THE FIRST ever complaint of a Filipino World War II veteran for unpaid benefits as a soldier under US command has been filed in the US Court of Federal Claims against the government of the United States.
Rodrigo B. Ramos, a native of La Union province, had apparently become weary of the long wait for US legislation to correct the infamous Rescission Act of 1948, which deprived Filipino soldiers who fought alongside American counterparts of equal benefits and privileges.
Ramos, now 80, fought as a constabulary and later a guerrilla recognized by the US Army during WWII. Later, he enlisted in the US Navy. He filed the suit last November.
Citing six allegations of violations of presidential proclamations, orders, directives and other statutes concerning the payment of salary, allowances and privileges, Ramos asked that the defendant United States of America would grant him pay back in the amount representing the difference between what he actually received during World War II and what was mandated by the primary basic pay statute in existence at the time of their induction into the US Armed Forces, plus interest and attorney's fees.
Ramos also demanded that he be recognized as a US citizen by birth since he said he was born in the Philippines during the period that the Philippines was a US colony.
Rodrigo B. Ramos, a native of La Union province, had apparently become weary of the long wait for US legislation to correct the infamous Rescission Act of 1948, which deprived Filipino soldiers who fought alongside American counterparts of equal benefits and privileges.
Ramos, now 80, fought as a constabulary and later a guerrilla recognized by the US Army during WWII. Later, he enlisted in the US Navy. He filed the suit last November.
Citing six allegations of violations of presidential proclamations, orders, directives and other statutes concerning the payment of salary, allowances and privileges, Ramos asked that the defendant United States of America would grant him pay back in the amount representing the difference between what he actually received during World War II and what was mandated by the primary basic pay statute in existence at the time of their induction into the US Armed Forces, plus interest and attorney's fees.
Ramos also demanded that he be recognized as a US citizen by birth since he said he was born in the Philippines during the period that the Philippines was a US colony.
