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BEFORE A MILITARY COMMJSSI ON

convE'ned by the COHHAPDI~G GP 1'F'RAL

PHILIPPINFS-RYUKYUC com.fAKD

UNITED STATES OF AMER'tCA

VS PUBLIC TRIAL

SHUMPEI HAGI NO SH!NK!Ctf.I HOSAKA KF.IICHI KI!ruRA SAJCAKATSU KATO ICHIRO KOBAYASHI RI KI ZO MOfJMA CHI YOKICHI FUKUOKA T~TSUSAB~O ITO ZFWJCHIRO ~fOGAMI

MA?flLA, P. I.

LPK )nos

VOLU11E IV

PAOFS 183 - 242, Inclusive.

/

DATE: ~ February 1947

CCPY NO. }

CERTIFICATION

THIS CERTIFIES that this volume is a part of the

proceedings of the Military Commission appointed by

Paragraph _2Q_ Special Orders -2.i_, Headquarters, ~hilip~ines-Ryukyus Command, dated 30 January 194?,

in the trial of the case of the United St~tes ot America

agAinst Shumpe1 HAGINO, Shinkichi HOSAKA, Ke iichi KDJURA,

Snkakatsu KATO, Ichiro KOBAYASHI, Rikizo MONMA, Chiyokichi

FUKUOKA, Tetsusaburo ITO .and Zenichiro MOGAMI.

Da t ed ~ February 194?.

~R~;'imY .._...__ ~.....__.... Colonel, CAV President of Commission

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BEf ORE A MILITARY COH'ITSSION

convened b y the com(ANDING Gt.Y.:rRAL

PHI LI PPINFS-RYUKYiJS COMMAND

UNITED STATES OF AMFRICA )

VS PUBLIC TRIAL

SRUMPFI HAGI NO SHI~TKICHI HOSf\KA KFJICHI KIMlIBt. SAKAKA'J'SU KATO I CHIRO KOBAYi~SEI RI!<J:ZO MCN~~A CHIYOKICHI F!lF:JOKA TfTSC'Sf\BURO 1 TO Z:l'JICHIRO MOG!1?AI

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Court tJo . 3 High Comm1sstoner 1s Residence Manila, P. I • 5 February 1947

Met, pursuant to ~d3ournment, at 0830 hours.

MFMBFRS OF ?.ULIT~Y CO~ITSSION :

COLONE!, WILLI l ... d n . H.\MBY, Ct.V, PrF-sident COLONEL RIC~RDO POBL~T~, INF_, Law Member LIEUTt:- N;.NT COLONEL ZIM F . L(•it!HON, CMLC LIEUTf.Nt.NT COLONFL WILLI .'~~·n G. RF 11J, t.GD

/i PPF: :~R:~NCFS:

FOR THI' PROSFCU~ION:

JIB. EARL W. GU1HRIF, CS lST. LIEUTF·N:.NT ii GUSTIN R. BliNZON, J :.Gs (P.A.)

FOR THE DEFf NSE:

~m. HFNRY S. Bf.RN1\RD, CS MR. CYRIL F . ~iORRI SO 1 , CS MR. R: l'!BfN BONDA , CS

OFFICI AL INT!'"RPRr'JTRS Fon THE co;1:fU. &SIOP:

2D. LT. Lt~nnv NISHIHf,nt\ Rmru:.LDO TACC:.n ?Ar.RCFDFS L. C/,MPOtMNP.S N ,\RCI SO .".LB !.NO MRS . R03nRIO F. RODhS

Japanese Japanese TagRlog Tagalog Tagalog

OFFICi f .. L RFPORTERS FOR nrr COMMISSIOWs

TH!LM:. SELZER

LPK 3nos

Et.RL F. LATHROP

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'I • l li !2 E I WITfil:~~[~ EXAM;

BY IS.\O ICHIMURA ~ c~?~s RFDIUFCX EECEO~§ COMM.

SABURO OWARI 195 201 20?

VALfNTIN MAYUGA 209 229 UFNO T AMFH.'1 YA 231 234

SHUMPFI Ht\GINO 236

GFNFRAL

fgge lfo.

Opening Statement by the Defense 183

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(The Commission reconvened, pursuant to adjournment,

at 0830 hours, 5 February 194?, in Court no, 3, High Com­

missioner's Residence, Dewey Boulevard, Manila, P, I.)

COLONEL HAMBY• The Commisston is in session•

MR. GUTHRIFa Sir, all members or the Commisston

are present, the accused are here, together with their

counsel and their personal interpreters, the reporters are

present, the interpretera are present, all members or the

prosecution are present and all other personnel of the Court.

At the conclusion of the last session ot this Court,

day before yesterday, February 3 1 the status ot the ease

was that the prosecution had rested its case in chief,

COLONFL HAMBY: The def ense may proceed,

MR, MORRISON: Sir, at this time th€ defense

will confine its opening to a f ew briet remarks. These

accused are charged with having participated in an ex­

pedition to Taal on th~ · 16th, l?th, and 18th or Februar1,

194,, with unlawfully killing and p~rmitting membert under

their command to kill 1 -- rather, members of the Japanese

forces under their command to kill -- unarmed, noncombatant ' Filipino civilians. Pour of the accused are ·~lso charged

with having participated in an expedition to Bauan on

February 28, 1945', and with having unlawfully killed and'

permitted members of the Japanese forces under thE-ir com­

mand to killt unarmed, Filipino noncombatant civilians.

The defense will prove that tpis expedition was made

pursuant to superior orders and that, contrary to what

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• tae prtvtous.witn•••es t~r the prosecution have testified,

there was extensive guerrilla activity in and around the

towns of Bauan and Taal and, therefore , the mission of

these exneditions was to put down this guerrilla activity

which had increased due to the imminent landing or the

United Stat~ s forces.

The defense will ·rurthe-r prove that none of these

def endants killed or permitted members under their com­

mand to kill, any unarm€d Filipino noncombatant civilians.

MR. BfRNARD: With the Commission's permission

th~ def ense will call as its fir st witn&ss, Isao Ichimura .

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• !SAO ICHIMURA

a witness for the defense, being first duly sworn, t e stified

as follows through Interpreters Taccad and Nishihara:

DIRECT-EXAMINATION

BY MR. BERNARD:

Q

A

Q

What is your name?

Isav Ichimura.

How old are you?

A 28.

Q What was your rank with the Imperial Japanese Army?

A Captain.

Q

A

Q

Captain of what?

Of Infantry.

Whare we~3 your headquarters during the month of

February, 1945?

A At Dita.

Q

A

Q

A

And who was your immediate superior officer?

Colonel Fujishige.

Did you get your orders direct from Colonel Fujishige?

Yes, my battalion received orders from Colonel Fujish:J.ge.

COLONEL HAMBY: Off-the-record.

(Oft-the-record discussion.)

COLONEL HAMBY: At this time the Commission-directs

that the prosecutor warn this witness of his rights as a wit-

ness, in case that at some time in the future he might be on

trial as an accused war criminal.

YR. GUTHRIE: Ichimura, at this time I will

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state to you what your rights arE as ~ witness in this case,

You have the right to rc-fusc to answer any qu£st1on if you

think, if you beli€vc, that th<: answer will t c-nd to incrim•-. ·

inate you personally and you also have a right to decline

to answer any quEstiert ~ which you thin~ might tE.nd to

dcgrad€ you personally. I also state to you that as those

questions ar~ asked, and if you desire to exercise that

right, you must claim it by making that desir~ lmown to the

Commission.

MR, B~N.'RD t What were your greatest problems

during F€bruary, 1945''7

MR. GUTHRIF s That question is obj€ctcd to on

the grounds that it has not been shown that this witness

was in command of th£ Second Bettalion at the time stated

in the- question.

COLONFL HflMBY: Tho Law Member will rule.

COLON'r.L POBLETE: Obj('Ction o·vcrruled. The

witness may answer.

A One of the greatest problems at that time was the

activities of the guerrillas.

Q Can you giv~ us instances which aggravated you?

A I remember an instance where our commwtications

wires wore destroyed by the guerrillas. When our men \'lent

out to r€pair thes~ wires, they r eceived another attack

from the guerrillas,

Q Do you havf any other instances in mind?

A I also rememb~r that there was a small arms arsenal

of revolv€rs and rifles, approximatE"ly two hundred, I b€l1€ve,

at Batangas gnd I r em€mber that these were taken by the

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I ,, guerrillas.

Q Were any o~ your men ever attacked and killed or

wounded in contests with guerrillfl's?

A Yes.

Q How many men were under your command~

A The strength of the Second Battali on Tias approximately

three hundred men.

Q Wer e any of those men either killed or wounded in

contests with guerrillas ~

A Y€s , about thirty or forty of them.

Q Wow, did you r~ceiV€ orders r egarding guerrilla

warfar e from your superior officers ~

A Yes.

Q From whom?

A Frorn Colonel Fujishige.

Q What wer e they~ What wer e thcs£ ordcrs1

MR. GUTHRIE: The question is object€d to unl€ss

it is shown that this witness was in comand at that time .

The ta~t 1R that I happen to know that h€ didn't have a

coJ!ltland and I don't think the def ense can establish that he

had a co!D1!land.

may answer.

COLONFL HhMBYi The Law Mecber will rule.

COLONF.L POBLE.Trc Objection ov~rruled. Witness

Q What wer e those orders ?

A I heard that punitive rnea surl s wer e to b6 taken

against guerrillas and those cooperating with them.

MR. GUTHnIFs I nove that the answer b£ stricken

as to wha t he beard unlEss he is stating what the order was

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that was given to hirn and gho gave it to hin t

Mn. B!RNhflDa If the prosecution pleas~ , I will

bring all that out.

COLOWL H'J iBY: The r ecord ,·1111 stand as it is,

<} Fron nhoa did you hear that·;

.~ ''lat.Lieutenant Takcnoto.

Q HOVI did l'st . Lieutenant Takenoto happen to get the

orders instead of you~

I wa s 111 at tha t tine and 1st, Li~utenant Take~oto

wa s r epresenting nc at th~ t tine ,

Q Was he rcpr£senting you by your appoint~£nt or by the

appoint~ent of sonc superior officer?

h Colonel Fujishige order ed that he carry out those

punitive expeditions.

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Q Who did yon say carl'ied out those punitive

expeditions?

A Fir~t Lieutenant Takemoto carrie~ them out.

Q Upon whose instructions?

A tccording to thP. order s of Colonel Fujishig€.

Q Again~t what barrios or mun1.cipalit1es were those

\ order s carried out?

( A The neighborhood of Bauan and Taal .

Q Did you have any discretion as to the selection of

the barrios or municipalities?

MR. GUTHrtIE: Thut i s objected t o as immaterial.

That has no bearing on this case a s to what discretion this

witness has. He is not an accused in this case at the

present moment.

COLONEL HAMBY: The Law Membe~ will ruic e

COLONEL POBLETE: Objection overruled. The

witnes s may answer.

A The contents of the order were to take these

measures in Bauan and Taal.

Q How many expeditions were ther e?

~ There were two, one to Taal and one to Dauan.

Q Was ~he same officer in command of both expeditions?

A Yes .

Q

A

When did they t ake place?

I am not sure of this , but I boliove thoy were

carried out after the midd lo part of February.

Q '!/ho was in dir€ct com!J'lnnd of these expeditions?

l.ffi . GUI'lffi I E : That i s objectC'd to unlc s s it is

shown that this witness kn ows who \/C'S in direct command.

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• • If he is going to just stat e wtw t he thought, 1 t is

immaterial.

VR. BERNARD: I will rephrase tho qu~ stion to

sat1afy tho prosecution, with the permission of the

Commission.

COLONEL Hhr·!BY: Please. r ephrase the question.

MJ. BERNARD: If you know ptrsonally, will

you state who was in direct command of thoso expeditions?

A First Lieutenant Takemoto was in commend.

Q or both of them?

A Yes .

Q If you know personally, who accompaniod Takemoto

in the Taal expedition?

A I do not know of the man who wont with him.

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. Q Was Hag.1.no along?

A_ Yes, I believe so.

Q Wes Tak€moto in char,£ of Eegino?

r.m . GUTHRIE: It is obj£cter to as call1ng for

a conc l usion of this witr.ess, as to who was in charge.

tiay answ£r.

COLONE!. HAMBY: ThE: Law l ember will rule.

COI ONEL POBLETE: Obj ection overruler1, witness

A First Lieutenant Takemoto was.

Q Who sccompanien TakeMoto on the Bauen experition, if

you Y.now personally?

A ~remember that Hagino went along .

Q v·r o '':as in charr,e, Tal<.emoto or P.syino on the Bauan

exper it ion?

A First Lieutenant Takemoto was in comman~.

Q IioY! r11r1 you keer inform€~ as to the activities of

the Secon~ Battalion while you were 111?

A There were some thinrs I hear~ later anr1 also there

were some reports I rece ive~ while I was 111.

Q What ~ir TekcMoto look likf physically, will you r1e-

scribe h!n to the CoJ'llDlission?

A He was rather tell for a Japanese an~ his physique

somEwhat rcsemblcr that of F.agino. He also har a long

face enr on that .point h( was similar to H~gino.

Q Was he ever confuscr with Hagino by people?

MR. GU'IHRIE : Objectr~ to on thc grounr it has

absolutely no bearin~ on this case as to wh£th£r Takemoto

was ever confusfn with Harino, or Ha~ino confuse~ vd th

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Takemoto. It is speculative to th~ nth ~£gr££ unl~s~ it is

s hovm by whom he v·as confuse~. It counsel intcr.~s to show

thet any of th~ w1tn£ssr:s on th~ prosecution's ca~£ have

c:vcr b(rn contusr~, or mistekr:n the i~entity or these · t~o

prr!ons; then I will wit""~rew the: objection, bot unless

counsel will first state he can ~o that, I ~csirc e ruling

upon the obj<ction. In other wor~s, the po1nt is, who

wCJ s conrusrr' or who matlc the: mistaken i~cntity.

COL0!1::L HAJJBY: The Law Y.cmbcr will rule.

COLONEL POBLETl.: Y"o you have any purpose in

e~kin~ that question, J.rr. '."ct£nsc Counsel?

MR. BER?TAlrt'': Yee, sir, I t'o. The narnc Hegino

has been sunr in this case en- it becomes a bywor~ by

p( oplc. It cen happen that t~o or thrc€ people t1o carry

a r€S€mblancc an~ I have St(n hesitancy on the pert of

the witnE".sscs allf' that is 1'hy I want to tin~ out fro~ him

whether he is or in his cxptrirncc he~ hear~ proplc confuse

tht two.

COLONEL POBLETt: Objection overrule~, the

witntss may answer.

A no you mean rnysclt?

~ No, pcoplE essocistct' with hi~

A In a slight ~er~.nrss there is ~ifficulty in telling

~ thr t~o spert anA I b£11cv£ these two men might b~ confusE~. Q V'hcn r'i,. you recover from· your illness?

A In the month of i.:erch.

Q Were you rcturnc~ to your comnan41

A Yes.

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MB .. Bill~AR~: The pros€cution JllBY hav€ th€

V'itncss.

CROSS-EXAl!IllATION

BY MR . CUTHRIE:

Q 111h8t was th( €Xact Y1or~in~ of the or~£rs that eerie;; to

the Secon~ Battalion concerning the subjugatj.on of Taal

anr'l Bauan?

A The Army group wes to carry out a thorough subjugation

of ~uer.rillas. The Sccon~ Battalion was orr crc~ to carry

the~ out in the Taal an~ Bauan areas against all gu£rrillas

an~ any oth£r persons cooperating with them. I hcarr this

fro~ Lieutenant Takemoto.

Q Pir you cv( r see any written or~ e rs on that subject?

A I remember that I ri~ scE them,

Q Ant to the b£st of your knowlc~ gc you hav€ stater

the f ntirc contcnta of thos l written or~ers?

A Yes. Letcr I also r cc£1V€r tElcphone reports con-

cerning othLr or~crs r e lating to Teal an~ Beuan.

Q All right, tell us all about ell the orrcrs that

you fV<r hearr about~

lilP.. BERNAf.n: If the Commission pl€asf, I object

to that question except as refers to orrcrs for the area

of Taal anr Eauan.

Jffi • GVTHR IE :

be 11Mit€r to thet.

I un~€rstr.nr the question is to

COLONEL HAMBY: Please limit your question to

that er ca .

A Th€r€ was th£ orrcr I hove tlstificd to prEvj ously I

an~ also the or~crs I re ceive~ over the telephone .

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Q What were the or~ers that you r£ c c 1vc~ ovc:r the tele-

phone?

A It was to the foll owing cffEct : why ~1~n't the

Scconr Batts~ion carry out thcsc- or~crs s1ncE they ha~

alr cery bcr n ~ivEn to. Takemoto en~ since th£ l9nringt of

the Jmericen forces is imrdnc:nt, th(S( or~ crs must be. cc:i r­

ri £~ out irnmcrietely. I hear~ this some time aft~r the

other orrcr I hllV <: Mentionc~.

Q N0\11 have you rcls t€r" all you know that was in all the

orrcrs that were given concerning Teal enr Beuan?

A ~hPt is all thPt t he orrcrs container that CDMC fron

Colonrl Fujishigc.

Q ~ir Colonel Fujishigc's orr(rs concerning Teal en~

BeuF.n rircct the killing of noncombctant citizrns?

l: The or~crs statc.r thot punitive measures w£re to be

ricr out ar.l'inst guErrillas enr e.11 oth~r p€rsons coopE:r­

eting with them. Howcv(r, it olso stet<:~ thet other then

gu£rr1llt>s anri those coopcratlng \V! th them must not b£

touch€~.

~.R . GVTHRIE: Thrt is ell.

COLONEL HPJJBY: Questions ~y the Comtnission?

Thcrr appearing to be none , the ~itncss is Excuser.

(Witn(ss excuse~.)

U~. BLRNARJ': The rcfcns c will call as its

nrxt witness, Saburo Owar~.

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SABURO OWAf,I

r witness for the ~efcnsc, bEing first ~uly sworn, tcstifiE~

rs follows through Interpreters Nishiher~ rn~ Teccl'r1:

nIRECT EXAJINATION

BY Ji.F( . BERNART':

Q What is your nllmc?

A Saburo Owari.

Q Ho\·1 olr er r you?

A Thirty-eight.

Q V/hrt \ 'JDS your rtmk Y:1th the Impt rir l J r pcncs c. Arr1y?

A First Li~utcnont.

l':R. C.UTiffiIE: Will counsel stipvlctc that the

fact is t hc t this u itncss is e pri soner of ~er c t the

present tin€?

!:R. BE.RFJJ~T': I'll hrvE to rsk hiI'i the question.

Q Ar € you a prisoner of ~er vt the present timr-

A Y€s.

J:P.. GUTHRII.: 0\'!E!Ti, I \'Jill stctc to you thet

l' S ~ witness in these proccc~in~s you hcvc cErttin rights.

OnE of those rights is thr-t you c~nnot be requirer to

£:nswcr any question, the rns\,c r of \:hich e ight t~nr to

~Egrac'ie or incrir~im tc you . I \'Jill furth~r e t\vtsc you

thrt in crch cE·s£ you rmst, cm~ i n er. ch instence, you must

clcin thet right frorn the Commission or (lS€ yot· \'i ill wllivc

it. no yot: unr'crstrnr1 whrt I ht-VE just cxpl cinr<' to you?

(Int£rprtter iiishihorc inte rpret<="~ to th£ w:Jtncss.)

A I to,

q To vihct orgenizetion r1 ir1 yoP be lonp?

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• A I be longr-r1 to t he. Ichimuro unit. ( I -C-H-I-~i-U-R-A)

Q \,hen you se>y "lch1muro unit" ~re you r f f crr1ng to

C P~tr~n Ich1nurr ?

J, Ye:s.

Q Whcrr 3crc you strticnc~ r1uring Februery 1945?

(V/ i tne SS lrft t h( \•;i tnc SS Stcmr1 Clnr1 \.!lllkc<1 to the

rep on thr north w2ll of the courtroom,)

r R . IH..R~1 Jllr· : L<:t thr r <:: corr1 show th~t the r:it-

ne ss , Saburo 0\"£lr1, pointcr1 to the tovm of ( ucnco on the

mllp.

A I Uf S strtioncr1 in the proviPce of EFtrn~rs , town of

Cu rncr , Br rrio ~ito .

Q V;hc t vms your pos1 ti on r:i th the I chil".urr unit?

A I ~e~ tht bcttplion e~ jut rnt,

r As bottr l ion pr1jutrnt, whPt ucr c your r1ut1rs?

A I ~c t c<1 r s r n P i~c to t hr- brttolion co~~n~er.

Q \''ho \':es y01·r 1r1rKr1 ir t c surcr ior offi ccr?

l Ccrte in Ichimure.

Q As <r1 j u t ont, ~1~ or~crs rcgF r~ing gucrrillcs pP. ss

throurh your h~nr1s?

1 ~o yor mc r n or~crs rcrr rr1jn~ punitive rxpc~itions?

Q Yes, '

A Yes.

Q Fron Tihor ~1~ these or~ crs come? "

A There r:cre tiMc s v1hcn thl y crroK to r:lY hl'nr1s on~ t he r e

v1cr e times \'1hc:n they n.: vc r pr sr.cr1 111r • Thl y crmc from

Colonel Fujishir.c•

Q To whom ~ere these or~crs ~irEctc~?

A Thry ~e r e or~crs to the Ichimura b~ttrlion.

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• Q v:het vie.r e th(y' ,.0 you r c:mcl!lbcri

COLr NI,L Hh~ffiY : At this time thr Comnission

uill t ek( r. short recess.

(Short r ccc ss)

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• • COLONEL HAMBYs Tho Commission is in session,

MR. BERNARDI Will the interpreter ploaso

r emind the witness that he is still under oath.

(Interpreter Taccad trensl~ted to the witness.)

Q WhAt wer e they? Do you r emombor?

A They wer e orders to kil l all guerrillas and those

who cooper ated with them.

Q Who executed these orders?

A First Lieutenant Takomoto.

Q Aga inst what towns or berrios did he proceed?

A Ho operat ed pursuant to those orders in the vicinity

of tho tovms of BAuan and Taal.

Q As adjutnnt for Ichimura's unit, do you know how many

men Captain Ichimur-o .hr'<l in · his comm~nd'?

A Yos , I know the strength und~r CaptPin Ichimur~.

Q What was th~t strength'

A At the time the battalion was organized it had a

strength of about 600 men. However, about the early part

of February it had only obout 300 men.

Q As a r esult or these oxpeditions, did tho command

suffer by deaths or wounds?

A Yos.

Q What were the number of casunltios?

A As far as I remember about thirty to forty men

boing casueltics as a r esult of guerrilla ect1ons.

Q Who was in cherg~ of those punitivo expeditions?

A First LieutGnant Takemoto.

Q Who put him in chnrg0?

A Cnptain Ichimura.

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Q Did you know L1out €nant Takemoto personally?

A Yes.

Q Will you describe him.

A Ho was rather tall for e Japrneso . He was about

f ivo foct sovon or e ight inches. Ho had a long face and

/ he r osomblod vory closely Second Lieutonant Hagino.

MR. GUTHRIEs I move th~t tho l a st portion of

tho answer be stricken. It is an opinion of this witness

as to whether or not Takemoto lookod like Hagino or not.

He may have looked like Hagino to this witness, but to

othor persons he may not have looked liko Hagino. People -

don't always look the same. That is merely his opinion

as to what Takemoto looked like nnd is of no v~luc to

this Commission.

COLONEL HAMBY: 'i'he r ecord •:1ill stand as 1 t

is. \

Q Wore HAgino and Tekomoto mistaken for one another

by some poople os you saw them?

MR. GTJI'HRIE: Objected to on the ground that

it is immatorial, not relevant.

COLONEL HAMBYs The Law Member will rule.

COLONEL POBLETEs Objection overruled. Tho

witness may answer.

A Yes, during evenings, that is when it was r ather

.dark, there wer e times when I mistook Hogino for Takemoto

and I callod him "Takemoto".

Q And so in a l argo room as l~ rgo as this, if you

stood at a distance that I stand from the Commission,

would it bo '.easy ·· to distinguish Hogino from Takemoto?

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A How would the lighti~ bo, noon time?

MR. BERNbfiD : I ·:1ill hold that question in

tlboyr-ncc and lead up to it after the next question or

t n o, with tho permission of the Com'ijission.

Q Did you accompany any of the expeditions, namely

those to Taal and Bau.nn?

A Yes ~

Q Wore you and Licutennnt Hagirio pre!lent in tho church

at Bauan'1

A I Wl'S not there:, but I hnd gone to thot church

twice .

Q In a church of th~ t s1ze , ond under lighting

conditions thr:t they h"d there, would o d1stonc€ like

that between you and mo mako thoso t wo men distinguishable?

MR . GUTHR!E a Obj octc.d to ns colling for A

conclusion of this witness. Thor c i s no evidence bofore

this Commission os to wh~t tho cond :ttion of this witness'

eye s ight is nnd the question has nnt l a id a foundPtion

f or ~ny pnrticulnr hour of tho day f or th0 t est th~t it

proposes or nny condition of lightness or d~rkncss.

MR. BERNARD: I w111. wi thdrnw tht't question.

Q W0 r c you present on the expedit ion t o T~'l?

A I wr s not in the exp0dition. However, I once went

t o To~l i n a cer. We c~rricd nu~c luggage .

Q hS ~djutent did you r ece ive tho r eports of tho

oxpeditions to To~l ~nd Bruan?

A No.

Q Who r eceived thos ..: r eports?

A Aft(; r r e turning f r om the exp·: dit i on, Lieutenant T~komoto

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collcd up the r egimental hendquertors and reported by

telephone. Thon l ator on Lieutenant Takvmoto sont e

written r eport to rl.g1mcntcl hoadqmu·t ors concerning

the condition of the battle, tho r oport of cnsueltics

and dotailod reports t'bout tho V! hol o Gxpociti on.

Q As a J Etptmoso officer, stPtionod wher e you wcrG ,

wtwt v1~s your p,rontGst problem during the month of

Fobrunry, 1945?

/, When the American forces l t'nckd nt Nasu~bu,

the guerrilla activity incroa~ud to such an extont that

our greatest problem '"'a s thinking of the fact that

with the guerrilla s ituation as it ua1, it was

impossibl<' to fac.c tho Amoric~n fox-ces.

C!10SS-O.AMINATION

BY nR . GUTHRIEa

Q You did not go on the expAdition to Taal did you?

A ~ I did not go on t,at expedition.

Q You don't know yourgelf anything thet. happened there?°

A That is right.

Q Now on this detailed report thtt was ~ade Bftor the

expedition did the r eport sta te how meny F:tlipinos had

beon killed?

A I think tho r eport ~teted that tho number was about

l?O or l8o.

Q At what town?

A Taal area.

Q Did this particul ar 1' €port about Taal . tell the ages

of the Fil1p1n OS whom they killed?

A Ri~ht now I don't r em6mber.

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Q Did that report state wh~thor or not the persons

who were killed W€r c guerrillas or noncombctont persons?

A Tho r eport stated that they wer e guerrillas.

Q That they were a 11 guerrillas?

A Yes, that is what I romembcr.

Q Name all tho officers that went on the Taal

expedition from tho 2nd Battalion?

A The expodition commander was First Lieutenant

Takemoto. The others wer e 1l'om tho Battalion Headquarters,

Second Lieutenant HaginoJ and from the Battalion Artillery,

Second Lieutenant Fukuoka. Thet i s all I r emember.

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Q Dir Hos~' r go to Tl"c l on thr t cxpcr : tion?

Yes, it appc~rc~ i n thr orrcr.

n1r1 Kimurr po?

J.. Yes .

A Yes , Kcto's nr 111f rlso vpprrrc~ in the orrcr.

Q /mr KobAyr shi?

I

A Kobay~shi ~in not ,o oh the cxpc~ition, his nemc TICS

not in thf or~rr Pnr rs f e r es I remember h€ Ai~ not go .

Q T' 1•-1 1 :ome ro?

A 1fonMr \'H:nt una i:- r L:!.cutcriont Fukuoka Vi ith the br-ttalion

erti)_l c:ry .

Q J,.nr ri~ Ito go?

Yes.

q no yot' knm·! ,·;hc·tl'c r or ~ot Br-r:tno hrr cv 12r rcc c i v ECt

cny v;ounfls from Filip1nos :In t rr- t r rcr?

la Yes .

Q Lnr hr wrs pretty mr r ~bout th~t, w~sn ' t hr?

! R. EI r.r:4.RY': I obj ect, ho· roes hE !' now how

Re gino felt?

i1L GUTHRI E : He lmm: s it j ust C' S \7cll es --co10: :1 HJ.JIB) : The Lr\: ~~c fl\ be r '':f 11 r u le .

COLOf·!EL POBLi:.TE: Obj f. ct ion sustc- inrr .

/ l"i~ you ever he r r Hrgino sry r nyth ing cbout thr t in-

cirEnt?

Yts.

v.rnr t f 1ri he say"l

A Prp i no r r l Dt c r to mr thr t r bout the 14th or 15th of

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Frbrur ry h€ went to Bcu~n brceuse hf he~ some bu~inc.ss

there. HE left Baurn ribout nighttimE vn~ h( m1s rifli ng

b y c r.r. )!i~\·:ey bE:tv:ccn B""'2on enr' Ali tr gtag, the cnr in

t'!hich he \7C: S r~_ring Wt'S fir E~ upon. One solrier who was

with hiM 't/CI S killc-~ llnr' Iief?ino rtceivE~ o wounr" 1.n the: l eg .

I S:?\'I thet sol~ ic r, h( \?os s tjlJ. 't:oun<,cr' r.nri he V!rs brought

to the ho~pitel \'!here he ~~.er.

':! Hoc;ino also · told you h(' wantc<" to ge t some r cvcnrc

for thet incirent enr' to kill sonc Filj .. pinos, rfrin•t hc'l

A No , he never sai~ such a thin~.

Q He~ino is a f?OO~ fricnr of yours, isn't hr?

f. l v.1oulr'n' t ::;ey that t 11r v:cr c v ery goor 1'r1cnr s, but

since \'IC ,.,£ rr in the ~mr.c un1.t rnr V!orkc~ t ogc t h"." r -we

cou l r" n't h clr but b ecome goo~ frirn~s.

Q v:rc r c is t his Tnkc.tT)Oto you rc fcrrc~ to in your pre-

vl ous t estimony?

J. When 1 l ast sew hifll h r v:es in goor hc-elth rnr when

I bccrt'l<. a prisonc.r I ~!BS of th£ belief that he v:es alive

in goot4 hcfllt h , ho\';c-vr 1·, I lc er nct4 j ttst brfor(' t he en~ of

thf' w~r T2kcinoto \''u S k11l c ~ in E ction enr1 I t hought i t nos

D r cRr cttebl r thin~ thc t hr ~cs killed,

l' i~ yot1 £ l s o t hinl .. it v•ou l r1 b r a r.oor' i~ca to put the:

blc>mc f or these inci~ fnts t" t Bnurli r:n~ Teel on Takemoto

bcct:'usr you hltr:'.! he -.:!c s rc ~f' ?

. I. . Drn?VJ1r. : I ol°'j cct to t h<. qur t;tion btceu~c

thr. v:i tn£ s s hr s not put any bl t:'r1< on To1·c ·oto.

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c0r.o ~rL 1 Ei., DY : The Ln .. t.1(Ptb r. r vii ll r elc .

C'OLOf["t 1 POBLi 'fi : ObjLctjon sus t r. incr .

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Q I sn't it a f eet thet r ft ( r you bcccMc o prisoner of

v:ar enr' you kncv.· thri t p( r ~om; lly you cmr tli c other of.f i c cr s

of th£ S e com~ Br tte lion r.'Oul~ be helr accountable for the

inc i~ rnts at Be uan anr T~~ l, t ht t all of you togt th{r, got

toget her anr n~ree:d to say thet Takemoto v;as the commin~ fr

of the exrr~ition?

J. No.

Q But you iii~ get t oge t her on on a prcct1ent v:ith the se

per s ons concerning cv i~ cnc c in the Fujishigr cr.sc, though,

r irn•t you?

iP. . BIRL'Jll": Ob jc:ct, t her e i s no cvi~ cncc

t hEsc me n got torcthcr. hS r mo t tc r of f r et, t he se men

Fr c Jtept epc:rt.

;,R. GUTERIF. : This is aross-cx~minotion.

COLOt.-~ L HJ'..lJB Y: 'i"hc Leri I cr.tb r r v:ill r l·l € •·

COJ OI.fLL POBLE'i'E : Obj ection sus tainer.

Q l"t• r j n~ the month of 1''c bru~ry ,·:hn t er e e ne s un<1cr the

j urisriction of the ~cconr Eatte lion~

( V' j_ tnc ss l eft the v·i tnc s s s t cnr1 enr \':c nt to the J'l'!a p

st r n<1inP on the north well of t h€ courtroon .)

J. It V'E" S t he ~rrp inc lti~inr TE~ l up to t his river

her e , Pensipit River. l nr to Lv~c ~erl i ncluring Cuenca

r nr c: line fr om I.t. Lr colo~ t o Ibllon r nr up t o thr

Ce l uMprn River inclur ing Bc t an,~ s. Thi s s~oulr not in­

c l ur c the CDlumpcn Pc ni nsu l r b CC C'U SC it Y/E' S r1~11 of p.vcr­

rillr s.-

C •• nr, trc Ecconr Bvttclion \'J E' S t l:c only J apr nc sc 1. r My

opcr r. tinp. ~ n tha t r r ce ~ ur inp t ltc r11onth of F ebruar y 1945?

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no , thcrt wcr t othlr units.

r:hot uer E: thry?

( .

~ R . GU":'lfRIL: I 'll v:ithrra\'J the que-stion, l et's

procref' .

Q But as f l' r E'S you knm·!, the only JC!rrnesc unit thvt

pr-rticipete-r i n the Tee l £xpcrit1on enr the Deu~n cxpe~i­

tion thot hE?s been tfstifiu, to, VJtS thE. unit froJ11 the

Sc con~ Brttalicn1

A In the experition to Tael, the art i ll€ry also p&r-

ticipatc~. V!arrant Officer Hosake of the artillE'ry par­

ticipater in that c xpcr ~ tion.

Q But at that time hf was attacher to tht: unit fron

the Seconr Battalion~

( Unrcr v:hosc or~crs , .. as Ho~Aka act ing at 'Taal~

A An or rE:r came froM Colom. l Fuj ishig<: to Sato v1ho

~as the chief of t he artillE:ry, he ~as the artillE:ry com­

man~er. The or~ cr wes for Warrant Officer Hosaka to coJllc

unre-r the corwianr of r.1cut€nant Takfmoto to part~_cipetr

in th£ cxpc~ition.

Q

A

Q

Q

J..

Q

,/ Anff \7as Eag:J.no on thc ·expc~ i tion to Bauan?

Yc;s.

J.nrl Fukuoka?

Yes.

Anr, th<: saJ'llc is true of Jl.~ o p,a 111?

~ Yes ••

J..n~ the saJ11e is also true of Kobayashi?

Ji y cs •" .

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Q Was Kato a t Bouan?

!IR. GUTHRIE: The prosecution has compl eter

its cross-cxanination of this witness.

REI'IfiEC1' :CXAi I NJ..T ION

BY ~tf( . BERrL/1RJ' :

Q Y1r rc all thesc officer s you jus t r11cntionc~ unrE r the

commanA of Lieutenant Takemoto?

A Yes .

MR. BLR11JJP': That is al l .

f~. GUTHP.IE: The rrosecuti on has no fur the r

questions .

COLONBL HJ.i l3Y : Questions b y the Comnission?

Ther e aprEaring to be none , the ~itness i s excuse~.

('"'itn€ss cxcuscA .)

COLONEL HAMBY: J. t this tim£ the ComJ'llission \'Jill

r ecess until 1300 hours t his r ote.

(Th~ Comrii ssion r £ccsscr at 1030 hours to reconvene

at 1300 hours this ~etc .)

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(The Commission met , pursuant to recess, at 1300

hours .)

COLONEL HAMBY: The Commission is in session,

MR . GUTIIRIEs Sir, all members of t he Comrr.1ss:ton

are pr esent, the accused er e present, together with

their personal interpreters, defense counsels and

prosecution counsel are present, reporters, interpreters

end all other personnal of the court are present .

At the conclusion of the sess ion this morning a

defense witness , Saburo Owari, was on the stand and

was being exemined by the defense on redirect-examination.

The examination of this witness had been completed by

both the pr osecution and the defense and the witness

had been excused .

COLONEL HAMBYs The defense may proceed,

MR. MORRISON: Off-the-record please .

(Off-record discussion.)

MR. MORRISON: The defense calls as its

next witness, Lieutenant Valentin !fayuga ... -

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Vt.LENTIN L!AYUGA,

a witness for the defense, being fir st duly sworn,

t ostificd ns follows.

DIRECT EXAMINATION

BY MR. !IORRISONs .,

Q What is your full nam(;?

A Velont1n Mayuga.

Q You are a member or th€ PhilippinEl Army?

A I am a commissioned off 1cer of the Philippine

Q Lieutenant Mayuga, do you rocall the month of

Februery 1945?

A Yes, sir.

Army.

Q What wer o you doing on February 16, 17, !ild 18,

1945?

A On those dates, s ir, I was at our h€adquarters,

guerrilla headquarters, in Batangas.

Q You were in gunr rilla hc adquart<.rs a t Batangas?

A Yes, sir.

Q What was your r~nk in t he guerrillas?

A I was D M-:- j or •

Q A Mejor?

A Yes.

Q How meny man d id you hc:ve IUldcr your command in tho

guerrillas?

A Formerly, I wcs sn organi zor of one company.

Q ~ Tow long vrnr o yon in tt.o grn, rrilla s ?

A 1 beg your perdon?

Q l!ow long ~1:: ro you a member of the gue r i: ill[I s ?

•

A I or~anizod my own gucr r illD unit, sine ~ November, 1942.

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Q How many men di d you hevo under ycur command

in the guerrillas during the month of Fobrur r y, 1945?

A I have around 700 officers and men, sir, un~ cr

my commf.lnd.

Q Whore were the mRjority of your cen strtionod?

A My mejority of my men C' r e s tPt1one:d in BatPngns,

!atangas ..

Q Were any of your men ste.tionad in the vicinity

of Tanl and Baunn?

A Well, in Tanl, sir, I heve only my opf)rc.tives.

Q How mnny operatives?

A I have six intelligence oporetivcs.

Q And you say the mPjority of yow- men --.

A Arc in ~ Batengas , sir.

Q We r c they in the c1 ty its elf or the out.lying ber!' ios.

A Thay ~r e: in the outlying berr:tos, s ir.

Q Do you r oce.11 tho datec of Fcbru~ry 16, l?, end 18,

1945?

A Yos, sir.

Q '1!111 you pler sc tcJ 1 us whnt hepponed on those dates?

A On tho~e dates my intelligence opor etivcs r cport0d

thP.t the J ?panesn ~oln icrs st~tioncd in Cuc~ca; · Batangr s,

and San Luis, Batanga s , killed r ll t he civilians in tho

barrios of TP.:tl, killed all ·;;he ci,,ilinns in Te =il, sir.

Q Did your mon sustf'in •my c· ~LP lti t. B 1'1 the ftghting

in Taal on Febru2ry 16, 17 or 18, 1945?

MR . GUTHRIE: Th~t is objected to as assuming

a r~ct not in evidence . Ther e i s no reference , ther e

hns been no ref cr cncc in t he evidence, tbB t the r e t·ms cny

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fighting in Tael anc I submit thct the quest ion mny be

mislcnding to thiLJ witness.

?IB. MORRISON: I will rophrnso the quc stion,

sir.

Q Wes thGr o ~ny fighting in Tacl on FcbruPry 16, 17,

18, 1945?

A Thoro Vias no fighting, sir.

Q Ther e wos no fighting?

A No.

Q On those detcs did your men sust~in P- ny c~sualtics?

Did any of your men who wcrt loc:-1 t €d ncmr the town of

Taal on February 16, 17 and 18, 1945, su~tain nny

ca~;ualties? ·

A Non6 of my men , sir , during those dates , sustained

casualties .

Q Did your men sustain any C!'Suoltios in tho month

of February, 1945''1

A None of my men in · Bat~ngN1 , ~Batengr.s , sus t 2inod

ce.sualtios .

Q Did any or your men in F'0bruury, 1945, st r tioned

outside or Bntengas, sustr. in E4ny cr fiue ltics?

A In BctnngPs, Bat=-'ng~ s, n1r, thPt ts 9 t own in

Bgtang~s province.

Q I mean di d ~ny of your men, s t r tioncd in the brrrios

in tho vi cinity of T e~l, sustr in ~ny cr~urlti~s on

Februr ry 16, 17 encl 18, 1945?

A Nono, s ir.

Q Did any of the. mon under your comr.irnd ever cngego

in rny fighting in Fc:brnary, 1945?

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.MR. GUTHRIEs Thot is objected to unloss

the question - tho question is objectod to in that form

unles s tho counsel will specify the plnco ho is asking

as to fighting.

COLONEL F..AMBY: Do you desire to rophrAse

the question'?

MR. MORRISONs Yes, sir.

Q Did any of your men inflict any cr.sualties on the

Jnpancso in tho month of Febru~ry, 194?, in the vicinity ·

of Taal? '

A Nono of my men undor my command, sir, inflicted

any casualties against the Japanose on Februnry 16, 1945.

Q Do you lmow if ther e wos any fighting bet ween

gnorr1llas and J apanese 1n the month of Fcbruery, 1945,

in the vicinity of Toal, Bantang~s?

A I hPvo not heard, no, sir, of any fighting in

Fcbrunry 16, 1945, in Taal,

Q Were ther e nny guerrilles st ~ tionod in tho vicinity

of TaeJ in February, 1945?

A My intolligonce opcr Ptivos , sir. Somo of my

intelligence opor r tivcs er e in Tanl and in other towns

of Bentangas.

Q Were any gu~rrilla f orcos loc~tod 1n the vicinity

of Teal during 194$, 1n February,1945?

A There are no guerrilla armed forces located in

the vicinity of Taal 1n February, 1945?

Q None?

A There are no armed guerrilla forces located in

Taal in February, 1945, sir,

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Q I ask you if there were any guerrilla forces

located in the vicinity, that is in the outlying

barrios of Taal in F~bruary, 1945?

A There ar€ no guerrilla forces, sir, in the vicinity

of Taal in February, 1945.

Q Are you famili~r with the town of tmabud?

A That is a barrio, sir, not a town.

Q W~re there any guerrilla forces loceted in the

barrio of Maabud durin~ February, 1945?

A As far as I remember, sir, the guerrilla members

ere in the barr ios, are living in the mountains in

February, 1945.

Q They are living in t h-1 mountains?

A Yes, sir .

Q About how far were those guerrillas from the town

of Taal, Batangr s?

A Around fifteen miles, sir , from tho town.

Q Did any of those men engage in any fighting

in January or Febru.::ry, 1945?

A Well, during the l •1nding, ~ir, j .n Nasugbu, the

guerrillas, during the l andine C'f ~rnerican force~,

on January 31, 1945, the guerrillc:s met t he libereting

forc es . They joined the Amer ic&n forces in fighting

against the J apanese.

Q Wera they ever ongagcd in any othor fighting?

A As far JS I remember, sir, I don't know of any

engagements th ~t they ~ver had.

Q Wero any member s o: your co~~and evor wounded

in Jenu~ry or February, 1945?

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A No member of my command, sir, we s ,·1ounded. .. n

February, 1945.

Q Wer o any of thE' members of your coJ"llmand ever

killed in Januvry or FebruPry, 1945~

A No member of my command vms killed in February

or in Janurry, 1945.

Q Do you know if any casualties wer e inflicted

by guerrillas in Janu~ry and Februaxy, 1945, in the

vicinity of Taal end Bauani

A Whet I remcmb~r, sir, dr c the c r sunlties of

Japanese ~gainst tho civilicns, s ir.

Q Tho J apanese sus t ained CP. sunlties rs tnc r esult

of whet?

A What I r emember, s ir, ere the casualties sus tained

by the Japnnese against the civilians in Bauan.

Q The civilians in Bauen inflicted casualties on

the J r p::1nc::sc?

A No, sir, the civ1li8ns did not inflict any

casuBltios agoins t the Jopsnese in Bauan.

Q I ask you if you know of ~ny cesualties inflicted

on the Japanese during tho month of Febru6ry and January,

1945, by guerrilla forc os .

A I don't know of flny c~ sur. l tics, s ir.

Q Do you r Gcr;ll t <.. l ling me tr~ t t he.re wns fighting

b~twnon J npanesc anC. 1:7u0rr1.lla rorccs in which guerrillas

inflicted casu~ lties on the Jn n~ncso and killed ~omc

JapanC"sc .

Am . Gur~IE: Thet ques tion i s obj ect ed to.

It is opp~rcntly an ettempt by cou~s ~l t o impcnch his own

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witnos:J. .. , nv heis not. l Aid uny f ow1dr ti on f or such

impcrchmont. It i s permissible f or a p~rty who

cRlls n witness to impeach his own witnvss under

curtri in circumstoncos whore ho hns bcon t aken by

surprise , but whore the t est i mony of the witnass

mer ely fails to come up t o thL cxpoct~tions of tho

por son who has c~llcd him, t~1et i s not n proper

grounds for permitting his impeachment.

lffi. MORRISON: May I answer th~t sir?

MR. GUTHRIE s I h:-ivo one more stctemcnt.

The rulo is ucll settled thot when e pr rty c~lls c

witness, he vouches for him end ho is bound by his

t est i mony.

Mn . MORRI SONs I believe thG rule is also

well s ettled, if the Commiss i on plc~ s0 , th2t whon n

witness testifies contrary to vihAt ho ha s stfltod a t

some other time , the ono propounding tho questions

is entitled to quc~tion him as to hts former testimony

or s tatmcnts, not to impeach hie ~rt14.1b111t1 but

merely to neutralize his f ormer stnt ements. I am

not trying to impe~ch this m~n• s t estimony, merely

t o neutralize his former stetomcnts. ! should further

like to s vy th~: t I have been t~ken by surprise , in

viow of t he f r et the t tho witness hf's str. t cd s ome­

thing contr~ry to whe t lm stot~d to mo , r cviously

while I m~s speaking to him, nnd thG only wny I cnn

lay ll foundPtion f or that ts t o qu<.. ~ti on t he \\fitness

to whoth~r or not he did m~kc c st ~tcmont.

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COLONEL POBLETE s Objecti on ovorrul od. The I

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Q Lieutenant, do you remember saying to me tha't there

was fi ghting between the guerrillas and Japanese in Taal

on February 16, 17 and 18? That is February 16 , 17 and 18,

1945?

A What I remember to have told you, sir, that there was

fighting between guerrillas and Japanese when they were

with the .American forces. May I repeat my statement?

Certainly•

A What I remember I told you there was fighti ng between

guerrillas and Japanese when the American forces were there.

Q Was that fighting in the vicinity of Taal?

A Of course the fighting was in the vicinity of Taal.

Q What was the date of tnat fighting?

A On or about March 2, sir.

Q I now ask you again, wa s there any fighting in Tlltll

between the guerrillas and the J apanese on Februa ry 16, 17

and 18, 1945?

A I don't remember, sir, of a.ny fighting on the streets

between the ~uerrillas and the Japanese.

Q You think it possible that there may have been ti¢1t-

ing which you do not remember?

A Aa the time only, one yeCl.r, -- as almost on e and one

half years have elapsed I think my memory is still fresh

and it did not happen that there w~s fi ghting there wit~

out my Knowledge.

Q where WQS your headquarters locat ed?

A In Mt. Conde. I

Q How f ar away is that place from Tae.l?

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A That is thirty-eight kilometers, sir, from Taal,

Q You stated before tha t you had about 700 men under

your command in Taal on February 1945, or rather at

Batangas?

A At Batangas, Batangas, sir, not in Taal.

Q Do you recall saying to me about 800?

A I told you, sir, around 700 at Batang~s, Butangas,

Q In February 1945 you knew Judge Juan K. Solis?

A I know him personally, sir.

Q Did ha know that you were a member of ~he guerrillas?

A Of oourse , sir, during the Japanese time, to be a

member of the guerrilla s is higOJ.y confidential and my

mother and members of my family don't even know. How much

more Judge Solis knew I don't ~now, I have no relntionship

with him and during the Japanese time, sir, Judge Solis was

living in the town and I can still remember tha t he be­

came a municipal secreto.ry ot Taul.

Q Do you remember saying to me that Judge Solis knew

you well and that he ~new you were a guerrilia?

A What is, what I told you is that I know Judge Solis

pe rsonlll.ly.

Q Do you remamber telling me thnt Judge Solis knew

that you wero in the guerrill~s!

A ' What I told you, sir, is that I ltnow Judge Solis

personally,

Q Didn 1 t you also say to raCl that ~udge Solis knew

you were in the guerrilla s?

A I did not ever tell you, sir, what I told you is

that I know Judge Solis personally because during the

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MR. MORRISON& That le enough, I'll question

you on another one.

Q Do you know Juanita Barriont

A I know her, sir.

Q How long did you know her?

A I have known her since my boyhood because she is my

close reln.tive, sir.

Q Did she know you were in the gu_errillns in Februnry

1945?

A She knew thnt I was in a guerrilla unit even before

February 1945 --

MR. MORRISON: All right, you have stated thnt

she knew, Lieutenant, that is sutfioient.

A Yes, sir, thnt is off1oinl.

Q Did you know Milagros Bnrrlon of 'l'aal? I'll re-

pent tho question, did you know Milagros Bnrrion of Tat;q.

in February 1945 lllld for some timo prior to that datef

A I have known, sir, Milagros Barrion being the

sister of Juanita Barrion and they ore my close relatives.

Q Do you .1tnow her present whereabouts at this time?

Do you know her present addreos at t his time?

A At present they are in Bo.tnngas, Bnt n.ngas.

Q Does she attend the Philippine Women's College at

ManilaT

A Milagros Bo.rrlon, woll, ho~ sister told me last

semester thBt she will ntten4 tho Philippine Women's . . .

University. I do not know, sir, whether eho is really

there or not,

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Q Did she know you were a member ot the guorr1llns

in Febru~ry 1945 nnd for some time prior thereto?

A Those people being my close relatives knew or could

detect 'thnt I wne a member ot the guerrillas or some un­

derground movement.

Q Did thoy Know you were in the guex•rillne in FebrU-

ary 1945 nnd some time prior thereto?

A They h::i.d known me to bo a gucrrilln prior to Febru..

o.r y 1945.

Q How long wcr~ your headquarters, your guerrilla

headquarters in Bntnngne, Bntnnga.et

A Around, raore or less tw0lvo· m1les from the town.

Q No, you m1sundoretand mo . For how long wore your

headquarters at B~tnngne, Bntnngoe?

A Sinoo last September tno .ton th 1944 •

. Q And tbn• ls ,tbe ·p1ao• whewe ·rou 1G1d y.ou had about

700 men under your oommnnd?

A Well, the first time when I hnd my headqunrters

there, of course the numbers increased month by month

or yeo.r by 1.ear.

Q Prior to being atnt1oned in Batmg".s, Ba.tnng~s,

ntter you were stationed in Bntnngas, Batnngns, where

did you operate from!

A Prior to thnt, sir, I operated in tho mountains

bordering Lrtlt~ Ta::U. , those mountains that surround Lake

Taal. .

Q How f ~r are the mountnine from the town of TnnlT

A Moro th::m twenty nilos; sir.

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Did npproximntely 700 mon, thD.t is guerrillns,

under your corn:umd while you · were stationed at Bo.tnngns

engage in any fighting prior .to Mo.rch 1945?

A Prior to Mnrch 1945 none of my oen had ever been

engaged in actuL\l coobat ognins t the Japnnoee.

Q What do you aeM by •notunl oombo.t 11 ?

A ThD.t monns f 1ght1ng ngainst the Japanese arm to

arr.t , or you know, there nre different WD.Y s fighting

tho enemy.

Q Did they do any shooting against the J ap:uie se in

February 1945?

A None ot my men, sir, did ony shooting ngninat the

J11p~nesa .

Q Did they do nny shooting agninet t he Jap~ese in

January ·1945·1

A Neither, sir.

Q Di d your 700 guerrillns do rny shooting nt nll

agninst the Japanese?

A When the Afilerioo.n forces l :mded, when tho Amer1onn

forces arrived in my sector, r.1y unit was nttnched to the

American fopeee nnd we did soi.le fighting agllinst the

J npnnese and supplied the ~uerioan forces with intelli­

gence roports in i•agc.rd to t heir poei tion in different

places.

Q How r.1any openltl.W9a did you hnve in Tal'.l in the

uonth of Fubrunry 19457

A I had, in Februf.'.ry, I orm still rc .. 10Mber, I sent

two operatives in T~~l.

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Q How uany op,1r n.tiv0s did you h.~wc in Bnunn in Feb-

ruHr Y 1945?

n Woll, uy -- r.1y oporntives h l'l.d their own sectors.

I n B0unn, sir, I had six oporntivos.

Q Who.t wns the eeotor of which you h:\d oor.l;:tr.nd, wo.e

it the provinco ot B".t r.mgaa, toll ua Jus t whf'l.t 1 t wt.1.s?

A It w~s ovor severnl towns in Batnngaa.

Q, Will you pl enae tell us what tho so t owns are?

A Bntangas, Batangae, sir, Lobo, Sun Joeu, Ibo.an,

Roao.rio, Tv.ysan, Lipn, Tiaong , o.nd Ialu Verde Island.

Tho s o o.re only the ~.min plc.oe s nher o tho r .. er~bers of uy

oon:.iand ox.1e fro.:1 in a o.t angr.s, an.tangns.

Q When you Sfl.Y 11 c ti .. .10 fro .. 1" do you ~i~.'ln were sto. t ione d

the ro?

~ No , cir, that ! :cnns the 1:w::bers of ny comJ.'1Jld h n.d

t ho1r rea1donco in thoF~C pl n.ooa.

Q, Did your sector include the town of Lu1.lcry?

A Th1.t is not included in 1:1y soctor,

Q Did your sector inol1.i<.i.o tho towns of Tno.l rmd

Bo.u~n?

A tfhen 1 t cones to intalligonoe opora\1.ve ·:lY soc tor

covers na f :".r c.s iA ..... nil:.\ fro:.1 Bntnngl'.s ,

~ Aside fron intelli~onco operntivos wh~t is the

olosost barrio to B~~~n ~~d T~~l in which you h~d guor-

rill c a under your COLL 1. md?

A Tho closest bnrrio, ot couro~, air, is the b~rrio

of Bo. tt'lngn.s, an t r.>.ng<·.s , th". t i D thd bo.rr1 o of Bnn1\bn,

thf'. t 10 bet\100n B~.lt~n ::ncl i3.:•.t nn ?.;nn, Bt•.t l.\.ntt;ns.

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Q Do you recall snying to me you had guerrillas ato.-

tioned in Maabud in February 1945?

A I had my intellige nce operatives go as far as that

plac e.

Q Were you evar wounded while in the guerrillas?

A.. I was never wounded, sir.

Q Were any of the r.1embers of your oonmand wounded?

A No member, oo, sir.

·Q So you had a peaceful time in the guerrillas?

A No, sir, but my men during the J apanese time, I

toll you frankly that the J apanese occupation in the

Philippines, during that t ime there were several hun­

dred thou~and put in n strategic plnce o.nd during that

time my raen could fight.

Q Could your men fight etfeotively by intelligence

reports many r.ionths before the Amoricnns co.me?

A Yes, sir.

Q Did your men ot ~ny time prior to March 1945

attempt to disrupt Japruiese oomr.1unioations or steal or

darJage or destroy Japanese supplies?

MR. GUTHRIE: I'll object to that question

unless counsel li~its it to the six ot his men that

wero in Bauan and the three or six of them that were

in Taal.

MR. MORRISON: If the Comeli. ssion please, this

witness testified that his operatives were there for

intelligence purposes only. I want to bring out the

fact these large guerrilla fol"oes did not si111ply furnish

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intelligence reports which ia what would be implied, thnt

these guerrillas infl~cted several oaeualtiee by harassing

then and by damaging thoir suppliae. The six operatives

were there for intelligence purposes. I £UJ trying to

bring out the tact that these guerrillas harassed the

Japaneao by disrupting their communication lines and

stealing their supplies prior to Morch 1945.

COLONEL fWamY: You e.vidontly ar\3 having a d1t­

t1cul t time trying to bring this out with this w1~ness.

Does the prosecutor desire to answer that argument!

MR. GUTHRIE: No, air.

COLONEL HAMBY: The L~w Me~bar will rule.

COLONEL POBLETE: Objection overruled, the

Witness nay answer.

Q Will you plense state whether any guerrillas under

your ooonnnd prior to March 1945 de Gtroyed or dnml.lged

any Japnnese supplies?

A The aeL1bers of oy cor.mo.nd, sir, out eorae communico.-

tion wires in Batnngne, Bntnngns and made some sabotage

work in Batoogns, Batangas.

Q In tho city of B1tnnRas or in tho barrios outside

of Bntnngas?

A The location of tho Jap~neso was in towns nnd

barrios. So:ie -were in towns and soue wore in bnrrios.

Q And did they try or steal any J apf.lileac supplies

prior to ~arch 1945?

~ Prior to Mnrch 1945 none of 1:iy men wore able to

steal supplies becnuse upon the landing of the Ai~ericans

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11 in Leyte they took their supplies 1n suoh n way that they

had so Ol\llY guards to gu~rd it.

Q Did your a en attecpt to steal or destroy Japnnese

supplies whioh wore guarded by the Jnp~nese?

" My men, I never ordered my men to attempt to steo.l ·

supplies becnuse it was futile due to the heavy guarded

areas ot the Japo.nese in the barrios.

Q If they wore not heavily guarded would you have per-

,·,11 tted them to steal Japanese supplies?

MR. GUTHRIE: Objection, 1 t is ob,jected to on

the ground it is epeculet1vo nnd going t ar afield.

MR. MORRISON: If it were not tor the fact

these supplies wero heavily guarded they c ay have attacked \

then a..~d destroyed theu.

COLONEL HAMBY: The Law Meuber Will rule,

COLONEL POBLETE: Objeotiob austained.

Q Did you peri.li t your r.10n to cut the oor.municnt1on

wires?

A I perr.i1tted ray men to cut the oommunicntion wires

which were tar from the Jnpanesc garrisons.

Q Did any of your oen prior to March 1945 inflict

any dlltlage on the Japanese equipaont other thoo cor:mu­

nicntion wires?

A When it cones to supplies, of arued Japanese SUP-

plies, none of rilY uen ever attempted to got o.ny supplies.

Q Do you know of o.ny Jap~nese weapons being stolen

prior to March 19451

A No, sir, I do not.

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Q What w~s t he function of the 700 a en under your com-

aand?

A I will tell you. I had my heodqunrters in Mt '. Condo,

Bat nngas , I had twenty men stationed there ns intelligence

operatives and all our reports went to the genern.i head­

quarte rs which were forwArdod to six a1litary stations at

Bo.truigas.

Q Would you say about thirty nan were engaged in those

reports, in r.lD.king up those r eports?

A I did not say thirty aen but there i s twenty raen

lllraost every aonth.

Q What happened to the other 650 oen, what di d they do?

A Tho 650 ocn t hnt nre ac tual aeabers of ray oomannd,

wo have a r oster in such n way because during that tirae ,

due to the scarcity of ar os , we could not fight the J apa...

nese with intelligence r eports.

Q How r.1any of your aen were arr.1ed ot the 700, how many

had weapons?

A You know we hnve our ooabat troops and they are

somewhere in the mounto.i.ns .

Q How aany of your a cn woro ooabat troops?

A During t ho Ai.ierioo.n landings, sir --

Q i~o , let's forget t he Ar.ie r1onn landings nnd tell oe

about how nony ~en were cocbat 'roops?

A J\l.:iost u rep;iuent.

Q They were under nrr.1s in February 1945?

A No, sir.

Q How aany were unde~ ~vws in February 1945?

·~

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We have very few arms, that is, before the lt.merican

forces landed we had very few arms.

How long a time did those men ca rry weapons?

~ Since they became membe r s of riiy headquarters, I

can 1 t remember.

Q hpproximately how long?

,~ Induction of those men I cannot remember and I had

my own adjutant.

Would you say that sever al hundred men under your

command were armed with weapons tor s everal months prior

to March 1945?

i~ No, sir.

You stated that approximately a regiment of your men

A No, not men, sir, of our unit.

Q How many men under your com~and wero anned With

weapons in February 1945;

~ Under my, I can't remember, air.

Q Approximately?

1-.. I have four teen men.

~ Fourteen out of 700 m0n in February 1945 were under

arms?

A Yes, sir.

Were you under an-.lS?

,i I, sir?

Q Yea ...

I' A Yes , I have been ar1ocd, sir.

Q For how long?

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' '~ Well, I £Ull a r:Jocl s1noo I becano or since I 'pagan

my orp;an1 znt1 on because f'~::>or.t the ti;:io I orp.r.•n1 zed I had

been living in the mountaino and I naver go to town.

i..iR. UOlUUSONs Your wi tnosa.

COLONEL H,~BY: The Co: 1m1asion will t nke a

short roceaa.

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COLONEL HAMBY: The Commission is in session.

'1m. GUTHRIEs Sir, there is no cross-examination

of the last witness.

COLONEL HAMd!s Any questions by the Commission?

EXAMINATION BY THE COMMISSION

BY COLONEL POBLETEs

Q When did you say the American force. landed in

Nasugbu?

A January 31, 1945, sir.

Q Did you join the American forces then?

A I joined the Am~rican rorces,sir, in March 6, 1945.

Q Do you know where the American forces were from

February 16 to February 18 of 1945?

A The American forces were in Nasugbu, going to Tagaytay.

From there they are clearing the way from Nasugbu and then

they are going to the city of Manila.

Q Did they pass Taal on thoir way to the city of Manila ~

from Nasugbu?

A No, sir, they passed through Tagaytay, sir.

COLONEL LAWHON: Who was your immodinto superior

officer in the guerrillas?

A My immediate superior officer?

Q Yes.

A Do you mean the r egimental commander or the overall

commander?

Q Your immediate commander.

A Colonel Amado Ilagan.

Q Wher e was his hcadqunrtcrs located in February 1945?

A In Fcbrua~l' 1945, sir, his hce.dqunrtcrs, sir, is

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locatr;d in A r emot e bnrrio of TnP.l, s 1r.

Q Will :"oU 1nd1cr.t~ on the mep?

A (VT1tncss 1nd1cnt0d on the w<.11 mcp.) Somewhc.r c 1n

hero, sir.

~ Will you spell it for the r eporters?

A The hoP.tlquarters, during thnt time, was be ing

trnnsf~rrcd from pl~ce to place b~cPuse during the landing

of the Americ~ns in N~s~gbu, in JPnu~ry, 1945, the

Jcpe.neso werA vory act:J.vo in tho l:t.bet'ntod nroas. Thnt

is why the hoAdquart€rs was being tr~nsfc rred from place

to place. I wr. s st~tionod, durinr that time, in Bat~ngos,

Batangas; I still rome~ber th~ t r t on~ timo ,I do not

know whnt detc, their hc~dqunrtors happcnod to be here in

San Cr.rlos. I think it is somev1hc.. r c 1n - I ct:in 1t r emember,

sir, because my operatives ~re the onos who went to the

regimentPl hoadquortcrs ~nd mrdc r oports, whilo I steycd

in my hc~dqu~rtcrs in Batangas, .Batengas. ·

Q D1C you r ccoivc ~ny r eports of ~uarrilla activity

in the pcnninsula ~t the bottom, lower l eft of the map

there?

A Yes, sir, we hl\d hcod~un1·tcrs, sir, or the Blue

Fagle and tho ROTC there durine the N~sugbu landings.

COLO~T.L m:MBY2 Tht: witness if' excused.

(Witness excused.)

MR. MORRISON: Tho dcf cnso calls, as its next

witntss, Lieutenant Ueno Tnmeht1ya.

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UENO TAMEHAYA,

a witness for the defense, being first duly sworn,

testified as follows throu~h interpreters Taccad and

Nishihara.

DIRECT EXAMINATION

BY MR. MORRISON s

MR. MORRISON: Will the prosecution please

rdvise the witness of his rights egAinst self incrlmin~tion.

MR. GUTP.HIE: Stat e your nrme for the r €cord.

THE WITNESS: Ueno Tamohaya.

MR. GUTiffiIE: At the present time: you ar c a

prisoner of war, is that correct?

THE WITNESS: Yos .

MR. GUTHRIE: I will adviso you the.t as a

witness 1n these proc~cdings you hAve certain rights.

Among those rights Dr e the right thAt you sh~ll not be

compellt d to give nny answer which would t end to discr€dit

you or incriminat e you in any l r. tor criminal proceeding.

I will further ndvisc you thAt you . must in oech instance

claim th?. t right. Do you understand the expl anation of

your rights as I have just stnt ed them to you?

TP.E 11/ITNESS: Yes.

BY MR. MORRISON:

Q Wore you a member of the J~pAncse Armod Forces?

A Yes.

Q WhE't was your r :mk?

A First Lieutenant.

Q Whnt was your orgrniz~tion?

The Ichimurn unit.

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q By "Ichimurc unit" do you mcen thE> second b:--ttalion

of Colonel Fujishigc's r egiment?

t. Yes .

Q Wh~t wer e your duties in thet bnt ta lion?

A ~cdical officer.

Q Did you over trea t any members of that o~:ganization

for wounds in Fcbruery, 1945?

A Yes .

Q Can you r emember having trc~ tcd anyone by nPme 1n

February 16, 17 or 18, 1945?

A I do not r emember tho nemcs .

Q Do you r emember having tre~t€d any officers for

wounds on those dates?

Yes .

Q Whr.t Vlf'S thE: namo, or nPme s, of the officers you

treated on Februery 16, 17 or 18, 1945?

~ The dat es might be n little off. However, I r ccell

thPt I treo t od First LicutenPnt H~gino.

Q Do you know the ne1ture of Hrigino ' s wound?

A It was a flesh woum c::iusod by ~ bullet.

Q Did he sP.y who inflicted th.; wound?

MR. GUTHRIF: That is objected t o as not tm

best evi dence . Hagino is present in court. Ho c~n

t estify about his own wound much bettor thfln the doctor,

except ns to the nature of tho wound nnd tho medical

condition of the wound, but ns to v1ho inflicted tho

wound, Hagino's t estimony i s the best evidence .

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COLONEL HAMBY: The L~w Member will rule.

COLONEL POBLETE: Objection overruled. The

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witness moy r nswor.

A He s2 id th~ t he wns ;i ttt1 cl::ed by gucrrillAs .

Q Did you treat 8ny other members of tho s0cond

battalion on February 16, 17 or 18, 1945~ for wounds

inflicted by guerrillas P.nd, if so, how mrny men did

you trc"t for wounds .

A Yes, I did. However, I do not rcmembor the dctos.

Q How mnny men did you treot from the second

battalion for wounds inflicted by guerrillas.

A I r£mcmbcr that thoro wer e between twenty ond thirty.

Q Wher e wor e you stetioncd at the time you trcP.tod

those wounded men?

t. At Di ta.

Q How is it th~ t those men were trort cd in Dita for

wounds?

A Thllt was bccAuse the d1.sponsnry wa s at Dita.

Q Did you trcnt nll wounds sustoinod by your men,

rogardlnss of their severity?

A Yes.

Q Will you t ell us nga in the dP ~o thr t you treat ed

Hr. gino for his wound?

t It wns in the month of Fcbruery, but I do not

r emember the date.

Q Did you treat cny casualties sust~ ined in the Ta~l

expedition which took place on or about FebruAry 16, 17

or 18, 1945?

A Yos.

Q How many did you trea t?

A I r emember thnt I r eported About seven or eight.

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lm. MORRISON: No further questions.

CROSS-EXJ.MINh T ION

BY rm . GtJl'J-IBIE:

Q These wounds you t nlk about, you don't know how

they w~ro incurred do you?

A No , I do not, I he8rd obout them later from the

patients themselves.

Q They could have bocn incurred by American planes

strnfing these J~p~nesc t roops , could they not?

l The petients I have mentioned bofore, there wcrr

no possibilities of such wounds.

Q Why?

A That is because I hc ~rd from the patients t hem-

selves th~ t they wore wounded by the guerrillas.

Q But you don't lmow except for vrhat they told you,

but th~t the plones m~y hevo strofod them?

A Yes .

Q Wer e you there when they v1er c wound ed?

A No.

Q You ~ on'+, \cyl_;)w whnther you trc.l=!ted Lieutencnt Hagino bo-

fon: the 16, 17, or 18th of Fobrunry or during those d~ys

or whether 1lt war cftor thP. t time?

A I ~m not clear ~s to the detes .

MR. GUTHRIE: Thv.t is all.

~1R . MORRISONs No further questions, sir.

COLONEL HAMBY: Any quc::s tions by members of

the Commiss ion? ThGrc apponr to be none . The witness is

excused. (Witnes~ excused .)

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MR. BERNl~RD : The dcf onsc will int r oduc e ,

as i ts next witness, Shumpci H~gino.

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SP.UMPSJ Hl.GDia,

o witness in. bin own bLh~lr , being f ir~t duly sworn,

t cst 'if i od nr. follows throu;;h intc.rprc t c. rs T~ccr.d nnd

Nishihr.r~.

DJ.R~CT F.X :.MIN!.'i I('IN

BY ~m . BF..RN .~RD : Will the.. pr osecutor pl ease. ~dviso the

witne~ s nf his rights .

J.~. GUTHRIE: St!'t C your nPmc ,

T:'E WITNESS: Shumpoi J~r-gino .

~ . GUTHRIF: :.re: you rin accused in this

procc1..d 1ng?

TPF WI TNfSS : Y c s •

MR . GUTHRU~ : I v!ill ;'dvis o you ns to ccrtRin

rights you hove . ~s ~uch ~n 1ccuscd, you ~re not r equired

to t 0s tify in this C'"I !"'<.: unl<r.; s you W"nt to do so

volantP.rily, I will r.lso navisc you th~t if you do

tcst1..fy , on bch: lf of' your r-o lf, then t!r to the s11bjcct

m~tt~r which yon do t estify to you m:!y th~n be cross­

o:x-- :iln c-d Pnd asked que stions by tho pro~ccutor . Do you

und.cr st~nd vrhr.t I h '\VC S"" irl to ~rou'?

TEE ~ITNESS : I do ,

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MR. GUTHRIE: And after that explanation or

your rights, do YoU still desire to take the stand and

testify?

THE WITNESS: Yes.

MR. BERNARD: How old are you?

A Twenty-eight.

Q What was your rank in the Imperial Japanese Army?

A Second Lieutenant, Army.

Q

A

Q

To what organization were you attached?

Headquarters, Second Battalion, l?th Infantry Regiment. Where were you stationed from the end of 1944 until

your surrender?

A Dita.

Q Who ~as your commanding officer?

A Captain Ichimura.

Q And who was Captain Ichimura•s cemmanding officer?

A Colonel Fujishige.

Q What was your organization's greatest difficulty in

February, 1945'?

A Our biggest problem was that due to the activity of

the guerrillas. When and if the American forces landed, we

would not be able to oppose them effectively.

Q What area did your organization cover?

A May I point it out on the !lap?

Q Certainly.

4 (Witness went to the wall map.) On the west the area

under our unit was bounded by the Pans1p1t River, excluding

the town of Lemery, and including the town of Taal. We

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also hnd jurisdiction over the coasts ot Balayan Bay and

Batangas Bay, including the Calumpan Peninsula. To the

northeast and west our area started on the shores or

Taal Lake from a point called Mababang Parang and going

down to Barrio Mataasnakahoy to the junction of the road

between L1ngayen and Pinagtongolan. The boundary followed

this road up to San Jose; excluding the area of the town

of San Jose, it went down to the Batangas area, down to

the shores of Batangas Bay. This was our area.

Q During February 1945, was there ouch guerrilla ac-

t1v1 ty in the Bauan area, the Taal and the Bauan area?

A Yes, the guerrillas were very active . I will give

you a couple of examples. In the town or Batangas we

had one small arsenal where there were quantities or rifles

and pistols and some small arms and ammunition. The guer~

rillas attacked this place and carried off about 200

rifles and pistols and a great amount of small arms and

ammunition. Also in the town of Batangas the guerrillas suddenly attacked a supply depot. They shot down the

guards and took away all the supplies inside. This second

1, attack was during the early part of February.

Again when I went to Bauan, either in the 14th or

the 15th of February in connection with the removal ot

some telephone equipment and fixing up of food supplies

for the troops there, I was attacked by guerrillas. On

my way back from Bauan the oar in which I was riding was

suddenly fired upon and one or two soldiers were wounded.

One or the soldiers later died. I also sustained a wound

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• in the l eg. There were nleo other incidents of communicl\...

tion wires being cut and messengers and other enlisted

men on liaison duty would also be frequently attacked.

Q You said you were woundedf Did you get medical atten.,.

tion for that wound?

A Yea.

Q Who trea ted youf

A Lieutenant Ueae,,...who iras attached to the battalion

·~eadquarters, treated my wound.

Q What was the nature of your wound?

A It was 'l. grazing flesh wound, either by rifle or

pistol bullet or automatic rifle bullet.

Q Where was that wound?

A In t he leg.

Q Will you raise your trousers nnd show the CooUnission ., that wound?

(Witness complied.)

MR. BERNARD: Let t he record i~ow that the ao-

cused, Hagino, h~e shown ~ scar on his left leg.

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• Q ~on , \"1hat was don<' about that guerrilla activity,

do :rou know·;

;. The t. r r.iy Group Con'!ander gav<' an order for punitive

expeditions against the guerrillas, '

Q Who was 1 t that issued that orde-r·i

A Colonel Fujishige , the Group Co:-i.~and er, gave the

order to the Battalion Cor'IP.lander,

Q Who was Batisalion Con:;i::mder a t that tir.ie·;

A Captain Jchimura,

Q And t o ~hon did Captain Ichi~ura give the order

in turn 'i

A He order ed First LiButenant Takenoto t o carry out

the punitive expeditions.

Q Why didn't he car ry it out hi~sel f , do you knou~

P. l\t that time Captein Ichirnur a was. sick and could not

l eave on an expedition.

Q No\'1, what was that order 1

A The order was for thr Second Battalion to carry

punitive expeditions against Taal and its vicinity, that

is, within the area jurisdiction of the battalion in prep­

aration for th~ Am€rican l anding , .:nothcr order wa s given

for the carrying out of an expedition t o Bauan, they were

separate orders for differ ent expeditions and the strength

of those expeditions vterc also stated in the orders .

Q Did you partic1nate- in those expeditions~

I\ Ye s, I participa t ed in the expeditions to Taal and

Bauan.

Q Were you tn charge of those expE-di tions 'i

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• A ~he expedition COJ?U'llandcr was First Lieutenant T~kemoto.

'2 V!ho appoint€'d First Licut€nant Takc•moto in charge of

thosr expeditions~

~ Captain Ichimura.

Q Wer e you ever mistaken as thE' mnn in char gf by any-

ono·i'

A Lieutenant Takemoto and I resemble each other v~ry

closely and th€·r E' were many time:s when other persons mis­

t ook me for Li€Ut€nant Tak€moto or vice versa . Such was

the cas€ even back in H.anchuria and it is quit€ possible

that th€re were times during the expedition that I was

mistaken for the expedition commander.

Q On the expedition t o Taal what wer e your duties1

~ The Intendance officer did not go along on that

,, expedition so I t ook charg€ of the suppl1. E' s and the adr.iin­

istrative functions of thE expedition in his absence,

What were your dutj es on the oxpcdi ti on to Bauan ·1 Q

A I was in charg€ of supplies and procurer.tent of medical

sUplJlies.

Q Were you in or near th~ Bautista house at the tine

of thE explosion~

A Such things u0r e not included among r.iy duties. I was

not on the spot. I had gone once to thf church though but

w1ih r egard t o thG €~plosion I never gav€ such an ord~r nor

did I permit r.iy nen to do such a thing, Li0utenant Owari

wlio wa s a witness in this case can t estify t o the fa ct that

I wa s not at th€ spot of the expl osi on. He can also t estify

to the f act that I did not give an order for the explosion,

nor did I have anything to do with its pcrfor~mnac .

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I desir e that he be r ecalled so that he could t estify t o

what I hav€ just said. Bcfor € that J hed been at onc time

the platoon l cad€r of the gnrrison at B~uan . Fr on October

1944 t o the r.iiddle of Dccembt::r I VJa s thr pla t oon l eader

th£re. I knew r.iany peopl e ther e and the peopl e · koew .ny

name and face. It is possible that when I r eturned again

t o Bauan with the expedition th0 people took it f or grantod

that I was thf one in charg£. and gave all thr orders f or

all the things that hnppened ther e .

COLONrL H1".MBYs l\t t hi s tir:i(. the Cctlr.lissi rm

will r ecess until 0830 hours t onorrow .

(The Corn:iission ad j ~urned at 1500 hours, t o

rcconv0ne a t 0830 hours, 6 February 1947 .)

242

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