Fixers out to prey on WWII vets

Fixers are again on the prowl to victimize World War II veterans. This, after reports came out that the veterans’ monthly old-age pension of P5,000 (which is not enough to buy their maintenance medicines) will be increased to P20,000 effective January 2015. The bill to that effect has passed the House committee level. Hence, the budget allocation for the increase will definitely be included in the General Appropriations Act or the annual budget of the national government for 2015.

I discovered this when my wife and I arrived home from Bagasbas Beach Resort last  June 22. Three men, led by one who identified himself as Richard Ceril, were waiting for me. They already knew my name, even addressing me district commander when they shook my hand. After changing pleasantries, Ceril asked about the whereabouts of Bataan veteran Joaquin Abejo and PC (Philippine Constabulary) retiree Conrado Ambrona, members of Daet South-Imelda Veterans Post and Daet North-San Vicente Veterans Post, respectively. Forthwith, I told him that they were dead. Ceril then bragged that he had helped increase their monthly dollar pensions through his connections in the US Embassy in Manila. Then he said he could work for the release of the equity compensation of guerrilla veterans who have not yet received theirs, claiming he could talk with US President Barack Obama on the matter.

By the way, the rosters of the guerrilla veterans were not submitted to the Judge Advocate General’s Office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as this office was not yet in existence but to the Armed Forces Western Pacific Command of the US 6th Army and 7th Army that liberated the country at the end of World War II. He then asked for the names of the Philippine Scouts in the province as he wanted to visit them to verify if they were receiving pensions from the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, saying he also had connections in that agency.

To warn all the World War II veterans in the province, I issued a memorandum to all post commanders, cautioning them of the presence of fixers and asking them to warn their members, in turn, about these predators.

Should similar offers be made to them, they should try to get the name of the fixers and immediately report the matter to Jose C. Sorreta, VFP regional vice president for Bicol, copy furnished the district headquarters.

—GODOFREDO O. PETEZA,

district commander,

Camarines Norte Veterans District-Region 5,

Veterans Federation

of the Philippines (VFP),

JP Rizal Street,

Barangay Camambugan,

Daet, Camarines Norte