President Duterte has signed into the law the proposed measure granting survivorship benefits to the surviving legitimate spouse and dependent children of a deceased retired member of the National Prosecution Service or NPS.
Signed by Duterte last Tuesday, Jan. 11 was Republic Act (RA) No.11643, a copy of which was acquired by Malacañang reporters Thursday, Jan. 13.
It says that members of the NPS shall include all prosecutors in the Office of the Secretary of Justice, the regional prosecution offices and the offices of the provincial and city prosecutors.
"In case of death of a retired member of the NPS or a member thereof who is eligible to retire optionally at the time of death, the surviving legitimate spouse and dependent children of said deceased member shall be entitled to receive all the retirement benefits that the deceased was receiving or entitled to receive," the three-page law said.
Under the Act, the term "dependent" refers to a legitimate, illegitimate or legally adopted child who is chiefly dependent on the said deceased member of the NPS if such dependent is not more than 21 years of age unmarried and not gainfully employed, or if such dependent, regardless of age, is incapable of self-support because of any mental or physical defect or condition.
"The surviving legitimate spouse shall continue to receive during his or her lifetime said retirement benefits until such spouse remarries; Provided, that the surviving spouse and dependent children shall each equally share the retirement benefits," RA No.11643 stated.
"The benefits provided in this act shall also be granted to the surviving spouse and dependent children of the member of the NPS who died one year prior to the effectivity of this Act," it further stated.
The Act is a consolidation of House Bill (HB) No. 9087 and Senate Bill (SB) No. 2373. Both measures were separately passed by their respective chambers in November 2021.