ESTRADA SEEKS AFP CHIEF’S TAKE ON MANDATORY MUP PENSION CONTRIBUTION: Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, during Wednesday’s meeting of the Committee on National Defense of the Commission on Appointments (CA), August 30, 2023, asks Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., about his stance on the proposed military and uniformed personnel (MUP) pension reform bill. Specifically, Estrada mentioned Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.’s opposition to the mandatory contribution of MUPs. In response, Brawner noted that soldiers are always willing to sacrifice a portion of their pay for the country’s benefit. He also added that the Defense Department has developed a plan that would enable the AFP to generate pension funds, including utilizing available real estate assets. (Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)