Anakalusugan Party-list has filed a bill that aims to give security and ensure benefits for the bereaved families of murdered judges, prosecutors, and lawyers.
Filed under House Bill No. 1694, the proposal amends Section 2 and 3 of Republic Act No. 910, which accords benefits to the family of retired judiciary personnel only, to include families of justices and judges killed in the performance of duty. It also recommends the retroactive application of the law to compensate victims of murdered judiciary members.
Reyes highlighted the need to do so citing reports from Amnesty International wherein 61 lawyers, judges, and prosecutors were killed since 2016.
“Our Justices and Judges deserve better. They are the keepers of our law, and as legislators, we must do our part to be able to afford them the same security that we have. They should be able to practice their profession in safety,” Anakalusugan Representative Ray Florence Reyes said.
Under the bill, spouses and children of slain judiciary members will be entitled to the existing benefits under the law plus the ten years’ salary of the slain member. It also includes an automatic increase in pension benefits adjacent to the increase in the salary of the same position from when the member retires. And when the family member does not receive the full lump sum within one year from death, any sum will still be granted and computed based on the difference between the amounts already received. The necessary amount will be appropriated under the current General Appropriations Act of the Judiciary branch.
Rep. Reyes highlighted the need to do so citing reports from Amnesty International wherein 61 lawyers, judges, and prosecutors were killed since 2016.
“It is our hope that this bill allows our Justices and Judges to continue to uphold and dispense proper justice without fear for their families’ futures. This allows them to take on dangerous cases knowing that the government offers them and their families full support,” Reyes added.
