CLAIMS DELAYED, JUSTICE DENIED!

Justice for Filipino Americans (JFAV)

RECOGNITION, JUSTICE, EQUITY, NOW!

1610 Beverly Blvd. Suite No.2 Los Angeles, CA 90026

August 20, 2009

The Honorable Eric K. Shinseki

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs

810 Vermont Ave. NW Washington DC

Dear Secretary Shinseki:

On behalf of the Justice for Filipino American Veterans(JFAV) a national alliance of veterans, youth, students and community organizations and activist for veterans rights based in Los Angeles, California, points out the fact that as of August 2009, less than 10 percent of more than 35,000 Filipino World War II veterans who applied for their claims have received their benefits.

Although you have reassured our fellow organization, the ACFV that the VA department is doing its best to implement the new “Filipino Veterans Compensation Law” as quickly as possible we still have to bring to your attention the slow process as more veterans fade away in the waiting process.

We want to stress that the remaining Filipino veterans have waited for 63 years for this veterans and you and the VA should not let them wait for more years to be given what is due to them.

The JFAV fully supports all the measures and changes that you can do to avoid unnecessary delays and to minimize misunderstandings with sickly and aging Filipino World War II veterans and their spouses or would be widows in that process.

This includes the four proposals set forth and suggested by the ACFV to you in their letter dated August 20, 2009.

At the rate the Filipino veterans are dying, please do not give us the impression that you are deliberately slowing the process to save money for the government or you are just too mired in bureaucratic process to fix this problem.

We are looking forward and always hope for your favorable response.

Sincerely yours,



Arturo P. Garcia

National Coordinator

Although you have reassured our fellow organization, the ACFV that the VA department is doing its best to implement the new “Filipino Veterans Compensation Law” as quickly as possible we still have to bring to your attention the slow process as more veterans fade away in the waiting process.

We want to stress that the remaining Filipino veterans have waited for 63 years for this veterans and you and the VA should not let them wait for more years to be given what is due to them.