WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 5859, amending Republic Act No.
610, has raised by one hundred percent (100%) the death and disability
benefits payable to the surviving kins of officers and enlisted men
whose death was the proximate result of wounds or injuries sustained or
sickness or disease contracted in line of duty or whose disability
likewise service-connected was due to any of those causes;
WHEREAS, R.A. No. 5859 merely authorized to be appropriated
such amounts as may be needed to cover the increased death and
disability benefits;
WHEREAS, since 1969 when R.A. No. 5859 was approved to the
present, the inadequate finances of the National Government have made it
impossible to implement said law;
WHEREAS, to date, there is due the amount of P2,949,908.72
as back pensions and death gratuities of ex-servicemen of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Constabulary who died or
were retired and/or separated from the service as a result of
service-connected wounds or injuries sustained or sickness contracted in
line of duty; and
WHEREAS, the interest or earnings of the thirty-one million
dollars ($31,000,000) paid by the United States Government representing
Veterans Claims Settlement Fund and deposited with the Philippine
Veterans Bank may be tapped as partial payment for back pensions and
death gratuities of the ex-servicemen of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, pursuant to the powers in me vested by the Constitution, do
hereby order and decree that the amount of two million pesos
(P2,000,000) be drawn From the interest or earnings of the $31-M Trust
Fund deposited with the Philippine Veterans Bank to be made available to
pay partially the accrued back pensions and death gratuities of the
ex-servicemen of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines or their surviving kins pursuant to R.A.
No. 5859.
Done in the City of Manila, this 30th day of December, in the year of
Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-three.
(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President
Republic of the Philippines