Philippine Veterans Affairs Office(PVAO)

Hi! I would like to request the information regarding:

1. Service records of Jose Mañan Noot, a soldier from Zamboanga Peninsula during the World War II who helped American soldiers against Japanese invaders.

2. Procedure and requirements of surviving children of Jose Mañan Noot so that they can claim such benefits of their late father because he died on June 16, 1963.

3. Legal documents and certification of late Jose Mañan Noot certifying he has served the country as a soldier

The father of my mother is Jose Mañan Noot. When he was still alive, he asked his cousin Apolonio Noot to keep all my grandfather's pertinent documents regarding his service as a soldier so that when the time comes, my grandfather's immediate family may claim the benefits. When my grandfather died, those documents were not given to my Lola, the wife of my grandfather, parents of my mother. We heard that Apolonio Noot already passed away yet his children kept all the documents and that they eager to claim such benefits and proud that they have connections in the government.

The only knowledge that my mother knew is that his father served as a Guerilla during those times of War against Japanese invaders and he served until peace time. 

With all humility, my mother has 10 siblings and at present there are only 3 of them who are still alive. I am the only grandchild of my grandfather that had finished college and working as the public high school teacher. 

Due to poverty on a rural area of Zamboanga del Norte, all children of my Lolo Jose Mañan Noot never had a chance to finish their studies, not even able to finish the elementary level.

I do hope your office can help us on this. It will be the best death anniversary for my Lolo Jose, he died June 16, 1963. Thank you and God bless.

The only document and remembrance my mother have of her father is his Baptismal Certificate and his Portrait

Ongoing Requests

June 24, 2021

Dear Mary Jane Enderez,

Greetings!

Thank you for your request dated May 18, 2021 09:26:44 PM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.

Your request

You asked for Inquiry on Grandfather's Claims and Benefits.

Response to your request

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance this Office does not have Veteran Service Military Records of Jose Mañan Noot. 
However, you may wish to contact the Non - Current Records Division of the Adjutant General https://www.otag-online.com/. You may send them a request via electronic mail. The details on how to request shall be on their website. 

For the unclaimed benefits of your grandfather, you are liable to apply for the Educational Benefit Program that is extended for immediate family members of Veteran Jose Noot. Once you have received the military service records requested from the Office of the Adjutant General, you may submit this records to our office, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office. 

Also, once proven that your father is a World War II Veteran, in accordance with the guidelines, he can be considered and recognized to receive the US Congressional Medal Awarding bestowed to Filipino Veterans in recognition of their service to the United States during World War II. 
I have sent another email on the email add you have provided, containing the forms for the Application for the Educational Benefit and the US Congressional Gold Medal. 

For more information, you may navigate the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office Archives website. And If you wish to acquire more information about the agency and it is not available online, please do not hesitate to message us.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made within 15 calendar days from the date when you received this letter. We will complete the review and tell you the result within 30 calendar days from the date when we receive your review request.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011).

Thank you, and stay safe! 

Respectfully,
Diane Joyce Querimit
FOI Officer