Justice for Filipino Americans (JFAV)

RECOGNITION, JUSTICE, EQUITY, NOW!

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Media Advisory

Contact; Joy-Alonica Bautista

Phone: (213) 241-0906

February 25, 2010



JFAV BLASTS OVA CORPUS FOR DEFENDING THE DVA

Los Angeles—“Anti-Filipino, insensitive and unjust.”

This is the reaction of the Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) and Association of Widows, Advocates and Relatives for Equality (AWARE) on the defense being put up by the head of the Philippine Embassy’s Office of the Veterans Affairs (OVA) Gen Victor Corpus.

By saying many claims are “ false , duplicates and incomplete claims”, Corpus is acting like a spokesperson for the United States DVA. He should leave that job to retired General Taguba of the DVA.

JFAV National Coordinator Arturo P. Garcia pointed out; “ It pains us that a Filipino like a former rebel General Victor Corpus is acting in the service of the US Agency. Instead of protecting the Filipino veterans he even give credence to the spurious claims of the DVA”

Garcia said that the denial of more than 17,000 claims by the DVA is a case of denial of the equal rights before the law and exclusion of veterans, their widows and rightful heirs.also cited the case that the Filipino World War II veterans widows were excluded from the stimulus benefits.”

Grave Injustice and Inequality

The JFAV and MHC is filing a case to force the DVA to accept secondary evidences not only based it on the so called “Missouri List”. They are including the widows for their inclusion in the benefits.

JFAV and the MHC pointed out that the mere fact that the DVA denied more veterans than they approved is proof of grave injustice. The DVA has been using the “Missouri List” as a convenient excuse or a ruse for delays in decisions. Actually this is a non-existent list and to subject our elderly to such indignities is a cruel form of elderly abuse.

JFAV noted that a 1973 fire destroyed 80% for US Army personnel from 1912 to 1960. Besides the US is using a reconstructed list.

Where the DVA erred

Even US President Cltinton called for a DVA study on how many Filipino World War II veterans are still alive before he left office in 2000. The study was never undertaken by the DVA.

Way back in 2001, the Veterans Federation of the Philippines, PVAO and JFAV stood for the figure of 54,000 living veterans in the Philippines and 18,000 in the United States.

This pit against the DVA's small estimate of 24,000 veterans in 2001 that shows that the DVA always gives the smallest number afraid that their budget will be affected. This is what they use in 2008 for the lump sum claims.

Garcia pointed out : “Now the problem is out: there is less money to give out to the living veterans thus just deny veterans' their benefits. The DVA is just too arrogant to say they were wrong. And the Filipino World War II veterans wert again the victims.

For more information please contact Arturo P. Garcia at (213)241-0906 or email us at jfav_us@yahoo.com or visit our website at www.peoplescore.net

Garcia said that the denial of more than 17,000 claims by the DVA is a case of denial of the equal rights before the law and exclusion of veterans, their widows and rightful heirs.also cited the case that the Filipino World War II veterans widows were excluded from the stimulus benefits.”