RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Pending federal legislation would restore some benefits to Filipino veterans. Benjamin Lebeng, a former New Philippine Scout, says he looks forward to receiving full benefits.
Bills would restore
benefits to Filipino vets
Benjamin Lebeng said he thought he would get U.S. veterans benefits after risking his life to support American guerrilla units in the Philippines during World War II and guarding U.S. military bases on Luzon as a New Philippine Scout.
The Philippines was then a commonwealth of the United States, and Lebeng said he never imagined that the United States would break its promise to help Filipino veterans by passing a Congressional Recision Act in 1946.
"Filipino veterans were fighting side by side with Americans during World War II," said Lebeng, 75. "We Filipino Americans were singled out. I don't know why."
To restore some of the benefits, Congress last week passed House Resolution 2297. The bill, which goes to the U.S. Senate, would enable New Philippine Scouts serving from October 1945 until December 1946 and living in the United States to be eligible for burial in national veterans cemeteries.
The bill also increases the benefits paid to Filipino veterans and their survivors living in the United States to the same rate paid to U.S. veterans, including veterans who died as a result of World War II-related injuries.
Surviving spouses and dependents of Philippine Commonwealth Army and New Philippine Scouts who are U.S. citizens are currently eligible for half the level of benefits paid to U.S. veterans.
House Resolution 2357, also in the U.S. Senate, would provide nursing home and medical services to qualified Commonwealth Army veterans and New Philippine Scouts residing in the United States.
In 1990, Congress passed a bill enabling aging Commonwealth Army veterans and New Philippine Scouts to receive American citizenship.
There are an estimated 18,000 Commonwealth Army veterans and New Philippine Scouts in the United States and 42,000 in the Philippines, according to the World War II Fil-Am Veterans Hawaii Chapter.
U.S. Rep. Ed Case (D, Rural Oahu-Neighbor Islands), who supports restoration of the benefits, said he was pleased that Congress is moving toward restoring full benefits to Filipino veterans and correcting the "injustice" inflicted upon them.
Lebeng said he was happy about the passage of recent bills in the U.S. House, but was confused about why there appears to be a logjam in legislation in the U.S. Senate.
U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye's office said some in the Republican-controlled Senate support giving benefits to only those Filipino veterans who are U.S. citizens, and that senators are also worried about the cost of the benefits.
Depending upon the legislation, the estimated cost is as high as $350 million over five years, the World War II Fil-Am Veterans Hawaii Chapter said.
State Rep. Felipe "Jun" Abinsay Jr. (D, Kalihi-Kapalama) said although the legislation is a "big amount," he believes it is important for the United States to right the injustice for these aging veterans.
"This must be done now rather than later because many of them are dying," Abinsay said.
Abinsay said some Commonwealth and New Philippine Scout veterans don't have enough money to bury themselves. He said the cost of the benefits is nothing compared to the more than $80 billion Congress expects to spend in Iraq.
Lebeng, a diabetic who lives in public housing in Kalihi, said after the passage of the 1990 congressional act qualifying him for U.S. citizenship, he came to Hawaii in April 1992 and took the oath as a American citizen on May 13, 1992. He said he looks forward to a time when he will receive full veterans benefits, including health care.
He relies on a small hotel pension and Social Security payments for his retirement, along with state health assistance through Medicaid.
Lebeng recalled he was only 16 when he became a "bolo man," bringing messages and food to American guerrilla units fighting against the Japanese in northern Luzon during World War II.
He said he decided to volunteer after witnessing the cruelty of the Japan military upon U.S. prisoners of war and his own villagers.
The Japanese military were killing people if they were suspected of being guerrilla supporters, he recalled.
"That's why many of us were killed," Lebeng said.
Dominador Garcia, 76, a former New Philippine Scout who also became an American citizen under the 1990 act, said he is healthy but worries about his future health care.
Garcia, who lives in public housing in Waipahu with his wife and one of his sons, worked as a New Philippine Scout on Okinawa from July 6, 1946, until Dec. 31, 1946.
Garcia said he hopes the bills will be passed because many veterans need health care.
"There are difficulties that confront us regarding our age," he said. "We are hopeful this special equity will be given."
