Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

i? 410
H.B.No.

Introduced by HONORABLE JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to amend Republic Act No. 340, otherwise known as an Act to Establish a
Uniform Retirement System for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which covers the
retirement of military personnel prior to 10 September 1979.

Section 3 of the Act provides for the payment of benefits to survivors of retired military
personnel but it specifically excludes from entitlement to such benefits the widow of a retired
officer or enlisted man whose marriage to the officer or enlisted man was contracted after his
retirement from the military service. This provision is clearly discriminative against widows who
married their husbands after they have retired. Husbands, who, though already advanced in
years, still need companionship, care and attention

In contrast, Republic Act No. 6948, as amended by Republic Act No. 7696, provides
benefits to a veteran's unmarried widow without regard to the date of her marriage to the
veteran.

There is a need to consolidate and unify law pertinent to the retirement benefits of our
military personnel as part of the measures to strengthen our Armed Forces.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

TA Secce ie
JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA
Representative

Lone District, Province of Aurora


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —_)
First Regular Session )

A.B/No.__ 410

Introduced by Honorable JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

AN ACT
FURTHER AMENDING SECTION THREE OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED THREE
HUNDRED AND FORTY, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ARMED
FORCES RETIREMENT LAW.

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

SECTION 1. Entitlement of Widows and Orphans. Section 3 or RA 340, as
amended by RA 3056, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 3. Upon the death of an officer or enlisted man who has been retired
or would, at the time when he died, have been entitled to retire under Section one of this Act,
the surviving legitimate, adopted or acknowledged natural children of such officer or enlisted
man and/or widow, shall be entitled to receive in equal shares and with the right of accretion,
seventy-five per centum of the annual retirement pay which the officer or enlisted man was
receiving or would have been entitled to receive if he had not died, the said amount to be
payable in equal monthly installments: Provided, That no payment under this section shall be
made to children after they have attained the age of twenty-one years or have married, nor to be
widow if she remarries." Xxx [Provided, further, That no payment whatever shall be made
to the widow if her marriage to the deceased officer or enlisted man was contracted after
this retirement from the service].

SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. All laws and rules and regulations or parts thereof
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly,

SEC. 3. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the date of its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,