ni Mary Ann Santiago

Inatasan ng Manila Regional Trial Court-National Capital Judicial Region ang Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Philippine National Police (PNP) at sa National Police Commission (Napolcom), na ibigay ang lahat ng benepisyo ng mga retirado at nasawing pulis Maynila

Batay sa tatlong pahinang kautusan ni Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina ng Branch 32, iginiit ng hukom na makatwiran ang mosyong inihain ng mga miyembro ng Manila’s Finest Retirees’ Association, Inc. (MFRAI) na humihiling na maipatupad ang kautusan ng Court of Appeals (CA) na may petsang Abril 29, 2016, at nagsasaad na mabayaran ang mga retirado at nasawing pulis sa Maynila.

“… this court, after a protracted hearing and tedious process, was able to extract from the PNP the amounts ought to be received by the INP (Integrated National Police, now PNP) retirees who have not gotten yet their full retirement benefits under existing laws, without which data this court cannot effectively implement its decision sought to be enforced,” bahagi ng desisyon.

Sinabi rin ng korte na ang halagang sangkot ay nakalagay na sa partial compliance ng respondent na isinumite noong Mayo 16, 2017 at sa full compliance na may petsang Hunyo 14, 2017.

Iginiit ng respondents sa pamamagitan ng kanilang abogadong si Atty. Renato de la Cruz, na walang kinalaman ang natatanggap nilang pensiyon sa GSIS sa hinihingi nilang ‘differential’ na dapat maibigay sa kanila.

“When the INP personnel retired, their names were counter-checked with the GSIS records and upon verification of their pemium payments, these were returned to them. Petitioners have already retired and have been receiving their retirement benefits or pensions and it is only the pension differential that they were asking… the premium refund is separate and distinct privilege granted by R.A. 1616. Hence, respondent PNP, being the employer of petitioners, is the one obligated to compute and give their pension differentials and not to make the GSIS validation and payment of premium refunds as a condition precedent thereto,” nakasaad sa argumento.

Anila, isang “injustice” o kawalan ng hustisya sa hanay ng mga petitioner kung patuloy na ipagkakait ang benepisyo na para sa kanila sa napakatagal ng panahon.