This is a reaction to the Feb. 12, 2023 column of Nini Cabaero titled: More benefits for ex-presidents vs. competing priorities.
Our main problem as a country and people are: (1) there are so many of us Filipinos living in dire poverty; (2) there are extreme inequalities even among citizens who should be equals; (3) and the corruption of the people in public service during the period of the administrations of the ex-presidents who are to benefit from this bill. Even these former presidents were implicated in corruption issues. As such, they are not entitled to any compensation after they are out of service.
Our most favored pensioners are those in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). They are also allowed to retire younger.
The most needy pensioners are those under the Social Security System (SSS). Their pensions are clearly inadequate. Congress has increased their pension by P1,000 but has not clearly indicated the source of the funding so until now that amount of increase in their pension has not been properly implemented.
The other aspect of inequality involves those who retired under the late President Corazon Aquino when the salaries of public servants were not yet properly adjusted. There is a great difference between those who retired then and those who retire now. Three times more.
Our senior citizen members of Congress are not doing their job. We should properly organize and recall them from Congress.
That is a proper action in Liberal Democracy. But somebody said that our government is now Ill-Liberal Democracy. Can we correct it into a properly governing Liberal Democracy?
This is the great challenge to our country and to our people now.