This June 5, Mesada 14 was approved for veterans of the Public Force. This would be positive news for those who have worked and given their lives for the security of the country. The approval was given during the aforementioned plenary session in compliance with the Statute of the Opposition.
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In this way, the initiative had support of 99 ‘Yes’ votes. That is, no vote was recorded for the ‘No’ vote.
After the approval, some congressmen spoke out. For his part, representative Pedro Suárez Vacca explained that the initiative would help strengthen the relationship that exists between the Government and the Military Forces. Likewise, he indicated: “our veterans deserve this allowance to return.”
Congressman Heráclito Landinez also shared some words and thanked the support given to the possibility of Military Forces Mesada 14 returning. “This House of Representatives pays tribute to the Military Forces, their families and the civilians who provide services to the Ministry of Defense.”
Although approval was given, some congressmen considered that it was important to add teachers to be beneficiaries. However, this proposal was not taken into account. The liberal Álvaro Rueda spoke about this. “It is very important that our teachers receive this allowance for the great effort they have made,” he reflected.
Meanwhile, the retired military and police officers who are part of the Moral Reserve Organization of Colombia celebrated the news. It is “a fair and worthy recognition for the sacrifice of the men and women of our public force.”
How was the bill revived?
Mesada 14 for veterans of the Public Force existed in the past. It was Law 100 of 1993, article 142, that allowed the transfers to begin to be made, but in 2005 during the government of Álvaro Uribe Vélez the initiative was suppressed and, therefore, it would only be delivered to pensioners before July 31, 2011.
At that time, the former head of state, Uribe, indicated: “I want to repeat this very carefully because misunderstandings have been created: Allowance 14 is not taken away from those who already have it, but from those who retire in the future.”
This additional payment for some veterans of the Armed Forces was maintained until 2011, but only for those who had a pension of up to 3 minimum wages. At that time, it was not provided to all pensioners of the Armed Forces.
Let us remember that it was the Minister of Defense, Iván Velásquez, who brought two bills to Congress. The above with the objective of increasing compensation to members of the Public Force, as well as to once again include Table 14 in the Constitution.
What is Military Forces Mesada 14 in Colombia?
This initiative consists of an annual payment that is delivered to pensioners of the Military Forces and Police in Colombia. The transfer is made in cases of retirement, disability, and old age pensions. It is also delivered to the survivors and their legal beneficiaries when the member of the Public Force has died.
The Vice Minister of Defense for Strategy and Planning, Luis Edmundo Suarez Soto, explained that this proposal will benefit more than 244,000 families. In fact, in the budget of the national security and defense sector there is the “sum of almost one trillion pesos.”
Compared to the amount they receive, it is an additional payment to the mid-year premium.
What are the requirements that allowed the delivery of Allowance 14 to veterans of the Military Forces?
This Allowance, as mentioned previously, has been delivered to those who retired before July 31, 2011, but with some conditions. This is what the Minjusticia clarifies:
- If the person retired before July 25, 2005 and their pension is not greater than 15 current legal monthly minimum wages.
- If the person retired between July 25, 2005 and July 31, 2011 and their pension is not greater than 3 current legal monthly minimum wages.
