Col. Emmanuel V. De Ocampo, Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) president, has denied that war veterans are rejecting the Constitution and By-Laws (CBL) approved by Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin.
This is contrary to the press statement issued by retired Col. Bonifacio De Gracia, an interim VFP official who is only in acting capacity.
De Gracia is now in hot water after De Ocampo belied having knowledge of the statement issued by the former on June 18 which stated that all “all 182 delegates rejected the changes made by Gazmin in the classification of organizations that may join the VFP as an umbrella organization, membership requirements, the composition of the Supreme Council, committees and management, including the financial system.”
Apart from De Gracia’s lack of authority, the statement itself has been described as patent lies by some Convention delegates who are AFP retirees. “There were very few World War II veterans present, roughly less than 10% of the attendees,” said a post-war veteran who requested anonymity.
When asked to comment on the issue, retired Lt. Gen. Ernesto G. Carolina, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) administrator, who was present in the Convention, said that he does not recall any motion that rejects the new Constitution and By-Laws approved by the Defense secretary.
This is supported by video footages and taped recording of the convention and workshop.
“It comes as no surprise because from the very start, Col. De Gracia has been vigorously campaigning against the CBL approved by Secretary Gazmin. He is obviously against reforms in the VFP, despite the clamor of the majority of the veterans,”
De Gracia was also chided for disinformation and inciting dissent among the veterans that the Constitution and By-Laws approved by the Defense Secretary has not been done in consultation with the veterans and that it is an “intrusion” into the affairs of the Federation.
De Gracia has been consistently uncooperative on Department of National Defense (DND) efforts to inform and educate VFP members on the approved CBL.
The former is also being questioned for occupying concurrent positions in the VFP as he is also acting Secretary General and Vice President for Administration aside from being acting executive vice president and vice chairman of the Executive Board.
However, any of De Gracia’s nomination has not been approved by the Secretary of National Defense as of press time.
DND is now finding out if De Gracia is receiving salaries for these positions even without the benefit of a legitimate appointment from the approving authority.
“DND affirms the legality of the VFP Constitution and By-Laws approved by Secretary Gazmin. They went through the mill so to speak, it was presented to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and Welfare of Congress and is in accord with R.A. 2640, the law that created the VFP. In fact, no less than the Courts had affirmed its legality when the VFP’s petitions for issuance of a temporary restraining order for its implementation had been denied,”
Contrary to disinformation and wrong speculations that the CBL would diminish the core function of the current set up of officers, downgrade the roles of the veterans’ widows and children, the CBL will further strengthen the VFP in order to advance the interest of All Filipino veterans and consequently, their families, and not just the interest of the few.
“Many veterans do not want to join because of the perception that VFP is mismanaged and that they would not derive any benefit from it in spite of the fact that the government entrusted to the Federation vast tracts of land, real properties and prime assets,” he said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=656016
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