Friday, June 27, 2008 Arroyo wants effort for veterans equity bill sustained
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo enjoined the Filipino community in Washington to continue to support and lobby for the passage of Filipino veterans equity bill, which she said would "correct a lingering injustice" to the Filipino veterans of World War II and complete the chapters of the history of the World War II.
Arroyo said the different Filipino-American and veterans groups in the US had already done their share in lobbying for the bill, which has now passed the US Senate. She asked the veterans groups to sustain their effort.
"When the bill was calendared at the House of Representatives, your organizations, in an advanced Philippine-like fashion, launched a hectic phone, fax and email campaign. We wish you success in persuading the oppositionists to reconsider their position so as to correct a lingering injustice to our World War II heroes," she said.
"Let us join hands both for the veterans of the greatest generation and for peace and prosperity for the generations to come for Filipinos here and in the US and anywhere else in the world," she added, noting that during her meeting with US leaders, she had been advocating for the passage of the bill.
The President, during her meeting with US President George W. Bush and members of the US Congress, said the cause of the World War II veterans was foremost in their agenda.
She also thanked the US officials for their continued support to the Filipino veterans and the Senate voting results. The US Senate in passing the bill voted 96-1 last April, but it is still awaiting plenary approval at the House of Representatives.
"The history of the world remains incomplete. The last chapter is here to be written, equity for our Filipino veterans will be the final words," she said.
Arroyo earlier in her 10-day US visit met members of the Philippine-US Friendship Caucus, an 82-member bipartisan group of American congressmen supportive of the Philippines who assured her of the passage of the bill within the year.
According to her, it is not yet too late to honor the services of the Filipino World War II veterans "who fought for America" and with the Americans during the said war.
California Representative Bob Filner, after meeting with Arroyo, said a simple majority or 218 of 435 members of the US House is needed to pass the measure.
Filner committed to ensure that the Filipino veterans would get the justice they deserve. He said Arroyo's visit to the US was "a great help" in pushing the passage of the bill. (JMR/Sunnex)
