MANILA, Philippines?They survived a world war, disease and old age. But a more ruthless enemy may still be lurking out there.

Malacañang, the Senate and a veterans group on Friday warned surviving Filipino World War II veterans to be wary of sweet-talking fixers who may dupe them of what they have waited for, for 63 years.

Malacañang also said it was mobilizing various government agencies to locate the veterans?even those who may be living in the mountains?and bring them to processing centers so they can file their claims for compensation from the United States.

Some 18,000 surviving veterans are qualified to receive compensation under the $787-million economic stimulus package signed by President Barack Obama. Those who are US citizens will get $15,000 each while non-citizens will each receive $9,000.

The concern among officials and private groups is that the veterans may fall prey to slimy operators.

Palad?s warning

In Tayabas, Quezon, Aristeo Palad, 82, president of the Tayabas Veterans Association, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer his longtime advice to his comrades was to ?beware of fixers.?

Palad predicted that with the compensation that each veteran would receive in recognition for helping American troops fight the Japanese, syndicates of fixers would spread across the country to offer their services to aging veterans.

They will promise fast processing and easy release of claims in exchange for big sums of money, he warned.

?But they are lies and only intended to dupe the veterans of whatever money they can squeeze (from them),? said Palad, a retired teacher who fought in the war as part of the guerrilla movement.

Locate vets in remote areas

Under President Macapagal-Arroyo?s order, the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Interior and Local Government ?will help in locating the veterans and in bringing them, especially those living in the mountains, to the processing centers,? Press Secretary Cerge Remonde told reporters.

Remonde said Ms Arroyo?s directive was for the DSWD and the DILG to help process the veterans? papers ?and ensure that they?re not deprived of any single cent of their claim.?

Gordon resolution

Malacañang warned fixers ?not to take advantage of our veterans? by offering them services for a fee.

In a resolution authored by Sen. Richard Gordon and approved on Wednesday, the Senate urged concerned government agencies to protect ?eligible Filipino veterans and their families from fixers.?

The resolution proposed the setting up of a help desk and a hotline and the launching of an intensive information campaign for the veterans.

?The government must do everything in its power to prevent these ruthless and unprincipled characters from taking away the long-awaited realization of the dreams of our veterans,? the resolution said.

Biazon?s plan

Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, chair of the Senate defense committee, said he would call for consultations with government agencies ?on how we can help spread the right information to our war veterans.?

Biazon said there was a need for a massive information campaign as he had heard there were people filing ?bogus claims.?

Avoid mistakes

Palad said he planned to go to the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) in Camp Aguinaldo on Monday, along with other veterans, to make inquiries on the application process and also file their own applications.

He asked qualified members not to be too hasty in pursuing their claims, saying: ?Anyway, we?re entitled to it. We have to be sure of our every step to avoid costly mistakes.?

The Tayabas veterans plan to travel to Manila in convoys of rented vans. ?Each of us will bring along an ?alalay? (aide) to make things easy for us,? Palad said.

?I already ordered them to be ready with all the needed documents to avoid any (problems),? he said.

Dorotheo?s fear

Leandra Rodriguez, daughter of war veteran Lucio Labitoria, 84, said her father?s war records were intact. ?My father never loses hope,? she said.

Luisa Lado has a problem. She says making her husband, Dorotheo, 88, sign the necessary papers might be difficult.

?With his age, he is now hardheaded. He does not want to sign any documents. He always says that he will be killed once he signs any paper. But he is very much qualified. His war service records are all complete,? Lado told the Inquirer.

Palad advised his former war buddies to use the money wisely once they get it.

?They should first deposit it in the bank as emergency money. We are now old and sickly. We no longer need luxurious material things. But we can buy lands, like rice fields and farms,? he said.