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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Retired military, PNP personnel in Iloilo denounce Diokno's proposed cut on uniformed men's pensions

Retired military, PNP personnel in Iloilo denounce Diokno's proposed cut on uniformed men's pensions

Published May 2, 2023 06:50 am
*Retired military and uniformed personnel (MUP) hold a protest in Iloilo City against the move of Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno to cut their pension scheme.  (Tara Yap/Manila Bulletin)*

ILOILO CITY -- More than a 100 retired uniformed personnel from the city and province of Iloilo are calling for Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno to resign as they vehemently opposed the proposal to drastically reduce their pensions. Retired police lieutenant Angel Sales brought together the retirees from different branches of service on Labor Day, May 1, to denounce Diokno’s proposal to slash the military and uniformed personnel (MUP) pension. The group included retirees of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the defunct Philippine Constabulary, the Philippine Marines, the Philippine Army, the Philippine Air Force, the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the Bureau of Jail Management & Penology (BJMP). Late in March, Diokno announced the need to cut MUP’s retirement benefits, saying to continue to do so will result in the government’s fiscal collapse. Diokno averred that the retired MUPs did not even contribute to their pension schemes. “We made sacrifices to serve the Filipino people when we were in the active service,” Sales told Manila Bulletin. Sales said that Diokno may have forgotten that the uniformed personnel cannot and could not spend their time with their families for a long period or during special occasions because of their tour of duty, most oftentimes even during the times of disaster. “Does Secretary Diokno want us to die to avoid fiscal collapse? We served the country for all Filipinos,” expressed retired army colonel Guillermo Matiling Jr. Retired police lieutenant colonel Erna Foerster warned that it’s not only retirees that will be affected, but even those who are currently in the active service. Retired BJMP Colonel Rodolfo Rivera said the retired MUPs in Iloilo have submitted their position papers to all congressional representatives. Meanwhile, Sales said there will be more protest action to come.
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