Marcos wants review of disabled soldiers’ separation benefits

PILAR, Bataan – President Ferdinand ”Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday ordered a review of the present separation benefits of government troops who incurred permanent disability while they were on duty. 

”I am directing the defense, budget, and finance departments to study the existing separation benefits of soldiers who incurred total permanent disability in the line of duty to see if these are commensurate to the sacrifices that they have made and submit the recommendations while taking stock of the national government’s position,” Marcos said in his speech during the commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan. 

In August of last year, Marcos signed into law the measure that increased military veterans’ disability pension.

Republic Act No. 11958 or An Act Rationalizing The Disability Pension Of Veterans, Amending For The Purpose Republic Act No. 6948, Entitled, An Act Standardizing and Upgrading The Benefits For Military Veterans And Their Dependents, As Amended. 

Under the said law, a veteran who is disabled owing to sickness, disease, wounds, or injuries sustained in the line of duty shall be given a monthly disability pension according to the prescribed rates.

The disability base rate for military veterans who have been rendered disabled in the line of duty will be raised to P4,500 from P1,000.

Further, veterans who are receiving P1,700— the highest disability rating will be receiving P10,000 or an increase of P8,300, equivalent to 488% while the P500 monthly pension for the spouse and each unmarried minor child will likewise be adjusted to P1,000.—AOL, GMA Integrated News