Duterte releases P4.7-B arrears for retirees, widows of WWII veterans

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday announced that a total of P4.7 billion will released as arrears for Armed Forces of the Philippines and widows of World War II veterans.

"It will be released as soon as possible," Duterte said during his speech during the National Heroes Day celebration at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Duterte added that the joint implementing rules and regulations of the unpaid total administrative disability arrears had been signed by Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

The president noted that the P4.7-billion payment of the arrears has been appropriated in the 2016 national budget but was not released by the previous administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

An estimated P3.5 billion is allotted for spouses of deceased war veterans while P1.2 billion is allocated for AFP retirees who are 80 years old and above.

The budget will be distributed to more than 83,000 WWII and post-war veterans, as well as their spouses.

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