PNP seeks balance on MUP pension overhaul plan

MANILA, Philippines — The Marcos administration should strike a balance in its plan to overhaul the pension for the military and uniformed personnel (MUP) to avoid a fiscal collapse, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. yesterday said.

While Azurin sees no problem with the MUP giving contributions – similar to what members of the Social Security System and Government Service Insurance System are doing – to help the government, he said this amount should be reasonable.

He did not give a ballpark figure, but noted that this should be affordable and, at the same time, of help to the government.

Finance Secretary and economic team head Benjamin Diokno warned of a fiscal collapse if the higher pension costs of the MUP are not addressed. He said the current MUP pension is non-contributory and that the retirement pensions and benefits are fully funded by the government through annual appropriations.

Azurin, who will retire on April 24, said they would receive more pension every time their salaries increase. But since the government could not immediately provide funds for the pension, its release could also be delayed.

In an interview with “The Chiefs” on One News Wednesday night, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV blamed Diokno for the possible fiscal collapse stemming from higher pension costs, as he expressed doubts about the proposal to overhaul the MUP pension system.

Diokno, he said, was the one who gave the green light to double the salary of policemen and the military during the term of former president Rodrigo Duterte. Back then, Diokno was the secretary of the Department of Budget and Management.

“Mr. Diokno does not listen. So he pushed for this. He was the one who gave a green light to doubling the basic pay (of the military and the police), so the problem grew,” Trillanes said.

“The problem he raised was of his own making, at least a big part of it. When he was the DBM secretary, he didn’t have the balls to say no to his boss Duterte,” Trillanes added.

“In fact, even if he doesn’t say no, he can say ‘Mr. President, we will do that but we will just increase allowances.’ But the effect would be the same because the take-home pay of the soldier and police will also be doubled.” — Cecille Suerte Felipe