Nery v. United States
Opinion of the Court
ORDER
The United States moves for summary affirmance of the April 30, 1998 order of the United States District Court for the Central District of California granting the United States’ motion for summary judgment. Leonardo Nery et al. oppose.
Nery et al. served the United States as New Philippine Scouts during and after World War II. Nery et al. filed a civil action in the district court in 1997 seeking military back pay and benefits equal to the veterans benefits available to members of the U.S. Armed Forces. In the district court suit, Nery et al. challenged the constitutionality of 38 U.S.C. § 107(b), which, like 38 U.S.C. § 107(a), statutorily limits the amount and types of benefits available to Philippine veterans of World War II.
The United States moves for summary affirmance based on Talon v. Brown, 999 F.2d 514 (Fed.Cir. 1993). In Talon, we upheld the constitutionality of 38 U.S.C. § 107(a), relying heavily on Quiban v. Veterans Administration, 928 F.2d 1154 (D.C.Cir. 1991), which upheld the constitutionality of sections 107(a) and (b). See also Besinga v. United States, 14 F.3d 1356 (9th Cir. 1994) (upheld the constitutionality of 38 U.S.C. § 107(a)). The United States urges summary affirmance, asserting that “there is no basis in law or fact to re-examine this constitutional issue” in this case.
We agree with the United States. As we stated in Talon, “[w]e agree with both the result and the rationale in Quiban and
Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED THAT:
(1) The United States’ motion for summary affirmance is granted.
(2) Each side shall bear its own costs.
38 U.S.C. § 107 provides:
(a) Service before July 1, 1946, in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, while such forces were in the service of the Armed Forces of the United States pursuant to the military order of the President dated July 26, 1941, including among such military forces organized guerrilla forces under commanders appointed, designated, or subsequently recognized by ... competent authority in the Army of the United States, shall not be deemed to have been active military, naval, or air service for the purposes of any law of the United States conferring rights, privileges, or benefits upon any person by reason of the service of such person or the service of any other person in the Armed Forces ....
(b) Service in the Philippine Scouts ... shall not be deemed to have been active military, naval, or air service for the purpose of any of the laws administered by the Secretary [of Veterans Affairs].
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Leonardo NERY, Ramon Dasal, Saturnino Viado, Florentino Macasaet, Philip Doblius, Leonardo Mago, Delfin Garcia, Dominador Adizas, Selverio Baiba, Felipe Martinez, Amado Aspa, J. Balbuena, Teodoro Pabros, Salvador Callado, Abner Alonsabe, Diosdado Merelos, Lauriano Quilit, Juan Santos, German Belarmino, Egmidio Bandayrel, Naval Salazar, Brigido Lorenzo, Gregorio Espiritu, Eutiquio Barce, Zacarias Rosete, Antonio Quismorio, Tiburcio Manantan, Jesus Campana, Burgos Ybanez, Marcos Escobar, Juan Hubilla, Federico Pedlaoan, Crisostomo Haguisan, Francisco Garcia, Sinforoso Tindogan, Odon Batiquin, Genaro Caparos, Yivencio Gultiano, Melencio Aladano, Eugenio Lacson, Ricaredo Boblo, Camilo Marinay, Delfin Guiuo, Antonio Buena, Vivencio Cabal, Rufo Fabricante, Ambrocio Mejia, Tereso Maturan, Joaquin Portal, Jr., Ireneo Pacolor, Eleuterio Balasabas, Felix Orcine, Rizaldo Tungala, Andres Binayan, Florido Romero, Porferio Cornejo, Rafael Maraingan, Guadencio Aguiller, Luis Alcoseba, Jose Tiozon, Bienvenido Ferraren, Hipolito Cantal, Loreto Diaz, Damaso Atayan, Mil Eufracio, Teodulo Pañis, Filomeno Arevalo, Benjamin Campos, Santos Yuguriaga, Florentino Pascasio, Bonifacio Galvizo, Proferio Pantaleon, Antonio Guangco, Pedro Lorenzo, Julian Antonio, Ramon Natividad, Andres Farinas, Benigno Quiros, Isidro Rosalinas, Melanio Catimbang, Celso Olivo, Alfredo Lorenzo, Delfin Vinoya, Cayetano Baria, Agapito Asino, Ismael Mortel, Silverio Leal, Geronimo Balmonte, Pedro Onza, Antonio Taperia, Justine H. Cailao, Felix Segarra, Alfredo Lopez, Amado Cunanan, Antonio Candelario, Emit Guillermo, Guadiosio Galicia, Gregorio Ferrer, Simeon Olgado, Pat Amarillento, Faustino Cuevas, Francis Barrolo Aguda, Angel Manalo, Valeriano Moreno, Cristino Aguilar, Guillermo Orante, Marcelino Castro, Fortunato Abello, Ben M. Valiao, Justino Agüelo, Pelagio E. Guzman, Primo Talang, Cenon Aguas, Dominador Galgate, Leoncio Limbo, Marcial Velasco, Gil Servino, Lauriano Tagomata, Antilano Gabino, Aristibulo Tamba, Alejandro Narito, Uldarico Valinton, Venancio Valenton, Francosco Tupaz, Joe Balesteros, Manuel Dela Cruz, Elpidio Abundo, Romeo Jandusay, Francisco Valinton, Delfin Balacana, Julio Narag, Delima Leon, Inocencio Mascarina, Sixto Furing, Felix Menor, Leopoldo Raymundo, Ildelfonso Caunian, Vicente Reyes, Graciano Lopez, Luis Abonita, Adriano de Guia, Ernesto Sonza, Pelagio Camilong, Nemecio Toralde, Ignacio Yacas, Florencio Divina, Manuel Condez, Mateo Bangoy, Magin Calumpong, Proctoso Benigay, Simplicio Madeloso, Avelino Evangelista, Bernardo Quirong, Mac Grecia, Melanio Yaneza, Pablo Ayap, Patrosenio Loria, Andres Bangis, Onofre de Leon, Guillermo Dela Cruz, Manuel Silvestre, Leoncio Matol, Felicisimo Narcario, Francisco Coronado, Ricardo Basea, Sr., Teofilo Coronado, Pedro Magadoon, Ulpiano Borromeo, Gerardo Ramirez, Vidal Bordaje, Jamie Ramirez, Jose Espero, Clodualdo Borja, Valerio Capilitan, Herminigildo Manzano, Ubaldo Marcelo, Clementino Rico, Severino Icarro, Teofilo Eborda, Cañado Romero, Jose Flores, Galicano Atienza, Eladio Angelito, Severo Natanauan, Melecio Gumboc, Julio Topaz, Marcelino Cabugwason, Sabas Jimenez, Sr., Amado Rosario, Dominador Malate, Restitute Maturan, Nicolas Bugante, Natalio Virgonia, Bernardino Ermac, Marcelo Rosales, Francisco Lateas, Bienvenido Galan, Canuto Tutor, Vicente Stella, Jacob Lopez, Frank Moscoso, Jr., Abraham Solomon, Juan Santiago, Enfernio Ballastra, Anacleto Abril, Constancio Capilitan, Teodulfo Alvarez, Pablo Rivera, Julian Dologuin, Silverio Calungsud, Florencio Llentada, Bruno Calumba, Fernando Sibayan, Faustino Aguda, Gaudencio Aquiler, Felix Azur, Julian Balbuena, Eufemio Ballestea, Andrew Binayan, Justino Cailao, Ildefonso Cauinian, Jose Cabreros, Jr., Leon de Lima, Agapito Dobluis, Dominador Galsote, Macario Grecia, Jacob Lopez, Patrocinio Loria, Santos Luzuriaga, Apolinario Martinez, Felicisimo Nacario, Alejandro Narito, Apolonio Olarte, Irineo Pacolor, Jaime Ramirez, Pablo Rivera, Isidros Rosalinas, Clementino Rico, Salvador Romero, Felix Segarra, Julio Tupaz, Francisco Tupaz, Bienvenido Valiao, Natalio Vergonia, Nicomedes Amparo, Cesario Barriga, Maximo Cotelo, Amado Calimquim, Custodio Comoda, Severo Cortez, Aberlardo Lerguna, Marcelino B. Valdez, Gregorio Viado, Alfredo Andrada, David D. Filinia, Juan Gascon, Guillermo Jimena, Sergio Miranda, Nemesio Alambat, Dominador O. Ayson, Serafin Dupaya, Pedro G. Flores, Eduardo Habana, Exequiel Ladan, Facundo A. Ladan, Ricardo Mueva, Claudio Munoz, Joseph S. Osam, and Porerio R. Robea v. UNITED STATES
- Status
- Published