‘Ghost’ pensioners haunt PNP, suck out P1B in 5 years

APART from recently discovered “ghost” repairs of police armored vehicles, the Philippine National Police will be going through the wringer soon. The investigation this time aims to ferret out “ghost” pensioners that have taken more than P1-billion from the government in the past five years.

This, following the recent apprehension of an individual using fake pensioner’s identification card two weeks ago by a personnel of the Internal Security of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo said that based on the initial investigation made by authorities a certain Marlon Reyes, said to be a former policeman, might have some connection with the “ghost pensioner syndicate” and he believes that the group is willing to kill in order to protect their racket.

In fact, he said, two former syndicate members who were supposed to spill the beans on their accomplices in the syndicate were killed even before they were able to do so.

Robredo said they have discovered some 2,000 “ghost” pensioners out of the 58,000 individuals that are receiving monthly pensions of at least P20,000.

It was learned that a “handler” of “ghost” pensioner receives at least P200 from each pensioner, while the one who will claim the pension will get P2,000.

The continuous existence of bogus pensioners is very frustrating especially to the legitimate pensioners because the infiltrators have been stealing funds intended for those people who dedicated most of their years in the serving the people and the police institution. –Jefferson Antiporda, Reporter, Manila Times