Gordon optimistic Obama will champion Filipino WWII Veterans' Equity Bill

Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon today expressed optimism that President-elect Barack Obama will continue to support moves to enact a long-overdue law that would give more than 13,000 Filipino World War II Veterans due recognition they deserve.

Gordon made the statement as the world commemorates the 67th anniversary of the attack of Pearl Harbor and the Philippines, where Filipino war veterans valiantly fought alongside American soldiers.

"It is indeed unfortunate that as we remember this date of our history, a debt of honor has yet to be paid to our surviving Filipino World War II veterans who have long suffered from ignominy and neglect.

"These Filipino veterans did not ask for it, but were promised by the US government. I do hope that this time, the US will keep its word of honor," he said.

On December 8, 1941, Japanese forces bombed Pearl Harbor, and ten hours later attacked the Philippines where some American forces led by General Douglas MacArthur were based. The attack destroyed the US aircraft on the ground.

Of the 66 countries that fought with the US in World War II, only Filipinos were not given recognition for their contributions and accorded US veterans status because of the passage of the 1946 Rescission Act.

US Senate Bill 1315 or the Filipino Veterans Enhancement Act was given "unanimous consent" by the US House of Representatives in late September 2008, placing more than 13,000 Filipino veterans at the penultimate stage of being given just recognition for fighting along side American soldiers in World War II.

In order to make the passage US Senate Bill 1315 possible, Gordon speedily shepherded the passage of Senate Bill 142 amending Sec. 10 of Republic Act No. 6948 or "An Act Standardizing and Upgrading the Benefits for Military Veterans and their Dependents."

Gordon's bill was enacted into RA 9499 or "An Act Allowing Filipino World War II Veterans To Continue Receiving Philippine Government Pensions And Benefits Notwithstanding Similar Pensions And Benefits Provided By The United States Government, Thereby Amending Republic Act No. 6948, As Amended". The law was unveiled during the Araw ng Kagitingan rites held in Mt. Samat on April 9, 2008.

"Many of our war veterans have already died, while those who remain are old and infirmed. Sadly enough, even as we speak today, many of them are now dying without receiving the full benefits promised to them and their families," he added.

He said the Filipino war veterans should be given proper recognition with the full benefits long promised to them and their families, which would be possible through the enactment of the Filipino World War II Veterans' Equity Bill.

"We therefore urged our American friends and allies to give due recognition our Filipino war veterans truly deserve by honoring the commitment made to them through the immediate passage of the Filipino World War II Veterans' Equity Bill," Gordon said.

"I am optimistic that US President-elect Barack Obama will champion the cause of correcting the great injustice done to our Filipino war veterans," he added.