Filipino Veterans Get Riordan’s Backing in Benefits Protest

A group of Filipino World War II veterans who are fasting to protest a 1946 decision limiting their benefits won support Saturday from Mayor Richard Riordan and Assembly Majority Leader Antonio Villaraigosa in their battle to win equal treatment with other veterans.

The group, some of whom have chained themselves to a statue of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, have vowed to continue the protest until Congress approves a bill to award them full benefits for fighting alongside American soldiers.

When Riordan and Villaraigosa, (D-Los Angeles), arrived at MacArthur Park on Saturday, the weary group of men came to their feet, applauding and singing “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.”

Riordan called the men “some of the bravest soldiers in the history of the world” and promised to voice support for the bill when he meets with President Clinton on Monday in Los Angeles.

“Our duty to our country is to treat our soldiers with equity,” Riordan said, reminding the crowd of 50 people--including 10 fasting veterans--that he is a Korean War veteran.

Among the group was Angel de la Cruz, 72, who has fasted for a week.

“I’m not angry over the benefits,” he said, “I am hungry for them.”

After speaking to the crowd, Riordan said he decided to join Villaraigosa in supporting the protesters because “I think this is the most legitimate protest I have ever seen. . . . We owe it to them to treat them equally.”

An estimated 200,000 Filipino soldiers fought with U.S. troops during WWII, relying on a promise from President Franklin D. Roosevelt that they would receive full veterans benefits.

But in 1946, Congress adopted the postwar Rescission Act, which excluded Filipino soldiers from receiving full benefits offered by the GI Bill of Rights.

An estimated 70,000 of the Filipino veterans are still alive and are receiving about one-third of the benefits given to most other veterans. The protesters in MacArthur Park, who had gathered in what they called an “Equity Village,” are pinning their hopes on a bill pending before Congress that would restore their full benefits.

Written by Rep. Bob Filner (D-Chula Vista) and Rep. Ben Gilman (R-New York), the bill would essentially strike from the Rescission Act the language that disqualified Filipino veterans from receiving full benefits. The bill was introduced in the House. An identical bill is pending in the Senate.

Riordan vowed to ask the City Council to adopt a motion in support of the bill. Villaraigosa promised to seek a similar resolution from lawmakers in Sacramento.

“We don’t take no for an answer,” Riordan said.

During speeches Saturday morning, the veterans vowed not to let up until the bill is adopted.

“We are old, and maybe we will die before we see the fruits of our victory,” said Francisco Labia, 73, one of the protest’s organizers. “But we will fight.”

De la Cruz is the only veteran who has kept up the fast for a week. But his fellow veterans, who were also chained to the statue and began fasting Friday, were just as committed to the cause.

“We are ready to die of starvation if we must,” said Orencio B. Salem, 71, who sat with chains draped around his chest. But Salem said he believes the support of Riordan and Villaraigosa will help bring victory closer.

“We will win,” he said. “God will give us the victory.”