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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES \ TIME. _.
‘Quezon City oy:

B
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. pee

Introduced by Representative John Marvin “Yul Servo” C. Nieto

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act 5059, also known as “An Act Granting Life Pension and Franking
Privilege to Former Presidents of the Philippines” was enacted in 1967, and under
this law, all former presidents are entitled to a tax-free life pension of PhP 40,000.00
annually. Currently, this pension now amounts to PhP 96,000.00 which is also
equivalent to PhP 8,000.00 per month.

Republic Act 2087, also known as “An Act Granting Life Pension and Franking
Privilege to Widows of Former Presidents of the Philippines” which was enacted in
1958, mandates that the widow/widower of a former president is entitled to an
annual pension of PhP 24,000.00 which is equivalent to PhP 2,000.00 per month.

Presently, the coverage of both aforementioned measures is no longer enough to
sufficiently compensate former high officials after their respective posts for they
continue to undertake numerous responsibilities upon retirement. Former Presidents
and Vice Presidents are expected to perform post-presidential, and post-vice
presidential duties which involve attending to speaking engagements and other
social obligations which require their presence and expertise.

This measure seeks to provide assistance to former Presidents and Vice Presidents
in the undertaking of various informal and ceremonial public duties and social
obligations. Through this measure, they will be granted retirement benefits and
privileges in respect to the service rendered to the nation. Furthermore, this is also
serves as recognition of the continued stature of these public officials as public
figures.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

JOH VIN/YUL SERVO” C. NIETO

ine. 9



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 5444

Introduced by Representative John Marvin “Yul Servo” C. Nieto

AN ACT
GRANTING BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES TO FORMER PRESIDENTS VICE
PRESIDENTS OF THE PHILIPPINES OR THEIR SURVIVING SPOUSES, AMENDING
FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5059, REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT NO.
2087, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Former Presidents and Vice Presidents’
Benefits Act of 2018.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the state to maintain
the dignity of the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President and to honor
former Presidents and Vice Presidents of the Republic by granting them certain benefits and
privileges that will allow them to perform the duties and functions often required of a former
President or Vice President.

SEC. 3. Eligibility. - All former Presidents and Vice Presidents shall be entitled to the
benefits and privileges provided under this Act: Provided, That he/she was not removed
from office through impeachment; he/she has not been convicted by final judgment of any
crime involving corruption or moral turpitude; and he/she has not accepted any appointive
employment and/or has not ran for any elective position in the government after his term
of office as President or Vice President.

SEC. 4. Benefits. - Each former President and Vice President eligible under this Act shall
be entitled to the following benefits and privileges for the remainder of his/her life:

(a) Tax-free retirement pension equivalent to the salary of an incumbent President
and incumbent Vice President for the former President and Vice President,

respectively;

(b) Adequate personal security and protection detail of at least three (3) personnel
to be provided by the Presidential Security Group and to be augmented by the
Philippine National Police (PNP), as the need arises. The former President and Vice
President shall have the right to choose the head of his/her own security detail;

(c) All mail matters of the former President and Vice President addressed for delivery
within the Philippines shall be received, transmitted and delivered in the mails of the
Philippines free of postage if the envelope or wrapper of such mail matter bears on
the left hand corner the name of said former President or Vice President; and


(a) Personal security and protection of at least three (3) personnel to be provided by
the

Presidential Security Group to be augmented by the Philippine National Police (PNP)
or the children until they reach the age of 21, and for the surviving spouse for the
remainder of his/her life or until he/she re-marries;

(b) In case of the former President's death, the surviving spouse shall be entitled to
a tax-free retirement pension equivalent to the salary of an incumbent President:
Provided, that if such widow/widower of the former President re-marries, he/she shall
lose the benefits and privileges provided under this Act;

(c) In case of the former Vice President's death, the widow/widower shall be entitled
to a tax-free retirement pension equivalent to the salary of an incumbent Vice
President: Provided, That if such widow/widower of the former Vice President
remarries, he/she shall lose the benefits and privileges provided under this Act; and

(4) All mail matters of such widow/widower, addressed for delivery within the
Philippines, shall be received, transmitted and delivered in the mails of the Philippines
free of postage if the envelope or wrapper of such mail matter bears on the left upper
comer his/her name.

SEC. 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement the provisions of this Act
shall be included by the Department of Budget and Management in the annual Generali
Appropriations Act (GAA).

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision, section or part of this Act shall be declared
unconstitutional or invalid, such declaration shall not affect, invalidate or impair any other
provisions, sections or parts hereof but shall be merely confined to the provision, section or
part thereof that is directly involved in the issue upon which judgment has been rendered.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 2087 is hereby repealed accordingly.
Further, all laws, decrees, orders, letters of instruction, rules and regulations or other
issuances and parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, including but not
limited to Republic Act No. 5059, are likewise amended, modified or repealed accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in two (2) newspaper of general circulation in the country or in the Official Gazette.

Approved,