Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said on Monday that the Labor Department will release this week additional financial benefits for the relatives of the 44 Special Action Force commandos who were killed in the line of duty in the Jan. 25 Mamasapano, Maguindanao incident.
This developed as a lawmaker filed a resolution in the House of Representatives which seeks to probe reports that the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF)commandos, including those who were killed in the Mamasapano, Maguindanao carnage, were issued defective ammunitions and armaments.
Baldoz said the additional funeral benefits will be released through the Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP).
“ECC Regional Extension Units staff were already instructed to coordinate with the families of the SAF 44 and the GSIS branch in their areas. They will inform the families once the checks are available for them to claim,” Baldoz said.
Employees’ Compensation Commission Executive Director Stella Banawis said that the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has already processed the funeral benefits of the SAF 44 and that concerned GSIS branches have been advised to release the same to the beneficiaries.
“ECC Regional Extension Units staff were already instructed to coordinate with the families of the SAF 44 and the GSIS branch in their areas. They will inform the families once the checks are available for them to claim,” Baldoz said.
She said that the ECC and the GSIS are now processing the death benefits for the casualties of the Mamasapano clash.
Under the ECP, an employee, whether from the public or private sector, who died as a result of a work-related accident or illness will be granted a funeral benefit of P20,000 and death benefits in the form of monthly pension for his or her beneficiaries.
The beneficiaries will also get benefits in the form of monthly pensions.