Media Release

February 27, 2009

Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV)

Steering Committee

Continue the Fight for Equity

The Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) reiterates its stand on the long-standing battle of Filipino- American veterans to claim what is due them in the name of justice and equity. We would like to emphasize that this movement, waged valiantly for 63 years by veterans who are in the twilight of their lives, is beyond personal and family interests. It has to be viewed as an issue of national interest and dignity.

Sadly, there are a few Filipinos who see this struggle in an unsympathetic and twisted sense. The JFAV would like to correct this sentiment and ask them to instead look at the veterans’ issue on the light of respecting the rights of our war veterans and honoring our dignity as a country.

Filipino- American veterans all over America have unanimously agreed to accept what the recently signed Stimulus Package of Pres. Barrack Obama has given them. But will continue with the struggle for equity as they did for so many years now.

JFAV believes that the veterans, and widows or legal heirs of the deceased ones, deserve the full rights of naturalization and welfare benefits, including health and pension which the Rescission Act of 1946 has denied and the Stimulus Package has only partially fulfilled.

The Philippine government cannot be absolved for not having the political will to prevent the US government from passing the Rescission Act as what some Filipino apologists have said. The Philippine government in 1946 was too busy giving attention in working for the sugar quota than to watch over the discussions of the Rescission Act.

And it was too late for the government to act in the interest of the Filipino-American veterans as Carlos P. Romulo only brought up the issue publicly in May 1946-- three months after the US Congress passed the Act.

Way back in 1942, the US Congress reestablished the policy it had set forth during WWII by providing the naturalization of aliens serving the US armed forces during the war. Congress waived the requirements of residence, literacy, and education for alien soldiers. The law allowed any alien who was inducted or who enlisted into the US army, navy, or air force to become a US citizen.

The Immigration Act of 1990 rectified the foreclosure of rights by allowing the Filipino veterans to World War II to apply for naturalization and subsequent benefits, but on a rather partial scale.

In 1993, the veterans struggle for equity and justice reached the attention of the American government. This did not happen overnight. The war veterans relentlessly connected with each other since 1984 in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, DC in the pursuit of justice and equity. They have also networked with sympathetic government officials and citizens in the US to make their voices heard.

The veterans deserve their due. They have fought in World War II alongside the Americans and other allied countries in the pursuit of democracy in the world. It is only appropriate for all of us to rally behind them in their quest for justice and equity.

JFAV pushes for the repeal of the Rescission Act of 1946 and the Second Supplemental Surplus Appropriation Rescission Act of 1946 that declared that the service performed by many Filipino veterans was not active service and denied them their benefits. We push for the restoration to full the veterans’ status and benefits.

Our collective demand for justice is not for a lump sum benefit but for a lifetime pension and unconditional recognition of all Filipino War Veterans heroic services whether U.S Citizens or not.

We should not be blinded and apologetic to the Philippine government and the authors of the Rescission Act who acted in bad faith for the veterans.

Justice is never given or begged for. You have to fight for it even if the one that stole it from you is the very same powerful institution that we now seek full redress and redemption. #



Arnedo S. Valera, Esquire

Legal Counsel, JFAV

Our collective demand for justice is not for a lump sum benefit but for a lifetime pension and unconditional recognition of all Filipino War Veterans heroic services whether U.S Citizens or not.

We should not be blinded and apologetic to the Philippine government and the authors of the Rescission Act who acted in bad faith for the veterans.

Justice is never given or begged for. You have to fight for it even if the one that stole it from you is the very same powerful institution that we now seek full redress and redemption. #