Filipino Veterans honor U.S. Cong. Filner
for championing their rights

 

World War II veterans and veterans’ rights advocates honored U.S. Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the US House Committee on Veterans Affairs, in a luncheon held at the DND Social Hall in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Filipino veterans expressed their gratitude to Filner for tirelessly pushing for the long overdue recognition and benefits promised to Filipino servicemen who were drafted into the U.S. Army during WWII.

During the luncheon, Defense Undersecretary and concurrent PVAO Administrator Ernesto G. Carolina recounted how the U.S. Congressman assisted them in lobbying efforts for the approval of the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill in Washington, D.C.

“Cong. Bob Filner was always there helping us, telling us our way… Cong. Bob Filner was there maintaining the fight and keeping it alive,” Carolina said.

A resolution thanking Filner for his “deep commitment in achieving justice and equity for the Filipino veterans” was presented as a token of appreciation by leaders and members of Veterans Organizations.

Filner authored the legislation, which was subsequently approved and which led to the grant of lump-sum payments to eligible WW II Filipino veterans. He represents San Diego, California, home to the largest population of Filipino Americans in the U.S.

In his speech before the veterans, Filner revealed that his interest in the veterans issue originated upon learning the history and background of the people he represents. “I felt that the lack of recognition for the Filipinos was also a civil rights struggle,” said Filner.  He added that the lack of honor given to the Filipinos for their contribution during WW II was wrong “in human rights and civil rights perspective.”

Filner said that the Philippines and the U.S. has a “long and important relationship,” adding that the contributions of the Filipino veterans to the US victory in WWII and to the establishment of democracy in both countries should never be forgotten.

“And if we don’t remember that cooperation and the bravery of the Filipinos, we will lose sight of why this relationship is so important. So I thought it was important that we learn in the U.S. Congress and all of America the history of your contributions. I said yours because you were there,” Filner concluded.

Four eligible WWII Filipino veterans received their lump sum payment checks during the occasion. Three of them who are now U.S. citizens received $15,000 each and, one non-U.S. citizen received $9,000. Filner disclosed that 10,000 checks amounting to some 5 Billion Pesos were already distributed to other qualified veterans.