WHILE U.S CHEMICAL EXPOSURE VETERANS
REMAIN LOCKED OUT OF PRESUMPTIVE SERVICE
CONNECTED STATUSING BENEFITS SUCH AS
THE GULF WAR VETERANS AND THE FORT
MCCLELLAN VETERANS, THE FAR DISTANT
AND FOREIGN CITIZENS IN THE PHILLIPINES
ARE GIVEN A BLANK CHECK TO APPLY FOR
VA BENEFITS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES
AT OUR EXPENSE. BURIED DEEP IN THE
BUFFOONISH AND FAKER "ECONOMIC STIMULUS
BILL' WAS THE VA BENEFITS FOR MILITARY
VETERANS OF THE PHILLIPINE ISLANDS WHO
HAVE NEVER LIVED HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES.



Feb 18, 6:09 AM EST


Philippine veterans told to apply for US benefits

By OLIVER TEVES
Associated Press Writer


MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- A $198 million U.S. compensation package for Filipino World War II veterans who fought under the American flag against Japanese forces shows America's "great respect" for their bravery and service, the U.S. Embassy said Wednesday.

For over 60 years, the veterans have been campaigning for equal treatment of U.S. and Filipino service members who fought alongside each other to defend the Philippines, then a U.S. colony.

The compensation package is part of the $787 billion economic stimulus measure signed into law Tuesday by President Barack Obama.

The U.S. Embassy in Manila said it will start accepting applications next week for lump-sum payments of $15,000 for veterans who have become U.S. citizens and $9,000 for non-U.S. citizens.

Applications must be submitted by Feb. 16, 2010, and claims by spouses, widows or children of veterans will not be accepted, it said.

"These new benefits further reflect the United States' great respect for the bravery and service of Philippine WWII veterans and for their partnership with the U.S. military in defending freedom," the embassy said in a statement.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has hailed the benefits as a long-overdue victory for the aging and ailing veterans and a move by the U.S. Congress "to correct historic wrong."

More than 250,000 Filipinos served alongside U.S. soldiers to defend the Philippines from the 1941 Japanese invasion and resist subsequent Japanese occupation.

The U.S. government had assured Filipinos they qualified for full U.S. veterans' benefits, but the U.S. Congress passed a law in 1946 stripping them of their status.

The U.S. estimates about 18,000 Filipino veterans are still alive and eligible. The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office puts the number at more than 36,000, plus nearly 80,000 surviving spouses.

Dioscoro Valenzuela, the 89-year-old post commander of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines in his northern hometown of Malolos, said he has mixed feelings about the measure.

"I am very happy for myself because in the end, our services in defense of America and the freedom of the Philippines have been recognized," said Valenzuela, who plans to use some of his money to visit his veteran brother in America. "But I am also sad that not everyone will benefit, especially the widows of those who I know really served during those days."


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END OF ASSOCIATED PRESS RELEASE