PLAYING WITH FIRE? | Trillanes doubts revived push for military pension reform under Marcos

March 30, 2023 , 10:19 AM

By Beatrice Puente

(March 30, 2023) – Overhauling the military and uniformed personnel (MUP) pension system may be unlikely even if President Bongbong Marcos Jr. has the majority support of Congress, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV said on Wednesday, warning that the move will cause grumblings within the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Trillanes, also a retired naval officer, said the proposed reform will not be accepted because of its direct impact on the livelihood of soldiers and other uniformed staff.

“It cannot be done. Mag-aalburoto ang mga maaapektuhan. Kabuhayan nila ito. Sino ba naman ang papayag sa mga sundalo at pulis na, ‘pag naipasa ito, mababawasan ‘yung suweldo nila the very same minute kasi magko-contribute na sila?” said Trillanes on One News’ The Chiefs.

Last Tuesday, Department of Finance secretary Benjamin Diokno said Marcos wants a review of the MUP pension system. Doing so, according to Diokno, would save P130 billion annually since active-duty soldiers and other uniformed personnel will have to pay for their own contributions.

The government currently provides funding for the pension of retired MUPs, which include the AFP, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Corrections, and the Philippine Public Safety College.

Diokno said the government would like to avert a “fiscal collapse” by renewing the push for the reform.

“Pension can be received after 20 years of service with no minimum pensionable age. Some of them get recruited at the age of 20, so they can already retire at the age of 40. Military people live longer than us, some at the age of 90. So, they retire at 40, they get pension up to age 90. Isn’t that ridiculous?” said Diokno.

But Trillanes said the government is “playing with fire” in reviving the proposal. Citing the case of previous administrations, Trillanes doubted Marcos’ capability to push for changes in the MUP pension system.

Even former President Rodrigo Duterte, who also had the supermajority behind him and was beloved by the military, was unsuccessful. Diokno was the secretary of the Department of Budget and Management under Duterte.

“Ako lang, tinitingnan ko, sige subukan niyo. You can play with fire and find out kung mapapaso kayo o hindi. Pero sinasabi ko na, it cannot be done,” said Trillanes.

For him, the projected “fiscal collapse” is an overestimation. He called on the government to listen to the demand on the ground to see how the situation can be approached better.

“Walang feel sa ground. It’s precisely the reason why elected representatives of the people ang gumagawa ng ganitong mga panukala kasi mas natatantya. Hindi mo naman binibigay necessarily ‘yung gusto nila, pero alam mo what can be taken away and what can be given,” said Trillanes.

(PM)

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