Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

_ FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4486

Introduced by TUCP Party-List Representative
HON. 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 National Defense.

But the reality is that the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VEP) is
organized and operated as a non-government organization, where members'p
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 Veterans Federation of the Philippines is required to operate
under the control and supervision of the Secretary of National Defense. The law
provides that any action or decision of the Federation is subject to the approval of
the Secretary 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 external and. internal
threats to national security and the efficient operation of thé government
agencies assigned or attached to the Department of National Defense. Passage
of the bill will empower the VFP to act as an independent people's organization,
autonomous and distinct from government. This will 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.

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.

TUCP Party-List


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4486

House Bill No.

Introduced by TUCP Party-List Representative
HON. 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, [under the control and supervision
of the Secretary of National Defense] under the name, style and title
of "Veterans Federation of the Philippines”, hereinafter referred to as
the Federation. The principal office of the Federation shall be in the
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION [City of Manila], Philippines.”



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

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

Section 3. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 2640 is hereby amended to read as
follows’

“Section 5. The Federation shall be a NON-GOVERNMENT,
non-secretarian and non-political ORGANIZATION [in character], and
[that] affiliation thereto shall not increase or diminish liability for
military service. THIS ACT DOES NOT CONFER THE STATUS OF
A_ PUBLIC, GOVERNMENT-OWNED OR  GOVERNMENT-

¢ CONTROLLED CORPORATION ON THE FEDERATION.”

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

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