Ex-judges: Enforce new retirement law

NAGA CITY—Retired judges in Bicol are clamoring for the immediate implementation of Republic Act No. 99461 which grants additional retirement, survivorship and other benefits to judiciary members.

The law was passed on Jan. 13 and has been published in the Official Gazette and newspapers, according to retired judge Edmundo Escalante, leader of the judges’ group spearheading the move.

He said the judges were asking Congress and the Supreme Court for the immediate granting of the additional benefits because “a number of retired judges are getting older and debilitated.”

Escalante said his group was also asking for the help of the Office of the President.

He said the judges fought for the passage of the law since 2002.

The law, Escalante said, amended the “antiquated retirement law” that did not provide survivorship benefits to members of the judiciary.

He said survivorship benefits entitle surviving legitimate spouses to all the retirement benefits of their deceased husband-justices or judges.

He said some judges have already died unable to enjoy this new retirement law.

Escalante said his group had drafted a resolution to be sent to Chief Justice Renato Corona and the associate justices of the Supreme Court, requesting for funds to be set aside from the current year’s savings in judiciary budget for the retired judges. –Juan Escandor Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon