Claims, inquiry

and Pensioners National Coordinating Council (CAUSA AFPRP-NCC) the other day, the retired military personnel were hoping that the Department of National Defense (DND), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) would be compelled by the Commission on Audit (COA) to release their claims through an Order of Execution.

Retired Army Major Alfonso Besario, president and chairman of CAUSA AFPRPNCC, revealed that some 122,000 military re- tirees and pensioners all over

the country are now signing a petition that would urge the House of Representatives and the Senate to conduct an inquiry on the huge amount of the total standing arrears for the retirees which the group claimed has already ballooned to more than 18 billion since the year 2000.

As of yesterday, the retirees’ group office has been collating the signed petitions that came from various regions in the country.

Besario told the Manila Bulletin that the presence of the thousands of military retirees and pensioners will be seen once they show up soon to request for a congressional inquiry.