President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a bill granting survivorship benefits to the legitimate spouse and dependent children of deceased retired members of the National Prosecution Service (NPS).
Republic Act (RA) 11643 or an “An Act Granting Survivorship Benefits to the Surviving Legitimate Spouse and Dependent Children of a Deceased Retired Member of the National Prosecution Service” was signed by the President on Tuesday, January 11.
Under the new law, the surviving legitimate spouse and dependent children of the deceased government prosecutor will be entitled to all the retirement benefits that the deceased was receiving or entitled to receive, provided that the deceased state prosecutor is eligible to retire optionally at the time of death.
Members of the NPS will include all prosecutors in the Office of the Secretary of Justice, the Regional Prosecution Offices, and the offices of the Provincial and City Prosecutors.
The law describes a “dependent” as a legitimate, illegitimate, or legally adopted child “who is chiefly dependent” on the deceased NPS member and not more than 21 years old, unmarried, and not employed.
A dependent could also avail of the benefits regardless of age as long as he or she is incapable of self-support because of any mental or physical defect or condition.
Meanwhile, the new law provides that surviving legitimate spouses shall continue to receive retirement benefits during their lifetime until they remarry.
