Following the murder of government prosecutors, the House Committee on Justice underscored the need to grant heirs of deceased retired members of the National Prosecution Service survivorship benefits.

In a virtual committee meeting presided over by Leyte Rep. Vicente “Ching” Veloso, the House panel approved the bills proposing the grant of survivorship benefits that would equal the monthly pension being received by the retired prosecutor.

Authored by Deputy Speaker and South Cotabato Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez and Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, the survivorship benefits bills for retired members of the NPS drew strong support from the Department of Justice.

The bills extends survivorship benefits to the surviving legitimate spouse of the deceased prosecutor. The spouse will continue to receive the retirement during his or her lifetime or until remarrying.

Dependent children will get their equally share of the retirement benefits granted the surviving parent.

Flores stressed that the grant of survivorship benefits will not “entail additional costs” to government because the proposal simply seeks the payment of pension to the surviving spouse or qualified dependent children or parents.

“Because of the nature of their duties, prosecutors' lives are always on the line,” noted Hernandez.

The House official cited the recent ambush of Assistant Prosecutor Jovencio Senados of Manila who was shot and killed on July 8.

Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Rogelio Velasco was also a victim of a brutal ambush in Quezon City in 2018.

“These incidents are within the realm of possibility in the life of every prosecutor, and as such it is only proper that we give their families safty nets in the event they lose their loved ones,” said Hernandez.

Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Joselita Mendoza said approval of the measure is a welcome development as it will cushion the economic effects of unexpected deaths of prosecutors to their families.

“The grant of benefits is a fitting way to give appreciation to the men and women in the prosecution service who dedicated their lives to pursue justice in the country,” said Mendoza.