CABANATUAN CITY - Saying he is not one to claim "pay-backtime," Nueva Ecija Governor Aurelio "Oyie" Matias-Umali, said here on Sunday that "it is high time we got back what is due our World War II veterans."
Umali had referred to the invaluable assistance provided by Filipino guerrilla soldiers, the U.S.-trained Filipino Scout rangers who provided intelligence information and firepower support to the 6th U.S.Ranger Battalion in the rescue of 516 prisoners-of-war (POW) in the infamous Japanese prison camp at Barangay Pangatian in this city.
Umali aired his plea for support to the pending Filipino Veterans Equity Bill on Sunday at the hallowed grounds of Barangay Pangatian, the site of the daring raid by a joint Filipino-American forces at the Japanese prisoner-of-war (POW) camp that led to the successful rescue of 516 American, British, Norwegian, and Dutch POWS on Jan. 30, 1945.
Around 300 American soldiers comprising the 500 American contingent of the RP-US "Balikatan" military exercise spruced up the grounds of the Pangatian POW camp here on Sunday. They also painted the perimeter fence, the giant sundial marking the events that attended the rescue.
According to Lt. Col. Ken Nava, Lt. Col. Ken Nava, Public Affairs Officer of Task Force 294 of the combined task force covering Guam,Hawaii, New Mexico and Alaska, the activity was "a small token of their appreciation and remembrance of the "true grit" of the Filipino soldiers who fought side by side with their American counterparts in freeing 516 POWs 63 years ago."
Nueva Ecija Governor Matias-Umali and Lt. Col. Marc Arellano,U.S. Army Deputy Commander, Task Force 294, laid wreaths at the site in honor of the joint Filipino and American soldiers who participated in the daring raid.
Umali called on all peace-loving Filipinos and the soldiers of various nationalities to rally support for the approval of the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill now pending before the U.S. Congress.
Interviewed by newsmen, Umali also pleaded for support of the local economy. "Our brothers, the Americans are currently busy in fostering friendship and a semblance of partnership with our people in the Mindanao area, specifically Gen. Santos through infrastructure and human development efforts," he said.
"I should remind our American partners that now, as before, we were together through the toughest tests among friends, "Walang Iwanan," a local catch phrase meaning, "We don't leave our wounded comrades behind."
"Now, more than ever, we in Nueva Ecija, need the patronage of our comrades-in-arms in helping us raise our local fallen economy. We need a lot more roads, farm-to-market roads, school houses and school rooms to help prop up our sagging local economy."
Saying he is not one to claim "pay-back time" but he said "it is high time we got back what is due us." The military operation, considered a classic military operationin U.S. military history, was executed on January 30, 1945 by Filipino-American forces on the concentration camp here which led to the liberation of 516 American, British, Norwegian, and Dutch POWS.
That raid was conducted by Filipino guerrillas under the command of Captain Juan Pajota, and Captain Eduardo "Tatang" Joson, with the U.S. 6th Ranger Battalion, headed by Lt. Col. Henry Mucci, as the lead group.
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