Pinoys in US mourn loss of Alaska ex-senator as ‘friend of Filvets’

CHICAGO – The Filipino community in the US is mourning the death of former Alaska Senator Theodore Stevens, who had been supportive of the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill. Greg Macabenta, chair of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations, said the Filipino community is deeply saddened by the death of the 86-year-old Stevens, who died in a plane crash on Monday. Macabenta said Filipinos remember Stevens “as one of the strongest advocates for Filipino World War II veterans equity." “During Senate debates in 2008, after the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act was introduced, Sen. Stevens kept the faith with his comrades and staunchly defended the bill that would have provided special pensions to Filipino veterans," he added. During the debates, Stevens fought against critics of the bill, arguing that the proposed measure was a way to keep the promises that the US government made to Filipino war veterans. “We are talking about honor, the honor of the United States," the senator had said, recalling the contributions of Filipino troops who fought side by side with American soldiers. Apart from Stevens, the other four who died in the plane crash were the pilot, Theron Smith, 62; William Phillips Sr.; and Dana Tindall, 48, and her 16-year-old daughter, Corey Tindall, the Alaska Department of Public Safety said. All were from Alaska. The survivors meanwhile were former National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) chief Sean O’Keefe, currently in critical condition, and his son; William Phillips Jr., 13 years old; and former Stevens aide Jim Morhard. Stevens, who was voted Alaskan of the Century in 2000, was a Republican senator from 1968 to 2009. He was later found guilty of failing to report gifts he received when he was a senator. The charges, which were later dropped, cost Stevens his career, making him the first long-serving senator to not win back his seat. Stevens visited the Philippines in 2008 for the turnover of computers from the US Agency for International Development to schools in Zamboanga City. During his visit, he also met with Filipino war veterans, military officers, senior government official and local businessmen in a reception hosted by then US Ambassador Kristie Kenney. US President Barack Obama has extended his condolences to the family of Stevens, whom he likewise praised for his contributions as a war veteran. —JMA/JV, GMANews.TV