AFP welcomes Duterte’s call to prioritize law seeking to reform the military pension system

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to prioritize the passage of a legislative measure seeking to reform the pension system for the soldiers.

In his fifth State of the Nation Address, Duterte called on Congress to prioritize the passage of a law for the Unified System of Separation, Retirement and Pension of the Military and Uniformed Personnel "without diminishing the benefits that uniformed personnel are entitled to under existing laws."

"We welcome that pronouncement, and thank the President and Commander-in-Chief, directing the institution of a new retirement and separation benefits system for new AFP recruits and officer candidates,” AFP spokesperson Major General Edgard Arevalo said.

"That will address the concerns of the present pension and retirement pay of the AFP, which is taken from the defense budget,” he added.

However, the new system will only be applicable with newly hired uniformed personnel, according to Duterte.

"There is a need to adjust the pension system which will be applicable only to newly hired uniformed personnel so as not to cause a 'ballooning effect' against the budget of the military in the years to come and yet maintain the pension benefits of those already in service under the present law,” Duterte said.

"This issue needs a solution now. Umpisahan natin ngayon para hindi na maging problema sa susunod na mga taon,” he added.

The president also expressed hope that this would “hedge against corruption.”

"Ang akin doon is ‘yung corruption that maybe it might be a vain attempt, but maybe dagdagan ang suweldo para it would be a hedge against corruption,” Duterte said. -- BAP, GMA News