Help available for cops who testify or face cases in court

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Police officers facing service-connected court cases or required to testify as prosecution witnesses can now apply for financial assistance under a newly launched program that also introduces an online portal aimed at speeding up the processing of applications.

The Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund, Inc. (PSMBFI) has launched its Legal and Travel Assistance Program (LTAP) and Travel Assistance Portal, providing qualified active and retired Philippine National Police (PNP) members with financial support for legal proceedings and court-related travel arising from the performance of their official duties.

Who can benefit

The program is open to active and retired PSMBFI members in good standing who meet the eligibility requirements. Under the Legal Assistance component, qualified members facing service-connected administrative, criminal, or civil cases that are actively undergoing hearings may receive financial assistance.

READ: PNP says cops free to testify in Duterte ICC case: ‘It’s their decision’

Meanwhile, the Travel Assistance component provides reimbursement assistance to members who are required to travel to attend court hearings as prosecution witnesses in criminal cases filed by the PNP.

Financial assistance available

According to PSMBFI, members approved under the Legal Assistance Program may receive ₱20,000 per approved application, with assistance available up to twice a year, or a maximum of ₱40,000 annually.   For members appearing as prosecution witnesses, travel assistance varies depending on the distance and mode of travel. The program provides ₱1,500 for land travel between municipalities or cities within the same province, ₱2,000 for travel within the same region, ₱3,000 for travel between regions, ₱6,000 for air travel within Luzon, Visayas, or Mindanao and between Luzon and the Visayas, and ₱8,000 for air travel between Luzon and Mindanao. Members may receive travel assistance twice for each case, provided the total assistance does not exceed ₱40,000 in one year.

READ: ICC prosecutors urge PH cops again: Testify vs Duterte

Who is not qualified

According to PSMBFI, legal assistance is not available for personal disputes, violence against women and children cases, child abuse violations, illegal transactions, conflict-of-interest cases, land disputes, abuse of authority, gross negligence involving PNP-issued property, and other cases that are not considered service-connected.   Travel assistance is likewise unavailable to members who have already availed of the benefit three times for the same case or whose court hearings are conducted solely through video conferencing or otherwise do not require travel.

How to apply

Applicants must submit the required documentary requirements depending on the type of assistance being sought, including documents showing that a case is pending or court-issued notices or subpoenas for prosecution witnesses. Only applications with complete documentary requirements will undergo evaluation and processing.

Online application portal

Alongside the program, PSMBFI also launched the Travel Assistance Portal, an online platform where members can submit applications and supporting documents electronically. According to PSMBFI, the portal is designed to streamline the evaluation process by validating an applicant’s membership standing, rank, and unit before applications are processed. Members, however, must first register in the PSMBFI Membership Information Management System (PMIMS) before accessing the portal.   PSMBFI said applications with complete documentary requirements will be evaluated before assistance is released, while applications with incomplete requirements will only be processed once all necessary documents have been submitted.

READ: Garma agrees to testify against Duterte before ICC

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