US solons introduce bill demanding full benefits for Pinoy war veterans

As the Philippines commemorated Araw ng Kagitingan on Tuesday, lawmakers from the United States introduced legislation that aims to provide with "full benefits" Filipino World War II veterans who fought for the US during the Second World War.

According to a statement by US Senator Brian Schatz (Democratic Party-Hawaii) on Tuesday, the proposed legislation called "The Filipino Veterans Fairness Act" (S. 690) was done "to right an unjust wrong in (the US') past."

Schatz co-introduced the legislation with Congresswoman Jackie Speier (Democratic Party-San Francisco/San Mateo). Senator Mazie Hirono, also from Hawaii, is an original co-sponsor of the bill.

"The bill eliminates the distinction between the Regular or 'Old' Philippine Scouts and the other three groups of veterans—Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, Recognized Guerrilla Forces, and New Philippine Scouts," the statement said.

"Widows and children of Filipino veterans would be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation just like any other veteran," the statement continued.

Deserve fair treatment

“Filipino veterans who fought in World War II are American veterans and deserve to be treated fairly. These veterans and their families have waited for decades to receive the compensation that they deserve, and it is unacceptable for our country to deny them these benefits for their service," Schatz said.

"I call on my colleagues in Congress to join me in moving swiftly to pass this legislation so that we can finally fulfill the promise of equal rights for thousands of veterans across the country, and fully honor the men and women who served our country so bravely in a time of war," he continued.

The statement noted that during World War II, around 250,000 Filipinos fought with US troops and were promised all the benefits like those given to people who served the US Armed Forces.

However, the US Congress in 1946 stripped many Filipinos of their benefits promised by the late President Franklin Roosevelt.

Filipinos were the only people denied benefits from the 66 countries that allied themselves with the US during WWII.

“A promise made must be a promise kept. I am frankly embarrassed that we are still having this debate more than a half-century after Filipino veterans helped us win World War II," Speier said.

"At the time, 66 countries supported the United States and all but one country’s soldiers received full veterans’ benefits. This is a moral issue. It is time that we make good on a promise that was broken in 1946 and treat the Filipino veterans with the honor they deserve," Speier continued.

Araw ng Kagitingan commemorates the Fall of Bataan during World War II, where Filipino and American soldiers surrendered to Japanese troops.
 
The surrendered soldiers were then forced to march 140 kilometers to Tarlac. This became known as the Bataan Death March.

During the commemoration of the holiday in the Philippines, President Benigno Aquino III vowed improved benefits for Filipino veterans as well.

He also promised that his administration will closely monitor the full implementation of the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Law (FVEC).

The FVEC Law, signed by US President Barack Obama in 2009, provides for a one-time cash payment of $9,000 for non-US citizens and $15,000 for Filipino veterans with US citizenship, as authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. - Gian C. Geronimo, VVP, GMA News