Section 6
SEC. 6. Subsection (c) of Section twelve of the same Act, as inserted by Republic Act Numbered One thousand six hundred and sixteen, as amended, is hereby further amended—to read as follows: (c) Retirement is likewise allowed to any official or employee, appointive or elective, regardless of age and employment status, who has rendered a total of at least twenty years of service, the last three years of which are continuous. The benefit shall, in addition to the return of his personal contributions with interest compounded monthly and the payment of the corresponding employer's premiums described in subsection (a) of Section five hereof, without interest, be only a gratuity equivalent to one month's salary for every year of the first twenty years of service, plus one and one-half month's salary for every year of service over twenty but below thirty years and two month's salary for every year of service over thirty years in case of employees based on the highest rate received and in case of elected officials on the rates of pay as provided by law. This gratuity is payable by the employer or office concerned which is hereby authorized to provide the necessary appropriation or pay the same from any unexpended items of appropriations or savings in its appropriations. Officials and employees retired under this Act shall be entitled to the commutation of the unused vacation and sick leave, based on the highest rate received, which they may have to their credit at the time of retirement. "An employee who retires under this Subsection (c) may not be eligible for retirement with gratuity or pension under Subsection (a) of Section eleven of this Act, as amended, or vice versa, unless he makes a written application therefore within one year after retirement and reimburses the retirement gratuity or pension previously received by him, as well as refunds the personal and employer's premiums as the case may be."