Posted by At the same time, Rep. Ruffy B. Biazon (Muntinlupa), a member of the delegation, denied that the Philippine delegation is already claiming credit for the veterans bill’s passage in the Senate last month.
Biazon said in an email to the “Manila Mail” the delegation has never claimed both in the US and in the Philippines that it was “singularly instrumental to the passage of the bill in the U.S. Senate.” (Full text of the letter inside.)
The Philippine congressional delegation led by Zambales Rep. Antonio Diaz, chairman of the House veterans affairs committee, who was here last month has returned to continue lobbying for the passage of the bill.
On May 13, the delegation met with Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), chairman of the House veterans’ affairs committee, to follow up on the equity bill. Filner assured them that he will continue to do what he can to make sure that progress
can be made on the bill following its successful passage in the Senate.
Rep. Darrel Issa, a Republican from California who supports the equity bill said he has already written “Dear Colleague” letters asking them to support the measure.
In Manila, meanwhile, veterans and their kin who thought the bill was already approved have started calling Malacanang and the veterans office to ask when they could collect their pensions. (See story inside).
With the Diaz delegation, are Biazon, Rep. Roman Romulo, Philippine Veterans Administration Office Administrator Carolina and d VFP Vice President Justice (Ret.) Manuel Pamaran.
Biazon said in his email that all the members of the delegation “was conscious from the very beginning that there are several groups and many individuals who are conducting their own efforts to have the bill passed in the U.S. Legislature.” (Full text of letter inside.)
Biazon was responding to the Washington Tsismis column (May 15, 2008) which insinuated that the delegation spent thousands of dollars to lobby in Congress and claimed credit for the bill’s passage in the Senate when it returned home.
“The delegation has always maintained that the passage of the bill is a
cooperative effort of all those concerned and those who care to be
concerned for the veterans’ welfare,” he said.
The Muntinlupa solon said that during the forum at the Philippine
Embassy last month, “I emphasized the fact that our delegation cannot do it alone, that the U.S.-based Filipino groups are the ones who do the day-to-day ground work of lobbying and that we all need to work together to achieve the goal. Aware of the different groups working towards the passage of the bill, I made sure that the delegation acknowledged everyone’s participation and pointed that we were only but a part of the entire effort.”
He mentioned the fact that the Manila Mail also published his email to Ms Vellie Dietrrich Hall thanking her for directly linking them with US legislators. Biazon said that message to Vellie was also meant for the other Filipino American groups involved in lobbying.
Biazon pointed out that even Diaz had refused to deliver a privilege speech in the House to “highlight the success of the delegation” when they returned to Manila last month. “To his credit, he refused, saying that he does not want to make it a big issue and appear to be soliciting accolade,” he added.
There’s an old saying that success has many fathers. The Philippine
delegation is not jostling to be the father. We are contented to be the
assistant to the birth attendant. For us, the joy of seeing the
veterans receive what they rightfully deserve after more than half a century of
waiting is enough to give us a personal sense of accomplishment.
As for expenses, the solon cited the fact that during their stay in DC earlier, they stayed in a $59-a day hotel in Oxon Hill, Maryland and flew coach from Los Angeles to Washington.
He pointed out that their mission was to represent the veterans in the Philippines. “The veterans back home do not have direct representation in the U.S., unlike the veterans living in the States who have the U.S.-based Fil-Am groups to speak for them. We wanted to make sure that if push came to shove in the legislative game, the saying ‘out of sight, out of mind’ will not come into play and the Philippines-based veterans sidelined. The fear is not unfounded,
especially since there was a proposal to grant benefits only to the
veterans who are in the United States.”
Biazon at the same time praised the Manila Mail for “coming up with a publication that provides the Filipino-American community with updates on issues that affect no just their daily lives in America but also the lives of those living back home in the Motherland. Indeed, Manila Mail not only informs, it also educates.”
