Senator Sherwin Gatchalian lauded the signing into law of the bill granting survivorship benefits to the legitimate spouse and dependent children of the members of the National Prosecution Service (NPS) saying that the modest entitlement is long overdue especially to those who have dedicated their lives to be instruments in the dispensation of justice in the country.
“Hindi kailanman matutumbasan ng monetary compensation ang dedikasyon at serbisyo ng public prosecutors ngunit nararapat lamang na bigyan natin ng pagpapahalaga ang mga nagbuwis ng kanilang buhay para sa serbisyo publiko. Marami sa kanila ay inatasan na humawak ng mabibigat na kaso laban sa mga makapangyarihang tao (Monetary compensation can never indemnify the dedication and service of public prosecutors but we should only give appreciation to those who laid down their lives for public service. Many of them were assigned to handle high profile cases of powerful people),” Gatchalian said in a news release on Sunday.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed Republic Act 11643 otherwise known as “An Act Granting Survivorship Benefits to the Surviving Legitimate Spouse and Dependent Children of a Deceased Retired Member of the National Prosecution Service” on Jan. 11, 2022.
The new law allows the surviving legitimate spouse and dependent children of a deceased member of the NPS, who is eligible to optionally retire at the time of death, to be entitled to the retirement benefits that the deceased was receiving or entitled to receive.
Gatchalian said the law could help boost the morale of prosecutors who are saddled with heavy caseloads and face a myriad of challenges that can influence their decision-making and performance.
“While they have the option to practice law profession in private firms or be self-employed, they opted to become public prosecutors and be gatekeepers of criminal justice in the country. It’s a small token considering the serious predicaments and perils that they face every day in the performance of their duties,” Gatchalian said.
The law also provides for a retroactive application for prosecutors who died one year prior to its effectivity.
A total of 66 lawyers have been killed in the past five years and 14 of them were former or current prosecutors.
The 66th lawyer was Assistant City Prosecutor Edilberto Mendoza from Trece Martires, Cavite who was gunned down at close range in front of his home on New Year’s Eve.
Source: Philippines News Agency
