CHIZ LAUDS BICAM OKAY OF BILL GIVING MORE
BENEFITS TO JUDICIARY

Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday lauded the approval of a bill granting additional benefits to members of the judiciary, saying that this will boost morale and attract more of the best and the brightest to be part of the judicial system.

"The judiciary is one of the pillars of our criminal justice system. This bill rewards those who have decided to take on the challenge of ensuring that our people are given fair and speedy justice," the 40-year old lawyer and former law teacher said.

Under the proposed law, all justices and judges who have rendered at least 15-20 years in service or in any other branch of government and retires at age 60 or 70 or resigns by reason of incapacity shall receive additional wage and non-wage benefits.

The additional wage benefits include transportation, representation and other allowances such as the Personal Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) and compensation allowance received at the time of retirement or resignation, said Escudero.

He said the non-wage benefits include free tuition scholarships for children of all justices and judges in a state university or college, provided that it will cover only one bachelor's degree.

Justices or judges who served only for less than 15 years, however, shall be entitled only to a "pro-rate monthly pension" which is computed based on the number of years of service times (x) the basic pay plus the highest monthly aggregate transportation, representation and other allowances they are entitled to receive.

The proposed law bars those receiving the monthly pension to appear as counsel in any criminal or civil case before any court where the government or any former government functionary is the accused.

It also dispenses with the monthly pension when the recipient or surviving spouse assumes an elected public office or when the surviving spouse dies or remarries.

"The law also ensures the families of those who have served without blemish are provided for. This will allow our justices and judges to focus on dispensing justice without fear or favor," Escudero said.