Third Military Service Board Enacted

by : Jet S. Fajardo-Rivera


To resolve and review cases of confirmation of war-time military services and to serve justice to our unsung heroes, Republic Act No. 9828 creating the Third Military Service Board (TMSB) was recently signed into law on July 27, 2009.

Appointed as members of the five-man Board in accordance with Department Order signed by Sec. Norberto Gonzales last February 18, 2010 are the following esteemed veteran leaders and PVAO officials :

Chairman : MGen Fortunato U. Abat, AFP (Ret) 
Members : BGen Arnulfo D. Bañez, AFP (Ret)
Cmdr. Ignacio F. Palad
Dir. Nostradamus A. Villanueva
Atty. Rolando D. Villaflor

The new Board shall undertake a review of all cases resolved and unresolved by the previous Military Service Board created by virtue of RA 8440 and the New Military Service Board pursuant to Executive Order No. 198. It shall exist for a term of three years or until the last case shall have been resolved, whichever is sooner, but no longer than five years.

Similar to the old Boards, the TMSB shall have jurisdiction over cases for conferment of deserving veteran status to unrecognized guerrillas more popularly known as bolomen and members of the Women Auxiliary Service (WAS) whose names were not documented in the recognized roster of troops available at official repository of records.

Once confirmed, claimants shall be eligible to receive all veterans benefits pursuant to Republic Act. No. 6948 as amended by RA 7696.

Cognizant of the fact that the claimants awaiting confirmation are in their twilight years already, the TMSB is bent on fast-tracking its operations. The Board held its very first conference yesterday, February 25, 2010 at the PVAO Conference Room wherein the Implementing Rules & Regulations of RA 9828 were discussed.#