Preamble
WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 21 of President Osmena, dated October 28, 1944, declared all persons who were actually serving in military forces in the Philippines under a commander who has been appointed, designated or recognizied by the Commander in Chief, Southwest Pacific Area to be entitled to all the rights and privileges of members of recognized guerrilla organizations; WHEREAS, the said Executive Order was subsequently embodied in Circular No. 100 of the USAFFE headquarters dated November 17, 1944, and its provisions partly implemented by the United States Government; WHEREAS, there are still a great number of Filipino veterans who, during the last war, actively served in military forces in the Philippines under a commander duly appointed, designated or recognized by the Commander in Chief of the Southwest Pacific Area but who have not been extended the rights and privileges by members of recognized guerrilla organizations; WHEREAS, at the time the R. P. D. (Recovered Personnel Division) which was established by the United States in the Philippines for the purpose of processing and deciding upon the merits of claims presented before said organization and directing payment thereof was closed, there were around 5,000 claims involving the amount of P70,000,000 which have already been processed and approved but wit out any known justified reasons were not paid; and WHEREAS, according to our knowledge and belief many other claims similar to the 5,000 claims referred to in th preceding paragraph were also unjustly denied by the R. P. D.; NOW, THEREFORE, in fairness and in justice to Filipino veterans who have been unjustly denied the benefits due them,