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Pres. Harry S. Truman – 38 – Statement Concerning Provisions in Bill Affecting Philippine Army Veterans – Feb. 20, 1946

Of the 66 countries allied with the United States during the war, only Filipinos were denied military benefits.

Just two (2) days after signing the Rescission Act into law on Feb. 18, 1946, Pres. Truman issued (no. 38 statement saying among others that PHILIPPINE ARMY VETERANS ARE NATIONALS OF THE UNITED STATES and will continue in that status until July 4, 1946”. Therefore Filipinos were stripped of U.S. nationality without due process! Why did the 79th U.S. Congress ratified the 1946 Treaty of Manila and granted independence to the Philippines without a referendum?

If you read carefully the statement, Pres. Truman is almost pleading with the U.S. Congress NOT TO PROCEED WITH THE GRANTING OF INDEPENDENCE TO THE PHILIPPINES.

“I recognize, of course, that the Commonwealth Government, and after it, the Government of the Philippine Republic, have obligations to these veterans. But the Government of the Philippines is in no position today, nor will it be for a number of years, to support a large-scale program for the care of its veterans.”

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From 1946 to 1949 the U.S. provided the Philippines $2 billion in reconstruction funds. In 1950 Pres. Truman’s fact finding mission reported the money was gone and there was no reconstruction to show. The Roxas and Quirino administrations STOLE the $2 billion plus the $200 million Pres. Truman designated for the disenfranchised Filipino Veterans. These are the kind of ancestors the Filipinos leaders of today have.

The more important question is why was these facts hidden from us and the American people? Was honoring Maggie (Magdalena Leones) a distraction or a clue to look for hidden facts of WWII in the Philippines? This 4th of July, let us get our independence from oligarch-traitors of the Philippines!!!

LET US MAKE THE PHILIPPINES THE BIGGEST AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENT IN THE WORLD!

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38 – Statement by the President Concerning Provisions in Bill Affecting Philippine Army Veterans.

February 20, 1946

IN APPROVING H.R. 5158, I wish to take exception to a legislative rider attached to the transfer of a $200,000,000 item for the pay of the Army of the Philippines.

The effect of this rider is to bar Philippine Army veterans from all benefits under the G.I. Bill of Rights with the exception of disability and death benefits which are made payable on the basis of one peso for every dollar of eligible benefits. I realize, however, that certain practical difficulties exist in applying the G.I. Bill of Rights to the Philippines.

However, the passage and approval of this legislation do not release the United States from its moral obligation to provide for the heroic Philippine veterans who sacrificed so much for the common cause during the war.

Philippine Army veterans are nationals of the United States and will continue in that status until July 4, 1946. They fought, as American nationals, under the American flag, and under the direction of our military leaders. They fought with gallantry and courage under most difficult conditions during the recent conflict. Their officers were commissioned by us. Their official organization, the Army of the Philippine Commonwealth, was taken into the Armed forces of the United States by executive order of the President of the United States on July 26, 1941. That order has never been revoked or amended.

I consider it a moral obligation of the United States to look after the welfare of Philippine Army veterans.

I recognize, of course, that the Commonwealth Government, and after it, the Government of the Philippine Republic, have obligations to these veterans. But the Government of the Philippines is in no position today, nor will it be for a number of years, to support a large-scale program for the care of its veterans.

However, in recognition of the practical difficulties faced in making payments to Philippine Army veterans under the G.I. Bill of Rights, I have directed the Secretary of War, the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs, and the United States High Commissioner to the Philippines to prepare for me a plan to meet these difficulties. I have asked that this plan be submitted not later than March fifteenth. I expect to request Congress to make such provisions as are necessary to implement the program when it is evolved.

Note: As enacted, H.R. 5158, approved February 1946, is Public Law 301, 79th Congress (60 Stat. 6).

For the President’s message to the Senate transmitting a bill to provide benefits for Philippine veterans, see Item 122.

On June 4 the White House released a letter, dated May 21, which the President had received from the Honorable Manuel Roxas, President-elect of the Philippines. In his letter, Mr. Roxas stated that the President’s “action in sending the Philippine Veterans Bill to Congress was greeted here with the same feeling of gratitude which has attended all of the other generous acts of the American people with regard to us. I trust that Congress will act speedily on this matter.”

(Back in 1945, as Philippine Commonwealth President, Manuel A. Roxas sought & was granted “Backpay” funds from the U.S. to pay for the salaries of the Japanese puppet government during their service to the Japanese Emperor during the occupation of the Philippines. Pres. Truman vetoed the bill but was overridden by Congress.)

Citation: Harry S. Truman: “Statement by the President Concerning Provisions in Bill Affecting Philippine Army Veterans.,” February 20, 1946.Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project.

Links:

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=12583.

https://www.trumanlibrary.org/publicpapers/index.php?pid=1480&st=&st1=

https://www.nedmacario.us/2016/06/25/pres-harry-s-truman-statement-concerning-provisions-in-bill-affecting-philippine-army-veterans-feb-20-1946/

“Their officers were commissioned by us. Their official organization, the Army of the Philippine Commonwealth, was taken into the Armed forces of the United States by EXECUTIVE ORDER of the PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES on July 26, 1941. That order has never been revoked or amended.”

President Truman was referring to the FDR’s Executive Order placing Armed Forces of the Philippines under United States Command below.

Bremain Is The Same As Amending the 1919 Treaty of Versailles

INTRODUCTION:

I’d start off with my WAIS post: What About UK Pensioners in Other EU Nations in case of a Brexit (Bienvenido Macario, USA, 06/19/16)

Right now, an estimated two million British pensioners are living abroad in EU nations, where the cost of living is such that their monthly pension goes a long way further than if they retired in the UK. This is why it will take at least two years before a full UK exit could be completed.

Where in the UK will these 2 million retirees live? With interest rates at rock-bottom levels, how could these pensioners even afford the high cost of living in the UK?

Unless we are now seeing the rise of British Isolationism, once the monopoly of the US, the issues the Brexiters have raised are no longer valid after David Cameron successfully lobbied for a Reformed EU on February 19, 2016.

So why quit now when you could give the EU one last chance and if it still doesn’t work, the UK could unilaterally quit, with a clear conscience?

If Brexit is wrong, how do you correct this mistake? Rejoin the EU? Will they let the UK rejoin the EU?

But if staying in the EU is wrong, the UK could always leave, Brexit any time and unilaterally. Brexit is bad for the UK if it leaves without even trying life in a reformed EU.

Without the UK, Germany and France will have great difficulty making the EU work. Unscrupulous governments of EU’s Members have always played the Nazi-Hitler card when called to make good on their commitments. This is why the UK is indispensable to the EU’s success.

What About UK Pensioners in Other EU Nations? (Bienvenido Macario, USA, 06/19/16 7:23 am)

http://waisworld.org/go.jsp?id=02a&objectType=post&o=105804&objectTypeId=82098&topicId=199

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This is the reply from WAISer Angel Viñas who used to work in the EU’s Brussels office.

Excerpt: “In response to Bienvenido Macario (19 June), issues concerning UK expats living in the EU would have to be addressed in the negotiations for delinking the UK from the EU.

The concessions negotiated with Cameron were accepted on the understanding that the referendum would take place according to the UK legislation on the date stated. The Lisbon Treaty acknowledges that any member state may hand in a request for separation at any time. In such cases Art. 50 would apply. This would also happen with the UK.

Needless to say, Art. 50 was designed in such a way as to deter any member state from having recourse to it. Should the UK opt out for the delinking, the framework for negotiations is likely to be set up in such a way that no danger of contamination arises. The British Government is well aware of this and has publicly stated this presumption. In my humble understanding, they wouldn´t be disappointed.”

UK Expats and Possible Brexit (Angel Viñas, Belgium, 06/19/16 10:27 am)

http://waisworld.org/go.jsp?id=02a&objectType=post&o=105808&objectTypeId=82102&topicId=199

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In John Heelan’s post PM Cameron Compared to Chamberlain(John Heelan, UK, 06/21/16 5:30 am), JE commented: Being called the “C-word” (Chamberlain) is as harsh as it gets in British politics. Given Sir Neville’s crime (submitting to Hitler), could we consider this a variation of Godwin’s Law–the Chamberlain Corollary?”

In March 1938, Hitler demanded portions of Czechoslovakia and Chamberlain tried to talk Hitler out his “lebensraum” itch. After meeting with Hitler, Chamberlain rightly claimed to have “peace in our time.” Unfortunately the time was just a matter of eleven months. The Munich Agreement was signed on Sept. 30, 1938. Poland was attacked on Sept. 1, 1939.

What is often overlooked are:

1.) Polish Ambassador to France Juliusz Lukasiewicz, assured Georges Bonnet, then the French Foreign Minister that Poland will not support a French move to counter Hitler’s ambitions in Czechoslovakia. French PM Daladier relayed their concerns to the Russian ambassador to France saying, Poland does not support Czechoslovakia and it might even side with Germany in case France made a move to defend Czechoslovakia.

2.) At this juncture, Chamberlain already saw who Hitler really was and secretly ordered the Fighter Wing of the Royal Air Force to prepare for the coming Battle of Britain. This why even with the very limited time, the Royal Air Force was able to prepare so much equipment and airplanes. Churchill became prime minister on May 10, 1940.

3.) Isolationism and Protectionism were firmly American policies and have taken root in the U.S. by 1938. It gained support in Washington DC when Japan invaded Manchuria on Sept. 18, 1931. The first attempt to abandon the Philippines was made with the Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act passed in Dec. 1932 that Pres. Hoover vetoed. The protectionist cover story for the Hare-Hawes-Cutting act was the American farmers’ fear of competition from Philippine agri-products namely sugar and coconut oils. The U.S. Congress overrode the veto on Jan. 17, 1933. But since the act required the consent of the Philippine Senate that vetoed the same.

http://www.britannica.com/topic/Hare-Hawes-Cutting-Act

BREMAIN IS THE SAME AS AMENDING THE 1919 TREATY OF VERSAILLES

The still to be implemented reforms of EU should be compared to the amending the 1919 Treaty of Versailles that could have prevented WWII. The onerous terms of the Treaty of Versailles was the single cause of the rise of Hitler and the start of WWII.

Let us say there is a Brexit, the EU collapsed and the now UK find Scottish nationalists reviving the secessionist movement, where is the danger? Don’t you think this scenario is the best opportunity for Putin to revive the USSR with the Berlin Wall in Ukraine? Putin could always claim Napoleon and Hitler have invaded Russia. Putin could pretend to be paranoid and preempt the West at its weakest moment.

So if the EU fails to implement the reforms promised as to PM David Cameron and other reforms to drive the EU forward, the consequences of a Brexit is what the EU will have. And for once Putin if not Russia, could be a very useful incentive to make the EU work.

Most of the 35 developed countries’ problems will be about the domestic and international components of the Perfect Storm. War and refugees are just the symptoms thereof.

This is from Sept. 14, 2008: “If I were an extra-terrestrial, I’d say humans are smart but a forgetful lot. The advances made in the last 200 years are astounding and impressive. But the underlying principle of survival in the last 2,000 years remains the same: “If you want peace, prepare for war.”

I’d write about the number-one cause of war in my next post. It’s ironic that if man cannot live in peace, he struggles to find an excuse to die fighting for peace, huh?

Russia: US War with Russia? (Bienvenido Macario, Philippines/US) 09-14-08

http://waisworld.org/go.jsp?id=02a&objectType=post&o=24197&objectTypeId=18447&topicId=1

BREMAIN IS THE SAME AS AMENDING THE 1919 TREATY OF VERSAILLES

Most of the 35 developed countries’ problems will be about the domestic and international components of the Perfect Storm. War and refugees are just the symptoms thereof.

I’d write about the number-one cause of war in my next post. It’s ironic that if man cannot live in peace, he struggles to find an excuse to die fighting for peace, huh?

Would Bremain “Correct” the Treaty of Versailles? (Bienvenido Macario, USA, 06/22/16 10:20 am)

http://waisworld.org/go.jsp?id=02a&objectType=post&o=105932&objectTypeId=82135&topicId=199

How Cory Aquino & the Lopezes Stole Meralco and the BNPP from the Filipino People

When Marcos was ousted in Feb. 1986, the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) was ready for operation. Cory Aquino who in influenced by the Lopezes decided to shelve the project costing the Philippines about $2 billion and the power crisis of 1990′s.

Then Cory gave Meralco back to the Lopezes for free. The Marcos regime paid the Lopezes for the utilities and made improvements thereon. This is why the Lopezes “as a token of gratitude” gave Kris Aquino lucrative contracts to host a show with ABS-CBN TV.

Here’s a timeline:

More betrayal: Part 2: 1986 to 1989

Feb. 26, 1986 – President Corazon Aquino reverts Meralco ownership back to the López Family, without requiring the Lopezes to pay for the state-funded improvements done during Martial Law. She also enacted an executive order that allowed the company to directly compete with Napocor.

March 5, 1986 – Cory Aquino despite objections from top military advisers, orders the release of Joma Sison, Dante Buscayno and other communists captured during the Marcos regime. Sison was the principal suspect in the Aug. 21, 1971 Plaza Miranda bombing.

March 7, 1986 – Cory Aquino gives Wigberto Tañada son of former Sen. Lorenzo Tañada, the lucrative position of Bureau of Customs commissioner. When the power crisis started because the Bataan nuclear power plant was shelved as Cory Aquino’s favor to the Lopezes, Cory Aquino anointed Aboitiz to be the only importer of power generators at the expense of the Filipino people.

March 25, 1986 – Cory Aquino establishes a revolutionary government under Proclamation No. 3 abolishing the abolishing the Bataasang Pambansa (Parliament), the legislative branch of government and scrapping the 1973 constitution ironically saying that constitution was created during Martial Law.

June 16, 1986 – Cory Aquino sends her Secretary of Foreign Affairs to China to establish closer ties with the country she will later declare her ancestral land.

July 24, 1987 – Cory Aquino’s government files three more suits seeking the return of a vast fortune it says deposed President Ferdinand E. Marcos stole from the country. One accuses a Marcos associate of taking kickbacks from the Westinghouse Electric Corp.

See: Suit revives claim of improper WE payments

Pittsburgh Post- Friday, Gazette July 24, 1987 page 9

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ydZRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IW4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3537,7579267&dq=marcos+to+cory+aquino+on+bataan+nuclear+plant&hl=en

April 15, 1988 – Cory Aquino meets with Chinese leaders in a state visit to her ancestral land. In Fujian province, Mrs. Aquino visited her ancestral village of Hongjian. Mrs. Aquino’s great-grandfather, Xu Yuhuan, lived there until leaving for the Philippines 120 years ago. In Fujian province, Mrs. Aquino visited her ancestral village of Hongjian. Mrs. Aquino’s great-grandfather, Xu Yuhuan, lived there until leaving for the Philippines 120 years ago.

“I came to China for reasons of state and for reasons personal to me, for I am both head of state of my country and , in a way, a daughter of this village,” she told 49 relatives she was meeting for the first time.

December 2, 1988 – The Philippine government announces that it is suing Westinghouse Electric Corp. for punitive damages over a $2.1 billion nuclear plant that Manila says is too dangerous to operate. President Corazon Aquino announced that the government had filed suit in New Jersey alleging that the company had bribed former President Ferdinand Marcos to win the contract.

See: MANILA SUES U.S. FIRM OVER NUCLEAR PLANT

Miami Herald – Friday, December 2, 1988 – 24D FRONT

April 10, 1989 – A U.S. judge was to decide on the merits of Cory Aquino government’s case against a U.S. corporation, Westinghouse. Washington lawyer Mark Augenblick said in a brief ARGUING AGAINST ARBITRATION. “We deal here with a criminal scheme of bribery, graft and fraud carried out by the defendants at the highest level of the Philippine government. It is a sordid tale of greed and corruption that resulted in enormous financial injury to the people of the Philippines.”

See: US Judge to Decide If Westinghouse Bribed Marcos for BNPP 04-10-89

By FRANCES ANN BURNS – Schenectady Gazette Monday, April 10, 1989 p. 2

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=znghAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EIkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2252,2308388&dq=marcos+to+cory+aquino+on+bataan+nuclear+plant&hl=en

Later Cory Aquino settled the case but did not operate the nuclear plant. So who do you think benefited from this scheme? The peso-dollar exchange rate was then around P26 to 28:$1.

September 1989 – Wigberto Tañada, now a senator chairs the justice and blue ribbon committees, undertakes the investigation of the Plaza Miranda bombing to look into Aquino II’s role in the bombing of his own political party’s rally on Aug. 21, 1971 when (Ninoy) Aquino II conveniently came in late thus was spared from the bombing.

November 1989 – Wigberto Tañada’s appointment as Bureau of Customs was not wasted as Wigberto conveniently did not finish the inquiry citing the failed coup in Nov. 1989 against Cory Aquino.

Sen. Wigberto Tañada led the “Magnificent 12”, the group of senators who rejected a new lease for the US Naval Base in Subic and rid the Philippines of the U.S. bases in Clark and Subic.

March 5, 1992 – In the middle of the power crisis, Pres. Cory Aquino settles the lawsuit against Westinghouse settle lawsuit. During the 1986 election campaign against Marcos, Aquino promised that the plant would never be operated if she was elected. Naturally, the Lopezes wanted her to win since they do not have nuclear technology.

Aquino made good on the promise not to operate the plant but agreed to honor debt commitments until the legality of the loans was determined.

From this time on presidential daughter Kris Aquino was never without a TV show contract from Lopez-owned ABS-CBN and its affiliates.

The Philippines pays $300,000 a day in interest on the plant loans. That has led to calls from congress and the media to stop payments on the Bataan loans even before the issue is settled in court.”

Pres. Cory Aquino, Westinghouse settle lawsuit 03-05-92

Kentucky New Era Thursday, March 5, 1992 Page 6A

By Joseph Neff – Associated Press Writer

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e9orAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WGQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1778,318930&dq=marcos+to+cory+aquino+on+bataan+nuclear+plant&hl=en

Winners: The Lopezes and Cory Aquino’s Kamag-Anak Inc. Losers: The Filipino people.

REFERRENCES:

Proclamation No. 3, s. 1986

Posted on March 25, 1986

http://www.gov.ph/1986/03/25/proclamation-no-3-s-1986-2/

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See:’Bombing proved Sison’s logic correct’

By Jovito Salonga – Philippine Daily Inquirer June 18, 2001

http://www.afrim.org.ph/Archives/2001/Philippine%20Daily%20Inquirer/June/18/Bombing%20proved%20Sison%20s%20logic%20correct.txt

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Wigberto Tañada

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wigberto_Ta%C3%B1ada

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AQUINO government frees COMMUNIST guerrilla leaders 03-05-1986

Williamson Daily News, Wednesday, March 05, 1986

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MbRdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2V0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1399,3963057&dq=pres+corazon+aquino+china&hl=en

Page 14

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Philippines Seeks Ties With China 06-16-86

‎Wilmington Morning Star / Monday, June 16, 1986

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e1hOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KRQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6974,4942050&dq=pres+corazon+aquino+china&hl=en

Associated Press

PEKING — Salvador Laurel, vice president and foreign minister of the Philippines, praised China as a model for developing countries Sunday.

“We come to you not only in friendship but we come to you to learn,” Laurel said on the first day of his official visit here, the first visit to China by a top Filipino official since President Corazon Aquino took power in February.

Yuchengco said his government hopes the talks will contribute to righting a trade imbalance that favors China.

(Salvador Laurel was the son of traitor and collaborator Jose P. Laurel the president of the Japanese-sponsored government during the Japanese occupation in World War II.)

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Cory Aquino meets with Chinese Leaders 04-15-88

Deseret News Friday, April 15, 1988

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BEtTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=z4MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2925%2C5920245&dq=pres+corazon+aquino+china&hl=en

Page 2 A

1986 – 1989: Filipinos betrayed once again (like mother like son)

Mrs. Aquino and Li are likely to discuss the warfare in Cambodia. Both China and the Philippines, a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations back the resistance forces battling Vietnamese troops in Cambodia. (Cory Aquino supported the Cambodian genocide that Vietnam opposed.)

In Fujian province, Mrs. Aquino visited her ancestral village of Hongjian. Mrs. Aquino’s great-grandfather, Xu Yuhuan, lived there until leaving for the Philippines 120 years ago.

Village residents waved yellow banners and Chinese and Philippine flags and set off firecrackers while a school band played.

At the Xu family ancestral temple, which had been restored and painted for the visit, Mrs. Aquino burned incense and bowed three times before the memorial tablets.

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Cory Aquino meets with Chinese Leaders 04-15-88

Deseret News Friday, April 15, 1988

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BEtTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=z4MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2925,5920245&dq=pres+corazon+aquino+china&hl=en

Page 2 A

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Philippines Seeks Ties With China 06-16-86

Wilmington Morning Star / Monday, June 16, 1986

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e1hOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KRQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6974%2C4942050&dq=pres+corazon+aquino+china&hl=en

Still another betrayal this time like father like son.

Philippines Seeks Ties With China 06-16-86

‎Wilmington Morning Star / Monday, June 16, 1986

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e1hOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KRQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6974,4942050&dq=pres+corazon+aquino+china&hl=en

Associated Press

PEKING — Salvador Laurel, vice president and foreign minister of the Philippines, praised China as a model for developing countries Sunday.

Yuchengco said his government hopes the talks will contribute to righting a trade imbalance that favors China.

(Salvador Laurel was the son of traitor and collaborator Jose P. Laurel the president of the Japanese-sponsored government during the Japanese occupation in World War II.)

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US Judge to Decide If Westinghouse Bribed Marcos for BNPP 04-10-89

By FRANCES ANN BURNS – Schenectady Gazette Monday, April 10, 1989 p. 2

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=znghAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EIkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2252,2308388&dq=marcos+to+cory+aquino+on+bataan+nuclear+plant&hl=en

Washington lawyer Mark Augenblick said in a brief arguing against arbitration. “We deal here with a criminal scheme of bribery, graft and fraud carried out by the defendants at the highest level of the Philippine government. It is a sordid tale of greed and corruption that resulted in enormous financial injury to the people of the Philippines.”

The 1991 power crisis was created by Lopezes-Cory Aquino-Aboitiz when Cory Aquino was persuaded by the Lopezes not to operate the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. After coming for a homecoming visit from China, Cory was determined to get rid of the Americans. Cory sued Westinghouse electric alleging bribery. Later she settled for some amount and the Philippines was stuck with the World Bank loan. While the Lopezes got the government owned Meralco for free.

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MANILA SUES U.S. FIRM OVER NUCLEAR PLANT

Miami Herald – Friday, December 2, 1988 – 24D FRONT

The Philippine government said Thursday that it is suing Westinghouse Electric Corp. for punitive damages over a $2.1 billion nuclear plant that Manila says is too dangerous to operate. President Corazon Aquino announced that the government had filed suit in New Jersey alleging that the company had bribed former President Ferdinand Marcos to win the contract. Westinghouse has denied any wrongdoing and says that the plant is safe with minor modifications. It also has said that U.S….

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Suit revives claim of improper WESTINGHOUSE payments

Pittsburgh Post- Friday, Gazette July 24, 1987 page 9

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ydZRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IW4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3537,7579267&dq=marcos+to+cory+aquino+on+bataan+nuclear+plant&hl=en

MANILA, Philippines (AP) – The government filed three more suits yesterday seeking the return of a vast fortune it says deposed President Ferdinand E. Marcos stole from the country.

One accuses a Marcos associate of taking kickbacks from the Westinghouse Electric Corp.

The new civil suits filed with a special anti-graft court, add 13 defendants to the government’s legal attempt to recoup Marcos’ alleged “ill-gotten wealth.”

Each seeks return of the $10 billion the government says Marcos plundered during 20 years in power, plus $2.5 billion in various damages. The three suits raise the total sought so far from more than 100 defendants to $57.7 billion.

One claims businessman Hermino Disini “obtained staggering commissions from Westinghouse in exchange for securing the nuclear plant contract from the Philippine government.”

It accuses businessman Rodolf Jacob of executing the contract and claims Westinghouse “built an inoperable nuclear facility in the country for a scandalously exorbitant amount that included defendants’ staggering commissions.”

Westinghouse spokesman Ron Hart said the company has acknowledged paying about $17 million in commissions to two corporations associated with Disini for “obtaining and implementing the contract for the nuclear power plant,” but added:

“There have been numerous private and governmental investigations and there has been no evidence that nay of the commissions were passed through to Marcos or his associates.”

He said two authoritative agencies, including the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency, had supported the Westinghouse position that the plant is ready to take on nuclear fuel.

Westinghouse has not seen the lawsuit, the spokesman said.

The plant, on the Bataan peninsula northwest of Manila, has not begun operation.

Philippine officials demanded that Westinghouse install more saFety features following the 1979 Three Mile Island nuclear accident, and this pushed the cost to more than $2 billion. President Corazon Aquino scrapped the project after she succeeded Marcos in a February 1986 civilian-military revolt.

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Later Cory Aquino settled the case but did not operate the nuclear plant. So who do you think benefitted from this scheme? The peso-dollar exchange rate was then around P26 to 28:$1.

BNPP – Aquino, Westinghouse settle lawsuit 03-05-92

Kentucky New Era Thursday, March 5, 1992 Page 6A

By Joseph Neff – Associated Press Writer

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e9orAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WGQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1778,318930&dq=marcos+to+cory+aquino+on+bataan+nuclear+plant&hl=en

Excerpt:

“Opponents claimed the construction was shoddy and the plant was unsafe. During the 1986 election campaign against Marcos, Aquino promised that the plant would never be operated if she was elected.

Marcos was overthrown in a popular uprising two weeks after the fraud-marred elections and Aquino was installed in office.

She made good on the promise not to operate the plant but agreed to honor debt commitments until the legality of the loans was determined.

The Philippines pays $300,000 a day in interest on the plant loans. That has led to calls from congress and the media to stop payments on the Bataan loans even before the issue is settled in court.”

From: Aquino to discuss out-of-court settlement with Westinghouse

The Pittsburgh Press Wednesday, March 4, 1992 Page A10

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U4QcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=F2QEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3082,2702126&dq=marcos+to+cory+aquino+on+bataan+nuclear+plant&hl=enn

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