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Honolulu: Soldiers from the Philippines who fought beside Americans during the Second World War hope their long wait for veteran benefits will soon be over.
About 50 Filipino veterans met with US Senator Daniel Akaka on Tuesday in hopes that Congress will finally treat them the same as American fighters for their wartime contributions.
The cheering veterans gathered at a federal government building in Honolulu to thank Akaka, himself a Second World War veteran, for helping to get the measure approved in the Senate.
A vote on the proposal is pending in the US House after the US Senate passed it in April. The House is expected to take action on it this year.
"We deserve to get a benefit for our sacrifices," said 84-year-old Leon Tabaniag. "We are now in our twilight, and we want to get a benefit before we move on."
Filipinos fought against Japan during the Second World War as part of the US Army Forces in the Far East. The US controlled the Philippines as a commonwealth during Second World War and was responsible for the islands' foreign affairs and national defence.
When the Philippines became an independent country in 1946, Congress took away the pension benefit.
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