Testimony of Gregorio Ilao of San Jose, Batangas on his Experience of Japanese Atrocities in 1945
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The ruined Municipal Building in San Jose in 1945. Image credit: United States National Archives. |
[p. 38]
Q Please state your full name, age, address and nationality.
A Gregorio Ilao, 54 years old, Barrio Sabang, San Jose, Batangas Province, P.I., Filipino.
Q What is your occupation?
A Farmer, and a barrio lieutenant of Sabang, San Jose.
Q Do you intend to remain at your present address, and if not, how can your whereabouts in the future be ascertained?
A I intend to remain at my present address.
Q Do you know of any atrocity committed by the Japanese in the barrio of Sabang, San Jose, Batangas Province, P.I., on or about March 4, 1945?
A Yes.
Q Will you please tell us in detail what happened.
A On March 4, 1945, the Japanese left Sabang. Herminia Maquinto, aged 27; Maria Morales, aged 35; Felisa Morales, aged 30; Emeteria Salud, aged 40 and I went to the house of Herminia Maquinto at Sabang.
There, we saw the bodies of Esteban Perada, aged 40, husband of Maria Morales; Melecio Patron, aged 32, husband of Herminia Maquinto; Hilarion Magracia, aged 40, husband of Felisa Morales; and Regalado Ilao, son of Emeteria Salud. All had been bayoneted, with wounds on the back which went through the chest. All, except Regalado Ilao, were tied together with their hands behind their backs. We buried these four bodies in the dugout near the house of Herminia Maquinto in Sabang.
Q Do you know the names of any of the Japanese responsible for the massacre of these four persons?
A I did not actually see who killed these four. However, I know the name of one of the Japanese who was in Sabang during the time of the massacre. He was called Capt. Baba. He was about 5 feet 4 inches tall, heavy build, about 150 pounds, 35 years old, short-cropped hair. I believe he had two gold teeth in front, smooth shaven, good-looking, wore gold-rimmed glasses, slit eyes of brown color, fair complexion and always wore a saber. When I last saw him, he was with denim trousers and short-sleeved blue poplin shirt.
Q Can you describe any other Japanese who were in Sabang during the massacre of these four civilians?
A No.
Q Can you describe their insignia?
A No.
Q Do you know what unit they belonged to?
A No.
[p. 39]
Q Have you anything further to add to this statement?
A No.
/t/ GREGORIO ILAO
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES
PROVINCE OF BATANGAS
TOWN OF SAN JOSE
/t/ GREGORIO ILAO
/t/ ALLEN H. PEOPLES, Capt., CAC
Investigating Officer, War Crimes
Investigating Detachment.
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES
PROVINCE OF BATANGAS
TOWN OF SAN JOSE
/t/ ALFREDO CUEVAS
/t/ ALLEN H. PEOPLES, Capt., CAC
Investigating Officer, War Crimes
Investigating Detachment.
[p. 40]
Municipal Bldg., San Jose, Batangas Province, P.I. |
/s/ Allen H. Peoples /t/ ALLEN H. PEOPLES, Capt., CAC |
29 October 1945 |
/s/ Charles C. Thompson /t/ CHARLES C. THOMPSON, Capt., TC |