Trillanes commends Aquino for signing burial assistance for veterans bill

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. Photo courtesy of Trillanes’ Facebook page.

MANILA — Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV thanked President Benigno Aquino III on Friday for signing into law a bill that will increase the burial assistance for military veterans.

“We thank President Aquino for providing this much- needed support to the families of our veterans after their demise. It is suitable to accord our veterans, who risked their lives for the protection of our liberty and democracy, with an increased burial assistance,” Trillanes said.

Trillanes, chairman of Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, was the principal sponsor of House Bill No. 694 under Senate Committee Report No. 57 which is now Republic Act No. 10649.

The new law amended R.A. 6948 to increase the burial assistance for military veterans from PhP10,000 to PhP20,000.

The funds will be sourced from the current year’s appropriations for burial expense of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO).

According to the new law, the dependents will have two years to file application for burial assistance claims from the death of a war veteran.

“Although the amount may not be enough to defray all the costs for the burial of our veterans, the law will be able to accord the country’s veterans due recognition for their patriotic service in our country, while assisting their families in their time of need,” Trillanes said.

The new law took effect on Dec. 12, or 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette.