“Approximately 250,000 Filipino troops joined American forces to fight in World War II, but too many of these heroes are still being denied benefits,” said Barack Obama, US Democratic presidential candidate.

The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee already has passed a broad bill that includes the benefit measure. The full Senate has yet to vote on the legislation.

Sen. Daniel Akaka, a Hawaii Democrat and a US veteran of World War II backs the Filipino veterans bill. Akaka himself is a WWII veteran.

Back when the Philippines was still a US colony, US law mandated that all Philippine citizens owe allegiance to the US.