Testimony of Cipriano de la Peña on Japanese Atrocities Committed in Cuenca, Batangas in 1945
This page contains the testimony of Cipriano de la Peña on Japanese atrocities committed in the town of Cuenca, Batangas in 1945. The pages contained herein are now declassified and were part of compiled documentation1 of war crimes trials conducted by the United States Military Commission after the conclusion of World War II. This transcription has been corrected for grammar where necessary by Batangas History, Culture and Folklore. The pagination is as it was contained in the original document for citation purposes.
CIPRIANO DE LA PEÑA
DIRECT EXAMINATION
CROSS EXAMINATION
Notes and references:
1 “Excerpts from the Testimony of Cipriano de la Peña in U.S.A. v Tomoyuki Yamashita,” part of the U.S. Military Commission compilation of war crimes documentation, online at the Internet Archive.
[p. 1706]
called as witness on behalf of the Prosecution, being first duly sworn, was examined and testified as follows through Interpreter Lavengco:
CAPTAIN PACE: If it pleases the Commission, this case is dealing with the municipality of Cuenca, which is also in Batangas. Oh Exhibit 243, the town, the head of the municipal government of Cuenca, is located two kilometers east of the southern bay of Taal Lake.
GENERAL REYNOLDS: If this witness is to be interrogated through an interpreter, the Commission desires a second interpreter to sit with him and to check on his interpretation.
(Whereupon Interpreter Gojunco was called upon to act as a second interpreter.)
[p. 1707]
Q (By Captain Pace) Give your name, please.
A (Witness talking in native dialect.)
A (Witness talking in native dialect.)
CAPTAIN PACE: Will the Interpreter stop the witness and —
THE WITNESS (through the Interpreter): Cipriano de la Peña.
Q (By Captain Pace) Where do you live?
A Barrio Dita.
A Barrio Dita.
CAPTAIN PACE: The Commission will find that about three kilometers northeast of the town of Cuenca.
Q (By Captain Pace) Did you live there on February 3, 1945?
A No, sir.
Q Where did you live on February 3, 1945?
A Barrio Butal east of Dita.
Q How far east?
A It is about one kilometer from Barrio Dita.
Q What happened in the morning of February 3rd?
A We were caught by the Japanese at Barrio Butal, where we live. We were taken to Barrio Dita.
Q What happened to you in Dita?
A In the afternoon, we were tied with hands behind.
Q How many of you were there?
A We were 21.
Q What happened to you, then?
A We were taken to Binaglunang near the ravine. We were 21. We were shot. My companions who died were thrown into the ravine.
A No, sir.
Q Where did you live on February 3, 1945?
A Barrio Butal east of Dita.
Q How far east?
A It is about one kilometer from Barrio Dita.
Q What happened in the morning of February 3rd?
A We were caught by the Japanese at Barrio Butal, where we live. We were taken to Barrio Dita.
Q What happened to you in Dita?
A In the afternoon, we were tied with hands behind.
Q How many of you were there?
A We were 21.
Q What happened to you, then?
A We were taken to Binaglunang near the ravine. We were 21. We were shot. My companions who died were thrown into the ravine.
[p. 1708]
Q What killed your companions?
A Guns.
Q Were all 20 of them killed?
A Yes, sir.
Q Were you wounded?
A I fell down. Those who were dead fell on me. When I regained consciousness, it was quite dark.
Q Were you injured?
A I was not injured but I fell. I lost consciousness.
A Guns.
Q Were all 20 of them killed?
A Yes, sir.
Q Were you wounded?
A I fell down. Those who were dead fell on me. When I regained consciousness, it was quite dark.
Q Were you injured?
A I was not injured but I fell. I lost consciousness.
CAPTAIN PACE: You may cross examine.
Q (By Captain Reel) I think that you said that on the third day of February, you were caught by the Japanese at —
I did not get the name of the province. Do you know the name of the province?
CAPTAIN PACE: Butal; B-u-t-a-l.
CAPTAIN REEL: Butal? B-u-t-a-l.
CAPTAIN PACE: Yes.
Q (By Captain Reel) I think you testified that you were caught by the Japanese at Butal. Is that correct?
A We left the Barrio Butal. We were taken to Dita.
Q Will you tell us what you meant when you said you were “caught” at Butal?
A When we were caught, we were taken there to that barrio at that time.
A We left the Barrio Butal. We were taken to Dita.
Q Will you tell us what you meant when you said you were “caught” at Butal?
A When we were caught, we were taken there to that barrio at that time.
CAPTAIN REEL: Will you ask the witness again what he means when he says “caught?” Was somebody chasing him? Was he running? Let’s find out what he means by the word “caught.”
(Whereupon Interpreter Lavengco interrogated the witness.)
[p. 1709]
THE WITNESS (through Interpreter Lavengco): I was caught in Barrio Butal and we were taken to Barrio Dita and they caught us there.
Q (By Captain Reel) Were you engaged in fighting the Japanese?
A No, sir. We were driven there.
Q Were you at the time you were caught with any persons who were guerrillas?
A We not help guerrilla companions.
Q Were any guerrillas caught at Butal on that day?
A No, sir.
Q Did you go into the ravine of your own accord?
A No, sir. We were driven there.
Q Were you at the time you were caught with any persons who were guerrillas?
A We not help guerrilla companions.
Q Were any guerrillas caught at Butal on that day?
A No, sir.
Q Did you go into the ravine of your own accord?
INTERPRETER LAVENGCO: Will you repeat that, sir?
CAPTAIN REEL: Did you go into the ravine of your own accord, of your own volition?
A (through the Interpreter) Yes, sir. We were pushed over.
CAPTAIN REEL: No further questions.
(Witness excused.)
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| Photo taken during the war crimes trials in Manila. Image credit: U.S. National Archives. |
1 “Excerpts from the Testimony of Cipriano de la Peña in U.S.A. v Tomoyuki Yamashita,” part of the U.S. Military Commission compilation of war crimes documentation, online at the Internet Archive.