New law increases retiring judges' pension

Starting Wednesday, retirement benefits of all Filipino judges – including those presiding over Islamic courts – will increase, making them equal to those received by retiring Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals Justices. Signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Wednesday, the new law – Republic Act No. 9946 – is expected to attract more lawyers to increase the judicial system’s trial court judges. Also known as “An Act Granting Additional , Survivorship, and Other Benefits to Members of the Judiciary," the law provides optional retirement at the age of 65. The newly-enacted law also grants survivorship benefits for the spouse and dependent children, increased pensions based on the highest monthly aggregate salary, transportation, living and representation allowances at the time of retirement, and non-wage benefits like education scholarship for one legitimate child. The same law also amends Republic Act No. 910, which earlier increased pensions of retiring judges and justices of the Supreme and Appellate Courts. The earlier law also provided scholarship to one legitimate child and extended survivorship benefits to their surviving spouse and dependent children. The signing of RA 9946 was witnessed Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Prospero Nograles, the principal authors of Senate Bill No. 1620 and House Bill No. 6820. Among those in attendance included Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, and Judge Concepcion Buencamino representing the retired members of the Judiciary. Also in attendance were Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, House Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa, Representatives Matias Defensor (Quezon City), Marcelino Teodoro (Marikina City), Ronald Singson (1st Dist., Ilocos Sur), Arthur Defensor (Iloilo), Edgardo Chatto (Bohol), Magtanggol Gunigundo (Valenzuela City), Eufrocino Codilla (Leyte), and Manuel Agyao (Kalinga). - RJAB Jr./GMANews.TV