Bob Filner
Source: Wikimedia Commons
License: U.S. government public domain
Known for championing Filipino WWII veterans’ compensation, Filner’s legacy is marked by both achievement and controversy.
Filner’s political career spanned more than four decades, but he is perhaps best remembered in the Filipino American community for his persistent efforts to secure long-denied compensation for Filipino World War II veterans who served under U.S. command.
From Civil Rights to Capitol Hill
Filner was born in Pittsburgh in 1942 and earned a Ph.D. in history from Cornell University. In 1961, he was jailed for participating in the Freedom Rides—an early act of civil disobedience that shaped his later political life. He served on the San Diego Unified School Board and the City Council before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992.
During his 20 years in Congress, Filner represented California’s 50th and 51st districts, which included many Filipino American communities in National City and the South Bay. A self-described “congressman for veterans,” he eventually chaired the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee from 2007 to 2011.
His efforts culminated in the inclusion of the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation (FVEC) Fund in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The law authorized $198 million in one-time payments—$15,000 for U.S. citizens and $9,000 for non-citizens—to eligible surviving veterans.
Eric Lachica, then executive director of the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, called Filner “our most visible, strongest advocate in the House,” telling Voice of San Diego in 2009 that the legislation “wouldn’t have happened without his leadership.”
Mayor, Scandal, and Resignation
In 2012, Filner was elected San Diego’s first Democratic mayor in 20 years. However, his tenure was short-lived. In 2013, multiple women accused him of sexual harassment, leading to widespread calls for his resignation. He stepped down in August 2013 and later pleaded guilty to one felony count of false imprisonment and two misdemeanor counts of battery. He served three months of home confinement and three years of probation.
A Complicated Legacy
Though his mayoral downfall tarnished his public image, Filner’s congressional record—particularly his efforts on behalf of minority communities, veterans, and civil rights—continues to resonate, especially among Filipino Americans.
He is survived by his daughter and grandchildren.
