Press Release
October 19, 2008

Occidental Mindoro claims Gordon as adopted son

A town in Occidental Mindoro known for being the second landing site of General Douglas MacArthur's forces in World War II has claimed Senator Richard Gordon as their adopted son, honoring him for fighting for the interests of Filipino World War II Veterans.

Through a resolution sponsored by San Jose Municipal Councilor Joel Aguilar and unanimously approved by the Sangguniang Bayan of San Jose, Gordon was conferred with the "same honor, rights and privileges inherent in the Municipality of San Jose's own sons and daughters."

The municipality of San Jose, which has many Filipino World War II veterans, lauded Gordon for pursuing the speedy passage of RA 9499 or "An Act Allowing Filipino World War II Veterans To Continue Receiving Philippine Government Pensions And Benefits Notwithstanding Similar Pensions And Benefits Provided By The United States Government, Thereby Amending Republic Act No. 6948, As Amended".

Recently, US Senate Bill 1315 or the Filipino Veterans Enhancement Act was given "unanimous consent" by the US House of Representatives today, placing more than 18,000 Filipino veterans at the penultimate stage of being given just recognition for fighting along side American soldiers in World War II. Of the 66 countries that fought with the US in World War II, only Filipinos were not given recognition for their contributions and accorded US veterans status.

According H.R. 6897, the US House of Representatives counterpart legislation to US Senate Bill 1315, a one time only lump-sum of $15,000.00 will be given to Filipino WWII veterans in the U.S. and $9,000.00 will be given to those in the Philippines.

US Legislation giving benefits to Filipino WWII vets had been stalled on account that receiving benefits from the US would forfeit their pension from the Philippine Government. According to Sec. 10 of RA 6948 or "An Act Standardizing and Upgrading the Benefits for Military Veterans and Their Dependents," the pension given by the Philippine Government to Filipino WWII Veterans would be forfeited should a similar pension be given by the United States Government.

Gordon in a few months successfully shepherded the passage of Senate Bill No. 142 amending Sec. 10 of Republic Act No. 6948 or "An Act Standardizing and Upgrading the Benefits for Military Veterans and their Dependents." The bill was enacted into RA 9499 or "An Act Allowing Filipino World War II Veterans To Continue Receiving Philippine Government Pensions And Benefits Notwithstanding Similar Pensions And Benefits Provided By The United States Government, Thereby Amending Republic Act No. 6948, As Amended".

MacArthur with the Filipino soldiers staged a so-called "Second Landing" in the beaches of San Jose on December 15, 1944, to retake the Philippine islands from the Japanese. This would also be called the 'Battle of Mindoro'. Securing San Jose and the whole Mindoro island proved decisive in the goal to recapture Manila and Luzon.

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