The Commission on Audit (COA) has granted the P1.4 million in pension differentials claimed by the widow of a deceased officer of the then Integrated National Police (INP), now Philippine National Police (PNP).

Danilo M. Garlitos was appointed patrolman in the INP on Sept. 15, 1974. He went through several promotions before he was appointed police captain on Aug. 17, 1988.

Garlitos was diagnosed with gastric bleeding ulcer and died while confined at the AFP Medical Center in V. Luna Hospital on May 31, 1990.

His widow, Lina, filed a petition for money claim as she pointed out that she is the survivor-claimant of the pension benefits of her late husband.

To support her claim, she submitted the service record of Garlitos, their certificate of marriage, his death certificate, and other pertinent documents.

She asserted that she is entitled to the transfer of her late husband's pension pursuant to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Retirement and Benefits Administration Service (PRBS) Decree of Entitlement and Distribution of Pension.

In its decision, the COA said that INP retirees "stand on equal footing" as PNP retirees since the INP was not abolished as it was merely transformed to become the PNP.

"Members of the INP are, therefore, not excluded from availing themselves of the benefits of the PNP retirees," the COA said.

"In this case, PCapt. Garlitos had rendered more than 15 years of service -- from Sept. 14, 1974, until his death while on service on May 31, 1990.

"Thus, this Commission rules to grant this petition as the claimant had sufficiently established her claim and concurs with the PRBS' computation on the retirement benefits differentials for calendar years 1991 to 2006 which amounted to P1,433,791.12," the COA decision stated.