Commissioner safeguards Filipinos' interests

Media

Part of Philippines

Title: Commissioner safeguards Filipinos' interests
Language: English
Year: 1943
Rights
Fulltext: Here in Maryland, before you, the citizens of the Free State, I want to pay tribute now to Senator Tydings, coauthor of the Philippine Independence Act, and to all his colleagues in the United States Senate and House of Representatives. As for your President, under whose leadership the Tydings-McDuffie Act was passed, and who was coauthor of the Atlantic Charter, his name will be written in history as one of the world's greatest spokesmen of freedom and human dignity. The tides of war and descruction have swept over the Philippines since the passage of the Tydings-McDuffie Act. Today a new situation exists there. The years of peace and progress foreseen in the Philippine Independence Act have been scarred by Japanese aggression. The Pacific war has taught us a lesson-both the United States and the Philippines. President Roosevelt doubtless meant this when he said, while the battle was raging in Bataan: "I give to the people of the Philippines my .so~emn pledge that their freedom will be redeemed an? their independence established and protected. The entire resources in men and material of the United States stand behind that pledge." I hope that we shall have tl~e f~ll supp?rt of both ~ena tor Tydings and Senator Radcliffe m carry1.ng out President Roosevelt's pledge on behalf of the American people. W HAT America did in. the Philippines i~ time ?f peace has repaid her well m her hour of pen! and m terms of the esteem and respect of all mankind. I speak for the people of che Philippines when I express our lasting recognition of America's honorable and high-minded policy. Today, in the midst of war, the whole world looks co you to add even greater lustre to your name and reputation as the champion of human freedom. Commissioner Safeguards Filipinos' Interests Resident Commissioner Joaquin M. Elizalde can look back on more than four years rich with accomplishments in protecting Filipinos in their legal rights as citizens of the Philippines, in establishing unity and cooperation among various Filipino groups in the United States, and in promoting friendlier understanding between Americans and Filipinos. A one-time source of much trouble to Filipinos was their citizenship status in the United States. As noncitizens they were barred from many opportunities enjoyed by citizens. Ac the outbreak of the war, clarification of their status became imperative. In many cases arising from chis particular difficulty the Resident Commissioner succeeded in obtaining just and equitable legislation and rulings for Filipinos who, as citizens of the Philippines, owed allegiance co the United Scates and were entitled co privileges and opportunities accorded citizens of the United Srates. Even with their status as United Srates nationals fully esrablished, Filipinos often encountered difficulties in having themselves identified as citizens of the Philippines. To cope wich this problem, the Resident Commissioner's office, through its Nationals Division, with the approval of the Office of Philippine Affairs in the Department of Srate, issued cenificaces of identity, providing documentary evidence of their citizenship. This certificate helped many Filipinos retain or secure employment, which otherwise would have been dosed co them as a result of a misunderstanding of their true status. Filipinos Eligible to Work in Defense Plants In January, 1939, when the appropriations for the Works Progress Administration were submitted to the Congress, it was provided that no part of the money would be paid to anyone who was not a citizen of the United States. Thus many citizens of the Philippines would have been deprived of the benefits of this relief measure had it not been for the timely intervention of the Residenc Commissioner. He succeeded in including among the beneficiaries of this measure "persons owing allegiance to the United States who are in need." The same provision was included in later relief appropriations. Similar provisions in appropriation acts and national defense contracts for 1942 and 1943 permitted Filipinos to work in war plants. Today thousands of Filipinos work in shipyards, arsenals, airplane planes and Government agencies, like the Office of War Information and Office of Censorship. Passage of another bill providing "that no person shall be eligible to hold any civil position or civil office under the United Scates, and in the continental United Scates, unless such person is a citizen of the United States." It was, fortunately, never reported our of committee. Other legislative measures enacted by Congress on the strength of representations made by Resident Commissioner Elizalde include the Nationality Act of 1940, which, as amended, permits the naturalization of Filipinos who have joined the armed forces of the United States; the law appropriating the sugar excise tax funds to provide for public relief and civilian defense in the Philippines, and an amendment to the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 to give preference to Filipino seamen in posts allowed noncitizens in the American merchant marine. Legal Division Alert At one time a bill was introduced in the Senate of Washington State prohibiting aliens from joining labor organizations. This measure would have adversely affected Filipinos. With the assistance of the War Department and the congressional representatives of the state of Washington, Mr. Elizalde had the bill amended so as not to affect Filipinos. In some passport and immigradon difficulties, the Office of the Resident Commissioner has rendered assistance to Filipinos. R~pres~ntatives of this office have appeared before the lmm1grat1on Appeal Board in behalf of citizens PHILIPPINES of the Philippines. The records in the C . . . Leg~ Division show that, aside from passpo~~:~:1=i~ s:auo~ cases, this office has extended legal sen•ice to Filipm?~ m matters involving claims and compensations. disposmon of estates, reentry into the United States, filing o_f patents, veterans' pensions, imprisonment and deportauon. The Commissioner became deeply interested in the unfortunate cases of Filipinos caught in war-torn Europe. ~n a letter to the Pre_si~enr of the Philippines, dated April -8, l~?l, the ~omm1ss10ner urged the Philippine Government co provide means for the repatriation of its citizens · · · caught in war-stricken areas through no fault of their ?,w~." The Comm~ssioner reported that Filipinos had been Stripped of their personal goods" and were "desti~te:" _The Jette~ was prompted by the case of a Filipino v10hmst and his wife, who were stranded in Belgium and later in Lisbon, and finally admitted into the United States through the help of the Resident Commissioner's office. There was the case of six Filipino seamen detained at Niagara Falls for months. The Resident Commissioner intervened and these men were later released on the responsibility assumed by his office. Now they are serving as crew members of the Bataan, formerly the Limbas, Commissioner Elizalde's yacht, which was bought by the Philippine Government and offered to the United States Coast Guard service. Filipinos in Alaska engaged in fishing, hunting and trapping were regarded as aliens, and consequently, denied privileges accorded citizens of the United States. This condition persisted until their citizenship status was clari-. lied. On April 6, 1940, a statement was secured from the solicitor of the Department of the Interior to the effect chat citizens of the Philippine Commonwealth could not be prohibited from fishing in Alaskan waters. First Filipino Infantry Among the notable accomplishments of the Resident Commissioner's office is in connection with the participation of Filipinos in the armed forces of the United States. The law was changed to allow Filipinos to be commissioned in the United States Army, to waive the IO-year United States citizenship requirement for appointment as aviation cadet with respect to Philippine citizens, and to admit Filipinos as officers in the United States Coast Guard Reserve. The distinctive unit in the United States Army, known as the First Filipino Infantry, was organized after representations had been made by the Resident Commissioner to the proper authorities. Many patriotic Filipinos had informed the Commissioner of their desire to fight for the recovery of the Philippines. On February 19, 1942, Secretary of War, Henry L. Stimson, wrote the Resident Commissioner that the First Filipino Battalion would be formed "in recognition of the intense loyalty and patriotism of those Filipinos who are now residing in the United States." He said also that it would provide "for them a means of serving the armed forces of the United States, and the eventual opportunity of fighting on the soil of their homeland." Philippine News From Tokyo The following news items were picked from Japanese shortwave broadcasts. Their publication in PHILIPPINES does not imply attthenticity. Readers may well remember that Axis broadcasts are mainly for propaganda purposes. [President Quezon's statement that Filipinos are continuing the fight in the Philippines relentlessly and with undiminished valor is borne out by Japanese admissions that all is not well in the country.] "Bt1ndits." Manila, January 8.-Deparrment Chief Nagahama, of the Philippine Gendarmerie, said in connection with the surrender of bandits: "The bandits have been opposing our forces with a thought that as Jong as they are going to be killed in the end they may as well resist tn the very end. A part of those who surrendered to our forces have already been released, and they are put into service so that they will persuade the remaining bandits in the hills to surrender to our forces. As they come to understand the a~irude of the Imperial forces they surrender in increasing numbers." Manila, January 10.-Japane~ forces. in the Philippines, as the result of January operanons aga~nst remnant forces opposing Japanese occupation, have killed 808, captured 844 and received the surrender of 4,494. Booty taken from MARCH 15, 1943 the lighting Filipinos is listed as four hand grenades, nine light machine guns, 2,191 rifles, 87 rounds of ammunition and 38 cars. [Tokyo knows what grim determination lies behind Gen. MacArthur's words, "I shall return.'' All precautions are being raken against such a return trip. Manila, beneath the surface, is jittery.] Japanese Bene-volence. Manila, January 29.-Many Filipinos are in mountain fastnesses or thorny jungles of Mariveles, Cebu and Negros, making heavy sacrifices to the cause which they believe is that of freedom. It is a tragic paradox indeed. It is a paradox of tragedy of the Filipino people that but for these people the Philippines would already be independent. It is tragic irony that they light for slavery only. But reality is within their grasp. Tojo has reaffirmed his promise of independence and asks only that Filipinos cooperate. Japan has lived up to her promises which were made with one condition only, that Filipinos collaborate with the Japanese. The question is left squarely up to the Filipinos themselves. If they desire complete indep~ndence, they need only to cooperate. [Filipinos know what kind of independence the Japanese have granted Koreans, Manchurians and others.] 7