Republic Act No. 573

This Act may be cited as the "Philippine Military Aid to the United Nations Act".

In enacting this legislation, it is the intent of the Congress to provide for the immediate organization of a Philippine Expeditionary Force, to include Ground, Air or Naval Units of such strength and composition, as the President may determine for service in cooperation with the United Nations fighting in Korea to make special provisions governing the pay, allowances and other privileges of officers and enlisted men by reason of the hazards incident to such service; and to provide effective and adequate material and financial support for the combat force above referred to.

The provisions of this Act shall apply only to officers and enlisted men of the Armed Forces of the Philippines serving as members of the Philippine Expeditionary Force hereinabove referred to, and the words "officer/officers" and "enlisted man/men" when used in this Act shall refer exclusively to the officers and enlisted men above mentioned, unless the context of a particular provision clearly indicates that a different sense is intended. The term "service overseas" or "serving overseas" when used in this Act shall include any period of service commencing from the date of departure from the Philippines for service in foreign territory and terminating with the individual's disembarkation or landing on Philippine soil:Provided,That when an individual is authorized to return to the Philippines temporarily he shall be deemed to be rendering service overseas during the period of his temporary stay not exceeding fifteen days.

II. - PAY AND ALLOWANCES

Officers and enlisted men shall be entitled to rations, barracks accommodations, medical attendance, clothing, and subsistence and quarters allowance as are provided by laws and regulations of general application to commissioned and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, They shall be furnished adequate winter and other protective clothing and additional rations or subsistence allowance as may be provided in appropriations for this purpose.

III. - COMPENSATION FOR DEATH AND DISABILITY

a. Upon the death of an officer or enlisted man as the proximate result of wounds or injuries received or sickness or disease contracted or aggravated in line of duty while serving overseas, the surviving' widow and/or legitimate, legitimated and/or acknowledged natural children of the deceased shall receive, in equal shares, a gratuity equivalent to five thousand pesos (P5,000) to be paid in lump sum. In the absence of a widow or legitimate, legitimated or acknowledged natural child at the time of the decedent's death, the gratuity shall be paid to the other legal heirs of the deceased in the order of intestate succession and as stated in the succeeding provision.

The foregoing provisions shall be applicable only in the absence of a will executed by the deceased, otherwise the provisions thereof shall be enforced in accordance with the civil law. b. Payment of the gratuity herein provided shall be directed by the Commanding General, Armed Forces of the Philippines, upon a determination by him of the line of duty and service connection of the decedent's death within the scope of this Act, and after The Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines shall have made a determination in each case of the person or persons entitled to receive payment of the gratuity and the amount of their respective shares therein. In making such determination, The Judge Advocate General shall be governed by so much of the provisions of Republic Act Numbered One hundred thirty-six, as amended by Republic Act Numbered Two hundred nine, as are not in conflict with any provision of this Act.

c. For the purposes of this section, the causative wounds, injuries, sickness or disease shall be presumed to have been received or contracted, or aggravated, in line of duty in the absence of evidence clearly showing the contrary.

d. The death gratuity herein provided shall be paid in addition to the retirement and other benefits payable under existing laws on account of the decedent's death:Provided,That in computing the amount of such benefits, additional pay and allowances for service overseas shall not be considered.