Service Act (RA 10071). Pros. Del Pilar succumbed to heart seizure on April 4, 2013, the day Malacanang was updated by the Department of his benefits.
Records show that, as early as 13 August 2012, the Secretary sent a letter to DBM Secretary Florencio B. Abad requesting for the issuance of Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) and Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) to cover payment of the retirement gratuity of prosecutors who compulsorily/optionally retired from the government service pursuant to the provisions of RA 10071.
On 03 April 2013, Undersecretary and Chairperson, Committee on Retirement under RA 10071, Leah C. Tanodra- Armamento wrote Director Tina Rose Mariel L. Canda, Department of Budget and Management reiterating an earlier the issuance of the SARO and NCA for retired prosecutors.
RA 10071 provides for the updated scheme in computing the retirement benefits of prosecutors.
