Gov’t redefines ‘veteran’ to limit claimants

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has approved the redefining of the word “veteran" to streamline the roster of veterans claiming pensions and other benefits and eventually save the government billions of pesos, Malacañang said Sunday. Mrs Arroyo, in signing Republic Act 9396 into law, amended Republic Act No. 6948, which is the law that standardized and upgraded the benefits for military veterans and their dependents. Under the new law, soldiers who were honorably discharged or retired from the Armed Forces of the Philippines after 20 years of service would be recognized as “veterans." Previously, soldiers honorably discharged or retired from the AFP after only six years of service were considered veterans. Those who rendered military during the wars against Spain, the Philippine-American war, World War II and Filipinos who served the Allied Forces in Philippine territory, the Philippine Expedition Forces that fought in the Korean war and the Philippine Civic Action Group that served in Vietnam would continue to be called veterans. Foreign nationals who served in Philippine forces and soldiers who joined the Anti-Dissidence Campaign, or other wars and military campaigns, are no longer included. The word "veteran" traditionally refers to those who rendered military service during the “revolution against Spain, the Philippine-American War, World War II, including Filipino citizens who served in Allied Forces in the Philippine territory and foreign nationals who served in Philippine forces, the Korean Campaign, the Vietnam Campaign, the Anti-Dissidence Campaign, or other wars and military campaigns." It also stated that those who “rendered military service in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and has been honorably discharged or separated after at least six years total cumulative active service, or sooner separated due to death or disability arising from a wound or injury received or sickness or disease incurred in line of duty while in the active service" are covered by the new definition. The new definition would apply only to those who entered the military service after the law becomes effective. Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, who authored the bill in the Senate, said by redefining the word “veteran" they would be able to “save billions of pesos for the government." This would limit the increase in the number of veterans after the length of service for AFP veterans was raised 20 years instead of six. Biazon explained that the government presently owes the veterans billions of pesos worth of back payments in terms of the monthly P5,000 age-old pension, P1,700 disability pensions and the like. The move is in addition to efforts to cleanse the roster of veterans and their beneficiaries following complaints of delays in the delivery of benefits. There were also reports that some beneficiaries continue to receive benefits even if they are no longer entitled to it either because the veteran has already died and their beneficiaries like the children are already aged above 21. As this developed, President Arroyo would lead the observance of the 65th "Araw ng Kagitingan" celebration at the Dambana ng Kagitingan on Mt. Samat in Pilar in Bataan Monday. Mrs Arroyo, who would be coming from Baguio City where she spent the Holy Week and celebrated her 60th birthday last April 5, would be accorded with a full military honors by the Philippine Army upon her arrival at the Mt. Samat Shrine. She would be sent off from Baguio by Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, Public Works and Highways Acting Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza and Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. who may also join her in the Shrine. Others attending the event are United States Ambassador Kristie Kenney, Japanese Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Army Chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, Navy Flag Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Rogelio Calunsag, and Air Force Chief Lt. Gen. Horacio Tolentino. Mrs Arroyo, assisted by two honor guards, would first lay a wreath at the Dambana colonnade after ambassadors Kenney and Yamazaki laid the wreaths provided by their respective governments. Balanga Bishop Socrates Villegas would deliver the invocation, which would be followed by the welcoming remarks of Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia and the speeches of ambassadors Kenney, Yamazaki and Mrs Arroyo respectively. "Araw ng Kagitingan," formerly called “Fall of Bataan," is observed on April 9 of each year to remember the heroism and bravery of Filipino and American troops in Bataan and Corregidor during World War II. - GMANews.TV