War vets awaiting back pay balance

We, the surviving World War II veterans, have generated enough courage to send this urgent appeal to our esteemed President Aquino for his compassion and generosity. We ask him to order the release of our remaining back pay as authorized by the Total Administrative Disability Law, which grants a surviving veteran a monthly pension of P1,700 for life, from the time he reaches the age of 70.

Last year, Your Excellency, you ordered the payment of P180,000 in October and another P60,000 in November, totaling P240,000. We thank you for this bounty for the survival of our families.

However, some 10 months have gone by and we are still waiting for the balance of our back pay, which we estimate to amount to around P200,000. We need this money very much, Your Excellency, for the families we will leave behind when we finally end up in the netherworld.

We are already in our mid-90s, ailing and weak for lack of nutritious food, medicines for our ailments, and hospital/ medical services. Most of us may be gone this year, and others most probably next year. We are just surviving on the brilliant rhetoric of our past presidents praising our bravery and sacrifices for our beloved country and people (all cyclonic winds, but nothing substantial to fill the emptiness within us).

Thank you, Your Excellency, for what you have done for us. We are truly grateful. May you have a long and healthy life clothed in contentment.

—R. CARLOS,

Marikina Heights, Marikina City