Pinoy war veterans troop to Aguinaldo

MANILA, Philippines - Hundreds of World War II veterans and their relatives flocked to the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City to file their claims at the start of the processing of compensation claims yesterday.

Some of the veterans, though, were confused on the qualifications that would enable them to avail of the compensation package that US President Barack Obama approved for Filipino World War II veterans.

Obama signed on Tuesday the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that included a provision acknowledging Filipino war veterans as US soldiers and granting them a $198-million lump-sum package.

The compensation package is part of the $787-billion economic stimulus package that Obama signed into law.

Filipino veterans with US citizenship will receive a one-time pay of $15,000 while non-US citizens will get $9,000.

PVAO spokesman Nostradamus Villanueva said some of the concerns addressed by representatives from the US Veterans Affairs Office were the inquiries of widows who thought that they were entitled to the compensation package on behalf of their spouses who served during WW II.

Rosa Dinginbayan, a veteran’s widow, said she and other widows of war veterans thought they were qualified to avail of the package but were disappointed to learn otherwise.

Her husband Paulino died last year.

“Ano ang gagawin namin. Ang sabi ko magreklamo tayo, magkaisa tayo, karapatan natin yan (What will we do now? I told the widows that we have to get together and complain, that is our right),” she said.

Aside from the widows, members of the Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon (Hukbalahap) also came to file their claims, not realizing that qualified claimants are only those that are included in the Revised, Reconstructed Guerrilla Roster of 1948 which was compiled by the US army administration center in Missouri.

At around noon, the US Veterans Affairs Office was able to process around 300 applications from qualified veterans.

Defense Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina said only members of the organized guerrilla forces under commanders appointed, designated or subsequently recognized by the Commander-in-Chief of the Southeast Pacific Area or other competent authority in the US Army are qualified to receive the compensation.

Those who served in the Philippine Scouts under Section 14 of the Armed Forces Voluntary Recruitment Act of 1945 are also considered qualified claimants.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) urged all Filipino veterans to deal only with US veterans’ agencies and to avoid short cuts offered by unscrupulous fixers.

DFA spokesman Bayani Mangibin said “fixers” might take advantage of the veterans.

“We are hoping that the Filipino veterans beneficiaries of this program will follow the process and will not resort to short cuts,” Mangibin said.

The US Embassy said all Filipino WWII veterans must submit their applications by Feb. 16, 2010.

The Filipino veterans are requested to bring two forms of identification (such as passport, driver’s license, senior citizen ID, Bureau of Post ID, Voter’s ID, etc.); VA claim number; Service Number; PVAO claim number; PVAO Pension bank account number; US passport (if a US citizen.)

 “In order to provide effective, transparent service, claims will only be accepted from Filipino WWII veterans. We encourage all Filipino WWII veterans to apply in person at one of the locations listed on the dates indicated. If a veteran is unable to appear in person, the US department of veterans affairs Manila regional office will arrange to obtain the application in an appropriate manner,” the US Embassy said.

Claims by spouses, widows and children of Filipino WWII veterans will not be accepted, it added.

All information will be available on the US embassy website at http://manila.usembassy.gov.

The embassy will also have representatives available to accept claims at the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, Central office in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City; Veterans Memorial Medical Center in North Ave. Quezon City; PVAO in San Fernando, La Union located at the National Highway corner Diversion Road Pagdaraoan, San Fernando City, La Union; PVAO Baguio City, Benguet at USAFIPNL Camp Henry T. Allen, Baguio City, Benguet; PVAO Davao City, Davao del Sur at Door 4, Gutierrez Compound, Abad Santos Ave., Davao City, Davao del Sur;

Philippine Veterans Affairs Office Batangas City, Batangas, in Provincial Capitol Batangas City, Batangas; PVAO Tuguegarao, Cagayan, at 1-A Callangan Bldg. Bonifacio Street, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan; PVAO San Fernando, Pampanga at Cleofe’s Bldg. Gen. Hizon Extension, San Fernando City, Pampanga; PVAO Legazpi City, Albay at ANST Bldg., Washington Drive, Legazpi City, Albay; and PVAO Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental in Camp Evangelista, Patag Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental.

Meanwhile, Sen. Richard Gordon yesterday called on the PVAO to protect Filipino veterans against unscrupulous individuals who might take advantage of them.

Gordon had asked PVAO to make “clear and simple” the procedure in claiming the benefits.

The US estimates about 18,000 Filipino veterans are still alive and eligible. The PVAO puts the number at more than 36,000, plus nearly 80,000 surviving spouses. - James Mananghaya, Jose Rodel Clapano, Sheila Crisostomo