DOJ starts pay out of survivorship benefits of deceased prosecutors

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday said it has started the distribution of the survivorship benefits to families of retired prosecutors who have passed on.

Justice Undersecretary Fredderick Vida, along with other DOJ officials, led the distribution of the benefits to 25 beneficiaries under Republic Act 11643, or the Act Granting Survivorship Benefits to the Surviving Legitimate Spouse and Dependent Children of a Deceased Retired Member of the National Prosecution Service.

The 25 families constituted the first batch of beneficiaries.

The DOJ said the survivorship benefits, which were in the form of cheques, cover the period January 1 to July 31, 2024.

In a statement, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the survivorship benefits is a testament to the DOJ’s commitment to honor prosecutors for their years of public service.

“We always address our fellow workers in the DOJ as ‘family,’ justice dictates that we materialize the same by extending our respect, love and support to their orphaned family members,” Remulla said.

“Our commitment to honoring our prosecutors goes beyond life, considering they have sacrificed so much in the administration of the criminal justice system,” he added.

The Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 11643 was signed by Remulla in October last year.

Under RA 11643, the legitimate spouse and dependent children of a deceased government prosecutor are eligible to receive all accrued retirement benefits that a deceased prosecutor are expected to receive if he or she was still alive.