106,120 more WWII veterans file late benefit claims

By Ben Cal

MANILA, July 14 (PNA) -- As the saying goes, better late than never, exactly fits to 106,120 Filipino World War II veterans who filed their late claim benefits as authorized under Republic Act 9828.

The House of Representatives and the Senate of the 14th Congress passed RA 9828, otherwise known as “An Act Creating the Military Service Board and Providing Funds Thereof”, on third reading on Sept. 22 and Oct. 6, 2009, respectively, and signed into law by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Dec. 3, 2009.

Under RA 9828, Congress appropriated an initial amount of P4 million chargeable against the savings of the Department of National Defense (DND).

Shortly after the Military Service Board (MSB) was created and chaired by former Defense Secretary Fortunato U. Abat, a World War II veteran and former commanding general of the Philippine Army, a total of 106,120 war veterans who have not received any benefits from the government since 1945 when the war ended, filed their claims at various offices of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) in the country.

Retired Brig. Gen. Arnulfo D. Banez, a war veteran and a director of the newly-created MSB, said that the board had processed 1,294 applications for benefit claims but, so far, approved only 28 applications after a rigid screening out of the 106,120 applications and another 472 were disapproved because they were found to be not veterans.

“We have to make sure that these applicants are really World War II veterans. We have to scrutinize every detail of supporting papers they submitted,” Banez told the Philippines News Agency.

Lawyer Brian James C. Cuevas, PVAO legal officer, said they process 450 applications a week and “at the rate we are going, we estimate we will complete our evaluation and processing in five years.”

Once the application is approved, a veteran is entitled to receive P180,000 equivalent for a three-year retroactive period and a monthly pension of P5,000 thereafter.

Section 1 of RA 9828 says that “any person who claims to have performed military service in the Philippines during the period beginning December 8, 1941 and ending July 3, 1946” can file their applications.

However, the board shall consider only those applications already filed and pending with the MSB which were created pursuant to RA 8440 and Executive Order 198, series of 2003.

RA 9828 also provides that “an application for confirmation of military service submitted by surviving spouse, child or parent in behalf of the deceased person shall be treated as an application by such person.”

The evidence to be considered in evaluating any claim for military service, “the Board shall consider all available information and evidence, both testimonial and documentary, including official unit historical records and personnel records in the various agencies and offices of the government and any other evidence submitted by or on behalf of the applicant.”

But PVAO warned that any fraudulent claims will be charged in court and upon conviction will be punished with a fine of P20,000 but not exceeding P50,000 or an imprisonment of six years and one day to 12 years or both at the discretion of the court. (PNA)
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