Kin of dead prosecutors get survivorship benefits
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Tuesday that it had started distributing survivorship benefits to eligible families of deceased retired prosecutors under Republic Act No. 11643. The benefits were credited to the bank accounts of the first batch of 25 qualified beneficiaries covering the period of Jan. 1 to July 1, the DOJ said in a statement.
Under the law signed in 2022, the families of eligible prosecutors can receive survivorship benefits that include all accrued retirement benefits the deceased prosecutor would have been entitled to. “Our commitment to honoring our prosecutors goes beyond life, considering they have sacrificed so much in the administration of the criminal justice system,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.
Based on DOJ Circular No. 38 signed by Remulla in 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.” — JANE BAUTISTA
US officials arriving for defense talks on July 30
Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. will meet with their American counterparts, State Secretary Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III, in Manila on July 30 for the 4th Philippines-US Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue. The officials will discuss bilateral cooperation on security and economy, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
“The four Secretaries are expected to discuss how to further enhance our two countries’ ironclad commitment to this alliance while enabling a common program in support of the rules-based international order, enhanced economic ties, broad-based prosperity and solutions to evolving regional and global security challenges,” the DFA said. US Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, in a statement on Monday, said that Blinken and Austin would also “continue to build the momentum of … US-Japan-Philippine trilateral cooperation.” —JACOB LAZARO
