(PVAO PHOTO0
MANILA, Philippines — A total of 960 out of around half a million Filipino World War II veterans are still alive, according to the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO).
“The remaining World War II veterans are at 960; it’s now a very small number,” PVAO Deputy Administrator Restituto Aguilar said in a public briefing on Wednesday.
Aguilar also noted that the remaining veterans are still receiving monetary, medical, and educational benefits for their grandchildren.
He also noted that former president Rodrigo Duterte increased their monthly pension from P5,000 to P20,000.
Aguilar said there were about 500,000 Filipino veterans of World War 2, but only 260,000 were recognized by the US government.
The US law collectively awards the Congressional Gold Medal to the 260,000 Filipino veterans who fought under the American flag from July 26, 1941 to Dec. 31, 1946.
On Tuesday, April 9, the country also marked the 82nd Day of Valor (Araw ng Kagitingan) commemorating Filipino and American forces’ last stand until they were forced to surrender to the Japanese invaders during World War II.