War veterans hope long wait for US benefits soon over

HONOLULU – Filipino soldiers who fought beside Americans during World War II hope their long wait for veteran benefits will soon be over.

“We deserve to get benefits for our sacrifices,” said 84-year-old Leon Tabaniag. “We are now in our twilight years, and we want to get our benefits before we move on.”

About 50 Filipino veterans met with US Sen. Daniel Akaka on Tuesday in hopes that Congress will finally give them the same treatment as American fighters for their wartime contributions.

A vote on the proposal is pending in the US House after the US Senate passed it in April. The House is expected to take action on it this year.

“It’s more honorable to be receiving a pension that to be receiving no help from the government,” said 83-year-old Feliciano Barroga Jr.

Filipinos fought against Japan during World War II as part of the US Army Forces in the Far East. The US controlled the Philippines as a commonwealth during WWII and was responsible for the islands’ foreign affairs and national defense.

When the Philippines became an independent country in 1946, Congress took away the pension benefit.

The cheering veterans gathered at a federal government building in Honolulu to thank Akaka, himself a World War II veteran, for helping to get the measure approved in the Senate.

“They’re getting what they deserve,” said Akaka, a Democrat, who sponsored the bill. “To me, that’s so powerful to restore their status as US veterans.”

Military pension benefits in the US provide about $900 per month to veterans in 2008, with more money given depending on the number of dependents and medical support needed. World War II veterans living in the Philippines would only receive about $300 per month.

The pension provision is part of a broader bill called the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007. The bill does not provide any back pay for the last 62 years Filipinos have gone without veteran benefits.

Salome Calderon, a widow whose husband fought for the US during the war, said Filipinos should be treated with respect and dignity, just like other veterans.

“In the United States, they’re only receiving Social Security income. Please help us because we are old already, and we want something done,” she said.

She urged Filipinos to write letters to their congressional representatives asking them to pass the bill. If approved, it would need President George W. Bush’s signature to go into effect in May 2009.

Opponents of the measure have said money could be better spent on housing, education and burial assistance for American veterans.

But Akaka said both Democratic and Republican leaders in the House have signaled their support for the proposal, which passed the Senate 96-1.   – AP