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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Our veterans who fought valiantly and with honor alongside the American Forces during 
World War I1 should given adequate support in their battle for legitimate claims against the 
United States government. 
Filipino veterans of the World War 11 have outstanding claims against the United States 
government for the restoration of their honor, dignity, rights, benefits and privileges as members 
of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). They felt they were deprived of 
these benefits by the enactment of the United States Rescission Act of 1946. These claims 
remain unsettled even after the American panel of the 1966 Joint W-US Commission for the 
Study of the Philippine Veterans Problems referred them to the appropriate United States 
government agencies concerned more than twenty-five years ago. 
On June 21, 1990, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs established an ad hoc Office of 
Veterans Affairs at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D. C. to address the settlement of 
these claims. This office was funded through the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office of the 
Department of National Defense. During the past years, the Office of Veterans Affairs marshaled 
and coordinated all efforts by both the Philippine government and the veterans' organizations in 
the Philippines and the United States to pursue these claims. Several items of proposed 
legislation favorable to Filipino veterans of World War I1 have been introduced in the United 
States Congress b?t these have to be monitored and guided to successful completion. 
This Bill seeks to formally institutionalize the Office of Veterans Affairs in the Philippine 
Embassy in the United States, to fix its term of existence and appropriate funds for its 
administration and operation. 
With the onset of a new administration in Washington D.C. and the corresponding 
euphoria of ascendancy and confidence, it is timely to pursue these claims vigorously and finally 
convince the United States government to address our veterans' unresolved claims conclusively. 
For these reasons, we earnestly request approval of this Bill. 
MANUEL B. V LLAR, JR. 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
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.I . 
S. No. 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN AN OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IN 
THE PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
PRESCRIBING ITS FUNCTIONS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assem bled: 
SECTION 1. 
.Declaration ofpolicy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the 
Government to pursue the claims of Filipino veterans of World War I1 and work for the full 
restoration of their rights, privileges and benefits from the United States government. 
SEC. 2. Establishment of an Office of Veterans Affairs. - For the attainment of this goal, 
there is hereby created an office of Veterans Affairs in the Philippine Embassy in the 
United States of America mandated with the task of making formal representations, 
consultations and negotiations or otherwise cause the conduct of sustained and effective 
lobbying with appropriate offices of the legislative and executive branches of the United 
States government and other agencies and entities which can enhance the favorable 
consideration of the claims of Filipino veterans. The office shall be in existence for five 
(5) years from the date of approval of this Act or until the Filipino veterans shall have 
availed of their legitimate claims, time of which shall not exceed another five (5) years. 
SEC. 3. StafJing. - The office of Veterans Affairs shall have a staff consisting of a head of 
office appointed by the President of the Philippines, two (2) administrative assistants 
assigned by the Secretary of National Defense, and such other locally hired personnel as 
the head of office may find necessary. The Veterans Federation of the Philippines shall 


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submit a list of five (5) persons who could head the office of Veterans Affairs and one of 
whom shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines as a special 
presidential representative who shall have a comparable diplomatic rank. 
SEC. 4. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act 
shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations for the operational requirements 
of the Veterans Affairs Office in Washington D.C. authorized under the budget of the 
Department of Foreign Affairs and thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the 
continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 5. Efectiviq. - This Act shall take effect upon its approval, 
Approved,