An Ad Hoc Veterans Affairs Office is hereby established in the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C.

The Office shall pursue the settlement of veterans claims and benefits and the restoration of the rights, benefits, and privileges of Filipino World War II veterans provided for in the United States Veterans Benefits Code as members of the United States Army Forces in the Far East.  It shall pursue these matters in the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches of the U.S. Government.

The Office shall be an internal office of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C.  It shall be headed by a senior diplomat to be designated by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs upon the recommendation of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office and other veterans groups in the Philippines. For internal purposes, his designation shall be Chief, Office of Veterans Affairs.   His diplomatic rank shall be commensurate to his item, i.e. as "Minister" if he occupies a Chief of Mission item or "Minister-Counsellor" if he has a Minister-Counsellor item.

He shall be assisted by personnel of the Embassy, as the Philippine Ambassador may designate, until funds are alloted for the Office for its operations and hire of personnel.

This Order shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 21 June 1990

(SGD.)RAUL S. MANGLAPUS

Secretary