Benefits for Families of Fallen Police, Military, Firemen

Section 3 fixes the special financial assistance equivalent to the average six (6) months salary, including allowances and bonuses, during the last twelve (12) months preceding the death of the officer.
Section 3 states that the assistance “shall not be considered a part of the estate” of the deceased.
Section 3 exempts the assistance from attachment, garnishment, or execution.
Section 3 exempts the assistance from income and other taxes.
Section 1 ties entitlement to being killed or permanently incapacitated while in the performance of duty or by reason of office or position.

Section 4 makes it the duty of the cashier who used to receive the deceased or permanently incapacitated police, military, or fireman personnel’s salary to deliver the special financial assistance to the beneficiaries.
Section 4 requires delivery within three (3) days from receipt of a written certification from the station or unit commander stating the fact of death and its circumstances.
Section 4 requires, for permanent disability, certification by the proper medical officer designated by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the Director General of the Integrated National Police, as the case may be.
Section 4 requires that after payment, a report with the formal certificate of death or permanent incapacity be submitted to the Secretary of National Defense or the Director General of the Integrated National Police.

Section 5 provides that payment comes from the expected salary, allowances, and bonus of the deceased or permanently incapacitated personnel for the next six (6) months after death or incapacity, without need of any appropriation act or ordinance.
Section 5 prohibits filling the position left vacant by the deceased or permanently incapacitated police or military personnel during that six (6) months period.
Section 5 allows earlier filling when public welfare and interest so demand, as determined by: (1) the municipal or city mayor or provincial governor for police personnel or firemen, or (2) the Secretary of National Defense for military personnel.
Section 5 requires replenishment of funds: where the position is filled early, the funds out of which the special financial assistance already received by the family has been paid shall be replenished from the emergency savings of the municipality, city, or province, or the department, upon the written direction of the mayor or governor or the department secretary to their respective treasurers or cashiers.
Section 5 provides that if no emergency savings exist, the regional commander or provincial commander may draw augmentation personnel from any municipality in the province or region to fill the vacancy until the municipality where the vacancy occurred can fill it with regular personnel.
Section 5 ties the operational exceptions to the timing rule and replenishment obligation.

Section 6 requires that hospitalization expenses for any police or military personnel or fireman injured, wounded, or suffering injury in the performance of official duties shall be shouldered by the office to which the person belongs.
Section 6 makes such hospitalization expenses chargeable against the salary savings of that office.
Section 6 states that no appropriation act or ordinance is needed for these hospitalization expenses.

Section 7 grants the surviving spouse priority in employment in a government agency or office where the spouse’s qualifications are fitted.
Section 7 states that if the spouse is already employed or not employable, or if the spouse waives the employment privilege, then an employable son or daughter is granted the same employment privilege.

Section 8 provides scholarship assistance up to college for all surviving children of the deceased or permanently incapacitated police, military, or fireman.
Section 8 limits scholarships to a nonexclusive institution, subject to the institution’s tuition policies.
Section 8 limits scholarship coverage to the payment of tuition and miscellaneous fees payable to the school.
Section 8 requires remittance by the National Police Commission or the Department of National Defense, as the case may be, upon presentation of the approved enrollment or registration form.

Section 9 provides that scholarship amounts are taken from the proceeds of the license fees for firearms collected by the Philippine Constabulary.
Section 9 requires that collections from firearm license fees for one (1) year following the approval of the Act constitute the initial fund reserve for scholarship purposes.
Section 9 requires that the initial reserve be replenished or enhanced by collections in succeeding years.
Section 10 directs that funds collected from firearms licensing fees be turned over to the National Police Commission, which administers them for Integrated National Police members and firemen.
Section 10 directs that the Department of National Defense administer the same funds for military personnel.

Section 11 provides that any person who unduly delays, refuses, or in any manner prevents the payment of the special financial assistance shall be dismissed from office if found guilty in an appropriate administrative case.

Section 12 commands that nothing in the Act prejudice or diminish whatever benefits a member of the military establishment or the Integrated National Police is entitled to under existing laws.

Section 13 repeals and/or modifies all acts, laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules and regulations that are contrary to or inconsistent with the Act.
Section 14 establishes that the Act takes effect upon approval.

Republic Act No. 6963 is entitled “An Act Granting Special Financial Assistance and Benefits to the Family or Beneficiary of Any Police or Military Personnel or Fireman Killed or Permanently Incapacitated While in the Performance of His Duty or By Reason of His Office or Position and for Other Purposes.”
Republic Act No. 6963 was approved on September 4, 1990.
Section 14 makes effectivity occur upon approval, and no publication rule is expressly stated in the Act.
The Act states that it was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on August 16, 1990 and August 7, 1990, respectively, and that it is a consolidation of House Bill No. 10831 and Senate Bill No. 2.