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A financial scandal comes to light: the Armed Forces spend R$ 43 million annually on pensions without clear legal backing. Benefits paid to relatives of expelled military personnel, including criminals, challenge legislation and put the use of public money in check. Proposed changes promise adjustments, but will they be sufficient?
An explosive revelation places the Armed Forces in the spotlight: millions of reais are being spent annually on a pension scheme that defies legal norms and raises serious questions about the management of public resources.
The issue not only involves large sums of money but also benefits relatives of military personnel who have committed serious crimes.
This is the central point of a technical report from the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU), which details a practice that appears to be on the fringes of the law.
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According to the document revealed by the Metrópoles portal, the Armed Forces allocate about R$ 43 million a year for payments of pensions for “fictitious death.”
These pensions are directed to relatives of expelled military personnel, many of whom are involved in crimes such as murder, international drug trafficking, and attempted rape.
However, current legislation does not explicitly provide for this type of benefit, which has generated criticism and calls for change.
What is the “Fictitious Death” Pension?
The “fictitious death” pension is a controversial benefit. Unlike what occurs with deceased military personnel, this payment is aimed at relatives of former military personnel who are alive but excluded from the Armed Forces.
According to the TCU’s technical report, the practice stems from an outdated interpretation that contradicts constitutional principles.
The audit concluded that there is no clear legal support for this benefit, which should only be granted in cases of death.
The document, attached to a process that has been ongoing since November 2024, highlights that the continuation of these pensions may be seen as encouragement for misconduct among military personnel seeking to leave the Armed Forces in a dishonorable manner.
“The benefit favors the relatives of expelled military personnel, granting access to the military pension system without the contributor having contributed throughout their career,” points out the TCU’s audit unit.
Cases That Shock by Their Severity
Among those benefiting from this controversial practice is the family of ex-major Ailton Gonçalves Moraes Barros, expelled from the Army in 2006.
He was indicted by the Federal Police for attempted coup d’état and for fraudulently issuing vaccination cards against Covid-19. His wife, Marinalva Leite da Silva Barros, receives R$ 22,8 thousand monthly in pension.
Another emblematic case involves ex-Sergeant Manoel Silva Rodrigues, convicted for international drug trafficking.
Expelled from the Air Force after being caught transporting 38 kilograms of cocaine on a FAB aircraft, his family receives R$ 5,7 thousand per month. These are just two examples of a total of 530 beneficiaries listed by the Armed Forces in 2023.
Ministry of Finance and Proposed Changes
The issue of spending on pensions and retirements in the Armed Forces has already been on the radar of the Ministry of Finance, which is trying to balance public accounts.
The end of the fictitious death pension is among the proposals in the fiscal package, but changes are expected to be discussed only next year.
Law No. 3,765/1960, updated in 2019, determines that military personnel who lose their ranks are not entitled to regular retirement, but still allows their dependents to receive proportional pensions based on their time of service.
This legal loophole is the focus of the current debate, especially following the TCU report.
What Do the Authorities Say?
So far, the Army has stated that it complies with the judicial measures determined, but has not commented on the specific report.
The Air Force and Navy, when approached, also did not provide an official position. The Ministry of Defense, which supervises the Armed Forces, preferred not to comment on the matter.
This absence of official responses has generated even more doubts and criticism regarding the transparency in the management of the public resources allocated to the Armed Forces.
The pressure for legislative changes and greater oversight only increases, with the aim of ensuring that public money is used fairly and within the law.
Impacts and Questioning
The payment of fictitious death pensions raises questions not only about the financial impact on public coffers but also about the values and ethics within military institutions.
The continuation of this benefit could create a dangerous precedent, encouraging inappropriate conduct in pursuit of retirement advantages.
Will the proposed changes be sufficient to correct these distortions? Or will new legal loopholes allow cases like these to continue to exist? Society awaits the outcome of this crucial debate for the future of Brazil’s public accounts.
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