Lacson bills seek to raise PNP, BJMP, BFP retirement age to 57

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has filed two bills seeking to raise the compulsory retirement age of personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) from 56 to 57.

Under Senate Bills 2395 and 2396, Lacson said the proposed increase would allow the three agencies to retain the expertise, leadership and institutional knowledge of senior officers longer while giving them more time to pass these on to younger personnel.

"This bill, which seeks to increase the retirement age of the members of the PNP to fifty-seven (57) years old, intends to give the PNP leadership more time to implement their intended institutional reforms and for the institution to maximize the years-worth of knowledge and skills of their personnel," he said in Senate Bill 2395, which seeks to increase the retirement age for PNP uniformed personnel from 56 to 57.

Meanwhile, Senate Bill 2396 similarly seeks to raise the compulsory retirement age of BJMP and BFP personnel to 57, saying the move would give senior officers “the opportunity to maximize their expertise, leadership, and institutional knowledge while providing additional time to impart the same to the younger officers of the bureau.”

Lacson said the proposed measures are also in line with the adjustment in the compulsory retirement age of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The former PNP chief from 1999 to 2001, noted that the PNP currently has 230,410 uniformed personnel, while the BJMP has around 26,000 personnel and the BFP has 41,286.

Under SB 2395, the compulsory retirement age for PNP uniformed personnel would be increased to 57. However, personnel with less than one year of service upon the law’s effectivity would have the option to retire at 56.

The measure also provides that the incumbent PNP chief would remain subject to compulsory retirement at 56.

Meanwhile, SB 2396 would set the compulsory retirement age for BJMP and BFP uniformed personnel at 57.

For officers holding the rank of chief superintendent, director or deputy director general, the proposed measure would allow the Commission to retain them in service for an additional, unextendible period of one year. —LDF, GMA News