Filvets leader supports 'one-time, big-time' pension for veterans
MANILA, Philippines - Filipino World War II veterans should be content with the "one- time big-time" compensation being offered under a bill recently passed at the US House of Representatives, according to a leader of a veterans' group based in the Philippines.
“The Filner bill is better than nothing," Sandiganbayan retired justice Manuel Pamaran, vice president of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP), told GMANews.TV in a recent interview.
Critics say US Rep. Bob Filner's H.R. 6897 or the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2008, is a “watered down" version of US Senator Daniel Akaka’s S. 1315.
H.R. 6897 would only provide Filipino veterans in the US a one-time compensation of $15,000 (about P695,000), and $9,000 (about P416,000) for those living in the Philippines.
S. 1315 or the Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 offers a more comprehensive benefits package to Filipino veterans, which includes providing married Filipino veterans living in the Philippines with annual pension of $4,500, (about P210,000) and $3,600 (about P168,000) for single veterans.
The surviving spouse of a Filipino veteran would also be entitled to a yearly pension of $2,400 (about P112,000) under the bill. The bill would also increase the disability compensation rate and burial benefits for Filipino veterans living in the Philippines from 50 to 100 percent, equivalent to that being enjoyed by veterans living in the US.
But according to Pamaraan, “We have no recourse but to accept it. We are the only ally that has been forgotten."
H.R. 6897 now goes to the Senate, where senators either could pass the House version or meet in a conference committee to work out differences. Last week, Akaka sought a conference between representatives of the Senate and the House to negotiate a final version of the measure.
If the two chambers fails to pass the bill's final version before US Congress adjourns in time for the presidential elections, advocates of the Filipino veterans’ equity bill would have to start their campaign from square one.
Francisco San Miguel, VFP secretary-general earlier criticized the legislation, saying that under the bill American veterans would receive far more benefits than their Filipino counterparts, including a monthly pension, as well as house and car modifications for wheel-chair bound former soldiers.
“Ang hinihiling lang namin ay equal treatment pero ang ginagawa nila ay unequal treatment (We’re only asking for equal treatment but what they are doing is totally unfair)," San Miguel said.
Only 18 Filvets listed
Pamaran, who served alongside American soldiers during WWII as a former private first class, said that even if the US Congress approves the measure's final version, Filipino veterans would still face a problem on identifying the recipients of the pension.
According to him, there are only 18 Filipino war veterans officially listed in the US-State of Missouri who are entitled to the benefits.
He said that some Filipinos who were part of the guerrilla movement in the Philippines failed to be included in the list and are thus ineligible for any US pension.
“There are only 18 listed Filipino war veterans. Six are in the Philippines, while 12 are in the US," he said.
The more than 18,000 surviving WWII Filipino veterans whose average age is 80, have been waiting for the last 62 years for the US government to correct the Recession Acts’ “injustice," and provide them compensation equitable to that of their American counterparts.
San Miguel, who also served in WWII when he was just 14, claimed that US lawmakers rushed the bill's passage because of the approaching US presidential elections.
“Ngayon itong ginagawa nila ay pampalubag-loob dahil ang hinihiling ng mga beterano ay matatagalan (They are only doing this to appease the veterans since what they are asking would take a longer time to enact)," he said in an earlier interview.
Politicking?
While Pamaran refused to say whether or not the Senate would back the House-approved bill, he said the upcoming US elections could have influenced the decisions of lawmakers.
“It’s anybody’s political interest," he said. “If there were more Filipino [voters] they could have pushed for the Senate bill."
Pamaran quelled speculations that the Philippine government had been lax in lobbying for the Senate version of the veterans bill.
He said the government did its best, adding that he was among the Philippine delegate who went to Washington earlier this year to personally convince US senators to support the cause of Filipino veterans. - MARK JOSEPH H. UBALDE, GMANews.TV
“The Filner bill is better than nothing," Sandiganbayan retired justice Manuel Pamaran, vice president of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP), told GMANews.TV in a recent interview.
Critics say US Rep. Bob Filner's H.R. 6897 or the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2008, is a “watered down" version of US Senator Daniel Akaka’s S. 1315.
H.R. 6897 would only provide Filipino veterans in the US a one-time compensation of $15,000 (about P695,000), and $9,000 (about P416,000) for those living in the Philippines.
S. 1315 or the Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 offers a more comprehensive benefits package to Filipino veterans, which includes providing married Filipino veterans living in the Philippines with annual pension of $4,500, (about P210,000) and $3,600 (about P168,000) for single veterans.
The surviving spouse of a Filipino veteran would also be entitled to a yearly pension of $2,400 (about P112,000) under the bill. The bill would also increase the disability compensation rate and burial benefits for Filipino veterans living in the Philippines from 50 to 100 percent, equivalent to that being enjoyed by veterans living in the US.
But according to Pamaraan, “We have no recourse but to accept it. We are the only ally that has been forgotten."
H.R. 6897 now goes to the Senate, where senators either could pass the House version or meet in a conference committee to work out differences. Last week, Akaka sought a conference between representatives of the Senate and the House to negotiate a final version of the measure.
If the two chambers fails to pass the bill's final version before US Congress adjourns in time for the presidential elections, advocates of the Filipino veterans’ equity bill would have to start their campaign from square one.
Francisco San Miguel, VFP secretary-general earlier criticized the legislation, saying that under the bill American veterans would receive far more benefits than their Filipino counterparts, including a monthly pension, as well as house and car modifications for wheel-chair bound former soldiers.
“Ang hinihiling lang namin ay equal treatment pero ang ginagawa nila ay unequal treatment (We’re only asking for equal treatment but what they are doing is totally unfair)," San Miguel said.
Only 18 Filvets listed
Pamaran, who served alongside American soldiers during WWII as a former private first class, said that even if the US Congress approves the measure's final version, Filipino veterans would still face a problem on identifying the recipients of the pension.
According to him, there are only 18 Filipino war veterans officially listed in the US-State of Missouri who are entitled to the benefits.
He said that some Filipinos who were part of the guerrilla movement in the Philippines failed to be included in the list and are thus ineligible for any US pension.
“There are only 18 listed Filipino war veterans. Six are in the Philippines, while 12 are in the US," he said.
The more than 18,000 surviving WWII Filipino veterans whose average age is 80, have been waiting for the last 62 years for the US government to correct the Recession Acts’ “injustice," and provide them compensation equitable to that of their American counterparts.
San Miguel, who also served in WWII when he was just 14, claimed that US lawmakers rushed the bill's passage because of the approaching US presidential elections.
“Ngayon itong ginagawa nila ay pampalubag-loob dahil ang hinihiling ng mga beterano ay matatagalan (They are only doing this to appease the veterans since what they are asking would take a longer time to enact)," he said in an earlier interview.
Politicking?
While Pamaran refused to say whether or not the Senate would back the House-approved bill, he said the upcoming US elections could have influenced the decisions of lawmakers.
“It’s anybody’s political interest," he said. “If there were more Filipino [voters] they could have pushed for the Senate bill."
Pamaran quelled speculations that the Philippine government had been lax in lobbying for the Senate version of the veterans bill.
He said the government did its best, adding that he was among the Philippine delegate who went to Washington earlier this year to personally convince US senators to support the cause of Filipino veterans. - MARK JOSEPH H. UBALDE, GMANews.TV
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