EPCC News

January 9, 2008

REP. MANDANAS VISITS LOS ANGELES, CONDUCTS DIALOGUE WITH FILAM VETERANS

LOS ANGELES—Philippine Congressman Herminigildo Mandanas together with Los Angeles Consul General Mary Jo B. Aragon held a dialogue with the Filipino American veterans and community leaders last Friday, January 9 at FASGI, 135 N. Parkview St. Los Angeles.

They discussed the Filipino Veterans Support Bill, or SB 3689 that passed the Senate hearings last November 17 remains as the foremost concern of the Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV).

Heated Discussion

There was a heated discussion on the lump sum bill when JFAV leader Arturo P. Garcia brought put the fact that the SB 3689 has a quit claim and offers no recognition to the veterans. He also scored the vagueness of the bill.

Susan Dilkes, FASGI executive Director appealed for unity for the veterans to accept the lump sum because they need it, reiterating and echoing the stand of the ACFV as elucidated by Mr.Franco Arcebal.

Present during the discussion were JFAV veteran leaders Faustino Baclig and Jack Vergara , ACFV acting president Franco Arcebal, UFAV president Pantaleon Jurado, Greg Villanueva and VCF leader Ramon Lladoc, AWARE leaders Nick Gadia. Jovita Alejandrino and Lulu Astilla.

Also present were community leaders Arturo Garcia of JFAV, Susan Dilkes of FASGI, FALCON leader Johnny Pecayo, Deputy Consul Daniel Espiritu,Ricky Morales of TFC/ABS-CBN News and others.

Rep. Mandanas ( 2nd Dist.Batangas, LP), a ranking member of the Congress Veterans Affairs Committee promised that he will take to the Philippine Congress his findings on this matter.

He will also go to San Francisco, New Jersey-New York and Washington to talk with Philippine Embassy officials on this issue.

For more information on jfav please contact Al P. Garcia@

jfav_us@yahoo.com or call (213)241-0995