The Department of Justice (DOJ) has relaxed the guidelines on the filing and processing of claims for survivorship benefits of qualified beneficiaries of deceased prosecutors.
Survivorship benefits are provided for under Republic Act No. 11643 enacted on Jan. 11, 2022.
The DOJ stressed that if the prosecutor died on or after the law took effect, “the families shall now be eligible to receive all accrued retirement benefits their loved one should have received if he or she were still alive.”
Under Department Circular (DC) No. 038 series of 2023, “claims may only be filed by the legitimate surviving spouse, dependent child/children of the qualified prosecutor, or legal guardian or duly authorized representative of the qualified beneficiary/ies pursuant to the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of RA 11643.”
“After completion of documentary requirements and necessary forms, the claim may be filed before the Personnel Division of the DOJ, or any Regional, Provincial, or City Prosecution Office nearest to the beneficiary/ies’ actual residence,” the DOJ said, in a statement.
It said that electronic filing is encouraged “for early evaluation purposes only, as the original and/or certified true copy of the documentary requirements must be filed.”
“The receiving office shall pre-assess the completeness of the documents presented and after proper validation, endorse the same to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS),” it pointed out.
“Approved survivorship claims shall be paid to the qualified beneficiary/ies upon the release of funds by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).” it said.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said: “I am certain that our dearly departed would be given peace and serenity on the other side of life with this development.”
“This would truly help the surviving spouse or dependent children of a deceased prosecutor, as they are now armed with the know-hows of processing their benefits,” he said.
“No amount of money will ever be enough to pay off the priceless service our dearly departed prosecutors have rendered for the country in order to uphold the Rule of Law and guarantee the efficient administration of justice. Their remaining loved ones have sacrificed so much for the welfare of the Filipino people by sharing with society the time and life of our deceased prosecutors, hence, it must be the State’s obligation to ensure their loved ones are well taken care of and given a bright future ahead,” Remulla said.