Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 340)
An officer or enlisted man may opt for voluntary retirement upon the completion of at least twenty years of continuous satisfactory active service, with the approval of the President.
Retirement is compulsory upon the completion of at least thirty years of continuous satisfactory active service or upon attaining sixty years of age with a minimum of fifteen years continuous active service, unless the President requires continued service for the good of the service.
They may choose either a gratuity equivalent to one month of their base and longevity pay for every year of service payable in one lump sum, or annual retirement pay equivalent to 2.5% of their annual base and longevity pay for each year of active service, not exceeding 75% of total base and longevity pay.
The surviving legitimate, adopted, or acknowledged natural children and the widow of the deceased are entitled to receive in equal shares 50% of the annual retirement pay the deceased was receiving or entitled to receive.
No payments shall be made to children after they have attained 21 years of age or married, nor to the widow if she remarries or if the marriage was contracted after the deceased officer or enlisted man retired from service.
Yes, the President can call retired officers and enlisted men to active service. Refusal to perform such service terminates their right to further participation in the benefits of the Act, provided they reside in the Philippines and are physically fit for service.
They shall receive the full pay of their rank or grade while on active service.
Depending on years of active service, officers separated for causes not due to misconduct may be honorably discharged with separation pay or retired with retirement benefits if they have 20 or more years of active service.
No, regular officers who resign their commission after the effectivity of this Act shall not have their past services credited for retirement purposes.
Active service as a commissioned officer or enlisted man in the Philippine Constabulary, Regular or Reserve Forces, Philippine National Guard, as a cadet in recognized military academies, and service in the US Army or Philippine Scouts up to July 4, 1946, are credited subject to conditions in the Act.