Media Advisory
Justice for Filipino American Veterans(JFAV)
Los Angeles, CA
Dec. 2, 2008
Contact: Arturo P. Garcia
(213) 241-0995

WIDOWS AND RELATIVES OF FILIPINO VETERANS WILL FORM GROUP FOR EQUITY AND BENEFITS

Los Angeles—The Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) together with the Society of Guerillas and Scouts (SGS) will hold an organizing meeting for widows and relatives of Filipino World War II veterans on Monday, at 10:00 AM December 8, 2008 at the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (HPMC) at Fountain St/Vermont, CA 90027.

The event will mark the formal entry of the United States into the Second World War with the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese in Hawaii on December 7, 1941.

This is their reaction to the news was that SB 3689 The Filipino Veterans Support Bill passed in the Senate Defense Committee hearings last November. 17. The widows and relatives will form the Association of Widows and Relatives for Equality (AWARE)

Ms. Lulu Astilla. AWARE convenor said; “The widows and the relatives of the veterans are not happy that the SB 3869 maintained the quit claim of Filner’s HR 6897 Lump Sum bill. The House of Representative passed the SB 1315 last Sept.22 but they removed the section 4 that recognizes the Filipino veterans as American war veterans and give them benefits was taken out.”

No Recognition, The Quit Claim Stays

JFAV and SGS Commander Jack Vergara pointed out that: “ the most important as well as very striking in the proposed bill to be discussed in the lame duck session on Dec 8-18, 2008 is that there is no tacit recognition in the law about the military service of the veterans. The so called recognition is only specific in this section of the bill and had a quit claim.”

Vergara also added that “ Although the supposed to be additional benefits of $ 15,000 and $ 9,000 lump sums was to be given without disturbing the other benefits like SSI that the veterans have been receiving, there were no clear provisions for the widows and other relatives both in the United States and the Philippines.

With the formation of AWARE the widows and relatives of veterans will have agreater voice and participation in their advocacy for benefits and recognition from the US Congress next year.”

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