Gibo vows to give 'best of care' to war veterans
Published Jun 12, 2023 09:52 am
War veterans should be cared for to the best way possible as a sign of gratitude for their service to the country.
*Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. graces the 125th anniversary of the Philippine Independence Day at the Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolucion (Mausoleum of the Veterans of the Revolution), Manila North Cemetery in Manila on June 12, 2023. (Photo courtesy of DND)
* Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. made this remark as he led the 125th anniversary of the Philippine Independence Day on Monday, June 12, at the Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolucion (Mausoleum of the Veterans of the Revolution), Manila North Cemetery. “One of the essential tasks or jobs of the Secretary of National Defense is to ensure the welfare of our veterans. This is what the President [Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] continues to remind to me and I will strive hard to ensure that they get the best of care, particularly those who cannot care for themselves,” Teodoro said. In honor of the country’s heroes, defenders and patriots, Teodoro offered a wreath at the Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolucion where departed revolutionaries during the Philippine Revolution in the 1980s and the Philippine-American War in the 1890s to early 1900s were buried. Teodoro likened the country’s independence to a tree or a person that needs to be nurtured continuously. “Kailangan, tuluy-tuloy ang pakikibaka, paggamit ng ating mga likas na regalo ng ating Panginoon sa atin, ang ating mga utak, ang ating mga katawan, ang ating pag-iisip, at ambisyon para tuluy-tuloy ang pagsulong ng Republika ng Pilipinas at maging malakas na bansa ito, maging bansa na talagang titingalain sa buong mundo. Iyan palagay ko ang kailangan din nating gunitain ngayon kaalinsabay ng sakripisyo ng ating mga bayani (We need to continue to fight for it, to use our natural gifts from God, our brain, body, intellect, and ambition so that the Republic of the Philippines can continue to progress and be a stronger country, be a nation that is looked up to in the whole world. That, I think, is what we need to commemorate along with the sacrifices of our heroes),” Teodoro explained in length. Over at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, DND Undersec. Angelito de Leon led the flag-raising ceremony where defense executives, soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and civilian human resource also affirmed their allegiance to the Philippine flag. One of the DND’s bureaus is the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) which administers veterans’ benefits, implements programs and projects to enhance their welfare, and institutes measures to memorialize their patriotism and heroism. The PVAO oversees the operations and maintenance of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, which provides quality hospitalization, medical care and treatment to Filipino veterans. Under Republic Act No. 6948 (An Act Standardizing and Upgrading the Benefits for Military Veterans and their Dependents), a veteran is any person who rendered military service in the land, sea, or air forces of the Philippines during the revolution against Spain from 1896 to 1898, the Philippine-American War from 1899 to 1902, and the World War II from 1939 to 1945. Also recognized as veterans are “Filipino citizens who served in Allied Forces in the Philippine territory and foreign nationals who served in Philippine forces, the Korean Campaign, the Vietnam Campaign, the Anti-Dissidence Campaign, or other wars and military campaigns; or who rendered military service in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and has been honorably discharged or separated after at least six years total cumulative active service, or sooner separated due to death or disability arising from a wound or injury received or sickness or disease incurred in line of duty while in the active service.”