Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV)

Los Angeles, CA

January 25, 2009

Discussion Paper

No to Lump Sum without Full Recognition

We stand to educate and politicize the community on the issue as opposed to the advice of the Philippine government’s representative for veterans to “keep quiet for the next four months.” We empower the Filipino and the American communities if they know the historical injustice, facts and options as only an educated people can bring about real change to the how the US government regard the veterans.

Veterans and advocates for genuine equity are on a crossroad now. Is it lump sum first or full recognition and lifetime pension benefit right away? This paper attempts to provoke discussion among veterans, widows, families, advocates and the public in general.

Trend in the Equity Campaign

The Filipino community in the US and the Philippines lauded the victory of the S1315 in the Senate last 2007, which among others, recognized the US military service of the Filipinos during World War 2, and hence must be awarded a lifetime pension benefit.

The Congress last September 2008 approved the S1315 BUT without the Filipino provision that grants full recognition and lifetime pension benefit. Congress, at the same time, approved the Filner bill that grants 198 M lump sum to Filipino veterans but without full recognition, current benefits and pension. The bill angered many veterans to the point that Filner was forced to make an apology and a written explanation to the veterans.

As an improvement over the Filner bill, Senator Inouye passed S3689 or a Special Appropriation bill- a rider within an omnibus bill sponsored by Senator Reid that seeks $100 billion economic stimulus. Essentially, this bill seeks to maintain current veterans’ medical and burial benefits but like the original Filner bill, does NOT provide full recognition and lifetime pension benefit.

The leadership of the lobby group is campaigning for the approval of the Special Appropriations bill or the S3689. At several meetings and conferences, the proponents are framing this bill as the final hope for the veterans to get monetary relief.



American Coalition for Filipino Veterans (ACFV) Support for Lump Sum First

ACFV leaders say that it is best to pursue the lump sum bill first and then pursue the lifetime pension later on two grounds: 1. It is best to grab the 198 M now that it is currently allocated and funded by Congress, and 2. More veterans are dying everyday so we may as well grab whatever available money there is.



S3689 RELEASE section clearly states that “the acceptance by an eligible person of a payment under this section shall be deemed final, and shall constitute a complete release of any claim against the US...” This is otherwise known as a “quit claim” or a foreclosure to any claim for a lifetime full pension benefit. While the $15, 000 for US citizens or $9,000 for non US citizens may provide temporary relief,

It is at the same a political trap in order to inhibit efforts at getting the overdue full benefits that Filipino veterans deserved. How could the lump sum be a stepping stone when it is clear that it is an end by itself? Also, when the time comes that lump sum has been provided, the veterans would be in a quandary whether to continue pushing for lifetime pension or not. From 18, 000 veterans in the US and the Philippines who are eager to fight for recognition and lifetime pension, we may end with only 3,000 or less who will be still interested to fight further.

Now that whole equity campaign had been protracted for the last ten years, and that the median age of veterans is 91, the strategy of incremental benefits does not apply anymore. Since we see a mortality of ten veterans a day, all the more that full recognition and lifetime benefits must be granted altogether immediately.

We always hope that the lump sum is not an “exit strategy” for ACFV lobby efforts for genuine equity.

When veterans were asked how long they will spend the $15,000, some say two years, some one year, some even say three months. If the veterans live for the next nine years, how will they live their life after everything has been quickly spent? Isn’t it the US government’s role to oversee that spending for veterans are sustainable and geared towards their lifetime needs?

Hence, nothing would equate a monthly pension benefit that is standard to any American veteran. Why would a white American get a monthly pension benefit and a brown Filipino veteran who endured the same trauma and injury in the war get a mere lump sum? If this is not clear racism and injustice then what is this?

Obviously, an approach for a lump sum first reinforces US Congress’ failure to provide full recognition to the Filipinos who fought side by side with their American counterparts.

This February 18, 2009 is the 63rd anniversary of the Rescission Act that took away the rights of the Filipinos to get equal benefits. The Congress did this to the Filipinos out of around 60 nationalities who served the US Armed Forces. If this is not outright racism, what is this?

On the questions of widows, S3689 has nothing to offer to the current widows. They suffered the same fear, trauma and burden during and after the war. After losing a husband, benefits would have alleviated their sorry plight.

The Equity Campaign is a Collective Filipino People’s Fight for Justice and Dignity

The lobby campaign in Congress is limited to the 18,000 veterans who are fast diminishing day by day. One must realize, however, that the issue reflects the collective memory of a people that suffered from a war that was not ours in the first place—from the victims of the Bataan Death March to the struggle of the recognized and unrecognized guerilla forces, to the widows who bore the brunt of raising a family solely, to the one million women, children and civilians who were murdered because they happen to be in the midst of a war.

World War 2 in the Philippines was an American war fought in an American territory. Veterans and the Filipino people are fighting for something Filipino veterans deserve: FULL RECOGNITION. Mercenaries may be happy with a monetary concession. But the Filipino veterans who have experienced the rapacity of the war to their teeth deserve better. This is a fight for justice and dignity.

Position of JFAV (Justice for Filipino-American Veterans)



There will be veterans who out of extreme necessity have to concede to the lump sum bill when approved. JFAV will respect the decision of these veterans so long as they understand that they can accept but with a stamp of political protest. Others will wait and see. Some will reject the lump sum even if offered.

Collectively, JFAV stands to fight for FULL RECOGNITION and lifetime pension benefit. We will stand united as we are until we attain justice for the veterans, the widows and the Filipino people.

JFAV rejects lump sum without full recognition. Amend the S1315 to include full recognition and lifetime pension benefits for Filipino World War veterans.

World War 2 in the Philippines was an American war fought in an American territory. Veterans and the Filipino people are fighting for something Filipino veterans deserve: FULL RECOGNITION. Mercenaries may be happy with a monetary concession. But the Filipino veterans who have experienced the rapacity of the war to their teeth deserve better. This is a fight for justice and dignity.