Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. D086

Introduced by TUCP Party-List Representative
RAYMOND DEMOCRITO C. MENDOZA

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

The Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) was chartered under
Republic Act No. 2640 as a public corporation under the control and
supervision of the Secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND).

But the reality is that the VFP is organized and operated as a non-government
organization, where membership is voluntary. Members pay membership
dues to sustain the operations of the VFP. There are no funds appropriated by
the government for its maintenance and operations including the salaries of its
officers and employees.

Unlike other organizations designated by law as public corporations, such as
the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, the Girl Scouts of the Philippines and the
Knights of Rizal, the VFP operates without autonomy. The law provides that
any action or decision of the Federation is subject to the approval of the
Secretary of the Department of National Defense.

This bill seeks to relieve the Secretary of National Defense of the
responsibility of micro-managing a purely civilian organization of voluntary
members so that the Secretary can concentrate on his primary governmental
function of ensuring the defense of the country against extemal and internal
threats to national security and the efficient operation of the government
agencies assigned or attached to the Department. Passage of the bill will
empower the VFP to act as an independent people's organization,
autonomous and distinct from government. This will further ensure that the
VFP can undertake what it deems as needed policy research, advocacy and
other activities without fear or favor, and answerable only to its membership. It
will encourage an organization which is truly run by, directed by and
organized solely and purely by the Veterans sector,

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Passage of this bill will finally clarify the working relationship between the
Department of National Defense and Veterans Federation of the Philippines, a
non-government organization,

This bill seeks to modify certain provisions of the original law to conform to the
current situation and prevailing conditions.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

RAYMOND DEMOCRITO C. MENDOZA
TUCP Party-List


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 5086

Introduced by TUCP Party-List Representative
RAYMOND DEMOCRITO C. MENDOZA

AN ACT
AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 2640
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “AN ACT TO CREATE A PUBLIC
CORPORATION TO BE KNOWN AS THE VETERANS FEDERATION OF
THE PHILIPPINES, DEFINING ITS POWERS, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES”.

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress Assembled:

Section 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 2640 is hereby amended to read as
follows:

“Section 1. The following persons, to wit, Emilio
Aguinaldo of Associacion de los Veteranos de la Revolucion;
Margarito Torralba of the AFP Retired Veterans Association
(AFPREVA); Lorenzo B. Cabrera of the Confederation of Filipino
Veterans (CONVETS); Teodoro V. Kalaw of the Defenders of
Bataan and Corregidor; Fausto S. Alberto of the ECLGA Veterans
Association; Enrique C. Rimando of the FAIT Veterans Legion;
Francisco L. Gonzales of the Filipino Disabled Veterans
Association; Basilia M. Baja of the Gold Star Mothers and United
War Widows and Orphans Association of the Philippines; Simeon
C. Medalla of the Hunters ROTC Association; Antonio F. Garcia of
the Magsaysay Veterans Legion; Dionisio S. Ojeda of the
PEFTOK Veterans Association; Primitivo Lovina of the Philippine
National Guard Veterans Legion; Jose V. Andrada of the
Philippine Naval Veterans Legion; Jaime Piopongco of the
Philippine Veterans Legion; Sofia L. Prudenciado of the Philippine
Association of War Widows, Parents and Orphans; Eugenio B.
Recto of the United Disabled Veterans Association of the
Philippines; Gaudencio Antonino of USAFIP-NL and their
associates and successors are hereby created a body Corporate,


4. [under the control and supervision of the Secretary of National
2 Defense] under the name, style and title of “Veterans Federation
3 of the Philippines”, hereinafter referred to as the Federation. The
4 principal office of the Federation shall be in the NATIONAL
§ CAPITAL REGION [City of Manila], Philippines.”

6

7 Section 2. Section 2 of Republic Act. No. 2640 is hereby amended to read as

8 follows:

9 “Section 2. The said Federation shall have perpetual
10 succession, with power to sue and be sued; to hold such real and
Mn personal property as shall be necessary for its purposes, and to
12 receive real and personal property by gift, devise or bequest; to
13 invest its funds for the exclusive benefit of the veterans of the
14 Philippines; to extend, within its capabilities all necessary
15 assistance, and operate such enterprises as may further the
16 material and moral well-being of veterans; to adopt a seal; and to
17 alter or destroy the same at pleasure; to have offices and
18 conduct its business and affairs in the City of Manila and/or
19 provinces, cities, municipalities and BARANGAYS [barrios], of
20 the Philippines, TO ADOPT and to amend ITS CONSTITUTION
21 AND BY-LAWS [said laws], regulations and rules; to publish a
22 magazine and/or other publications; and generally to do all such
23 acts and things as may be necessary to carry into effect the
24 provision of this Act and to promote the purposes of said
25 Federation. “[Any action or decision of the Federation of the
26 Supreme Council shall be subject to the approval of the
27 Secretary of National Defense.]"

28

29 Section 3, Section 5 of Republic Act No. 2640 is hereby amended to read as
30 follows:

31
32 “Section 5. The Federation shall be a NON-
33 GOVERNMENT, non-secretarian and non-political
34 ORGANIZATION [in character], and [that] affiliation thereto shall
35 not increase or diminish liability for military service. THIS ACT
36 DOES NOT CONFER THE STATUS OF A_ PUBLIC,
37 GOVERNMENT-OWNED OR GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED
38 CORPORATION ON THE FEDERATION.”

39

40

41 Section 4. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 2640 is hereby amended to read as
42 follows:

43

44 “Section 7. The governing body of the said Federation
45 shall be its Supreme Council. The number, qualifications, manner
46 of election and terms of office of the members of this Supreme
47 Council and of the officers of the Federation shall be prescribed by
48 its own constitution and by-laws. [The persons named in Section
49 one of this Act shall constitute its Supreme Council and the


persons elected for the term of office of beginning March, nineteen
hundred sixty, shall be the first officers of said Federation; to serve
as such until their successors are duly elected and have qualified].
The by-laws shall prescribe the number of members of the
Supreme Council necessary to constitute a quorum.”

Section 5. Section 8 of Republic Act No. 2640 is hereby amended to read as
follows:

“Section 8. REGULAR MEETINGS [An annual meeting] of
the Supreme Council [affiliated members] shall be held TWICE A
[once every] year after the date of the creation of the Federation, at
such time and place as shall be prescribed in the constitution and
by-laws, when the annual report of the Federation shall be
presented, and members of the Supreme Council and officers shall
be designated OR [and] elected. Special meetings of the Supreme
Council may be called upon such notice as may be prescribed in
the constitution and by-laws, which shall further fix the number of
[affiliated] members which shall constitute a quorum at any
REGULAR [annual] or special meeting. The Supreme Council shall
have power to hold their meeting and keep the seal, books,
documents and papers of the Federation at the principal office of
the Federation.”

Section 6. Section 12 of Republic Act No. 2640 is hereby amended to read
as follows:

“Section 12. On or before the last day of the month
following the end of each fiscal year, the Federation shall transmit,
FOR THE INFORMATION OF [to] the President of the Philippines
THROUGH [or to] the Secretary of National Defense, a report of
its proceedings for the past year, including a full, complete and
itemized report of receipts and expenditures of whatever kind.”

Section 7. Separability Clause. - If any part of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the other parts or provisions thereof same shall remain valid
and effective.

Section 8. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and

regulations, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
Publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation

Approved,