Mindanaotoday.com | PVAO Oro thwarts fake pension claims
By: Uriel Quilinguing
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) in Cagayan de Oro has foiled attempts from enterprising persons to defraud the government, thus depriving legitimate claimants of veterans pensions.
Luisa Pellazar Revecho, PVAO field service extension officer, said there were 10 incidents of fake claims last year (2022) and that there are pending cases, in a forum at SM Downtown Premier mall in Cagayan de Oro Tuesday, April 4.
Revecho’s disclosure came as PVAO Cagayan de Oro and its 2,951 legitimate veteran pensioners gear for the Philippine Veterans Week, April 5-11, to be highlighted with 81st Day of Valor (Araw ng Kagitingan) on Monday, April 9.
Wreath-laying rites to recognize and remember the bravery of war veterans will be held at Cagayan de Oro Divisoria Plaza (Freedom Kiosk) and at Camp Edilberto Evangelista’s 4th Infantry Division in Patag village (Fallen Heroes Shrine).
Fake claims, she said, happen when veteran’s status is not updated, whether he or she is still living or not, whether the veteran is with a legal spouse or with a common-law partner, including claims from children and beneficiaries.
The PVAO Cagayan de Oro FSEO chief said the have 7,234 names in their roster, if dependents and beneficiaries are included, thus background investigation of suspected cases of questionable pension claims take time.
“It would take three months and even more, visiting the place where the veteran resides, and interview the neighbors – not the claimant, so that we would know who are actually living with the pensioner (or would-be pensioner),” Revecho said.
PVAO has been granting P5,000 old-age monthly pension, deposited on-line on the account of the veteran on the day or after the preferred day of the fund release, and P1,700 for those who retired due to war-related injuries.
Revecho said the amount could increase to P8,000 and P4,500, respectively, once proposed a legislative measure becomes a law, and PVAO is expecting the adjustment anytime soon.
“Ours is in addition to the pension which the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) is giving, once the retiree (at age 56 or even less) reaches the mandatory retirement age of 65,” said the PVAO Cagayan de Oro head.
PVAO’s roster of pensioners include those who saw action in World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Philippine Constabulary and those the country sent to other countries as part of United Nation’s peace-keeping force.
Other than the veteran pension, PVAO also grants free hospitalization, medical expenses and medicines to veterans, and one-time educational assistance to their children and grandchildren, including those whose killed-in-action and whose military service was cut-off due to physical disability.
“Aside from the Northern Mindanao Medical Center, we have signed memorandum of agreements with five private hospitals in Cagayan de Oro so PVAO members could avail of medical care and treatment,” Revecho concluded. (MT)
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