Justice for Filipino American Veterans Update

Posted  Mon, Feb 22nd, 2010

Media Advisory

Contact; Joy-Alonica Bautista

Phone: (213) 241-0906

February 18, 2010

JFAV SET TO FILE COURT CASE VS DVA ON DENIED CLAIMS

Los Angeles—After the the February 16 deadline passed, The Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV), a national alliance of veterans, youth, students and community organizations and activists for veterans' rights based in Los Angeles and the Migrant Heritage Commission based in Washington DC is based to file a case in court against the DVA.

This came about after the DVA announced that it has denied 16,000 claims for lump sum out of the of the 41,000 applicants.

JFAV National Coordinator Arturo P, Garcia said, "This is an outrage considering that the US and Philippine governments made so much political capital of the lump sum. This proves injustice still prevails.”

The JFAV is set to file a case of mandamus and a declaratory relief in court against the DVA for the Filipino Veterans who were denied because they are not on so called “Missouri List” The MIgrant Heritage Commission based in Washington DC headed by Atty. Arnedo Valera is collaborating for the case.

Equality Before the Law

Garcia pointed out that this is a case of denial of the equal rights before the law and exclusion of veterans, their widows and rightful heirs.

JFAV’s Garcia also cited the case that the Filipino World War II veterans widows were excluded from the stimulus benefits. "There are three times the number of widows than the veterans. Widows of the deceased veterans and their rightful heirs must also be compensated for their” human sufferings” as provided by the Stimulus act."

Injustice and Inequality

JFAV and the MHC pointed out that the mere fact that the DVA denied more veterans than they approved is proof of grave injustice.

Way back in 2001, the Veterans Federation of the Philippines, PVAO and JFAV stood for the figure of 54,000 living veterans in the Philippines and 18,000 in the United States. This pit against the DVA's small estimate of 24,000 veterans shows that the DVA always gives the smallest number afraid that their budget will be affected.

Garcia pointed out : “Now the problem is out: there is less money to give out to the living veterans thus just deny veterans' their benefits. The DVA is just too arrogant to say they were wrong. And the Filipino World War II veterans are again the hapless victims.

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