Testimony of Guillermo Aguila on Japanese Atrocities Committed in Cuenca, Batangas in 1945
This page contains the testimony of Guillermo Aguila 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.
GUILERMO AGUILA
[Batangas History, Culture & Folklore believes the first name above should be Guillermo.]
DIRECT EXAMINATION
CROSS EXAMINATION
Notes and references:
1 “Excerpts from the Testimony of Guillermo Aguila 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. 1742]
[Batangas History, Culture & Folklore believes the first name above should be Guillermo.]
called as witness on behalf of the Prosecution, being first duly sworn through Interpreter Gojungco, was examined and testified through the Interpreter as follows:
Q (By Captain Pace) Will you give your name, please?
A (Through Interpreter Gojunco) Guilermo [Guillermo] Aguila.
Q Where do you live?
A Barrio Labac, Cuenca, Batangas.
Q Did you live at Barrio Labac on the 7th day of March, 1945?
A Yes, sir.
Q Will you describe what happened on that date, please?
A In the morning of that day, one Japanese came and took
A (Through Interpreter Gojunco) Guilermo [Guillermo] Aguila.
Q Where do you live?
A Barrio Labac, Cuenca, Batangas.
Q Did you live at Barrio Labac on the 7th day of March, 1945?
A Yes, sir.
Q Will you describe what happened on that date, please?
A In the morning of that day, one Japanese came and took
[p. 1743]
me and my companions.
Q How many companions were with you?
A 18.
Q Where did they take you?
A We were brought to Dita, [a] Barrio of Cuenca.
Q What happened when you were taken to Dita?
A We were asked to cut grasses in the afternoon. At 3 o’clock, we were tied.
Q How long did you cut grasses for the Japanese?
A From 8 o’clock until 3 o’clock.
Q 8 o’clock in the morning until 3 o’clock in the afternoon?
A Yes, sir.
Q How many of you were tied?
A We were 13 who were tied.
Q What happened to the 13 of you who were tied?
A We were brought to the ravine and then we were bayoneted at the back.
Q Were you bayoneted?
A Yes, sir.
Q How many times?
A Two times.
Q How many companions were with you?
A 18.
Q Where did they take you?
A We were brought to Dita, [a] Barrio of Cuenca.
Q What happened when you were taken to Dita?
A We were asked to cut grasses in the afternoon. At 3 o’clock, we were tied.
Q How long did you cut grasses for the Japanese?
A From 8 o’clock until 3 o’clock.
Q 8 o’clock in the morning until 3 o’clock in the afternoon?
A Yes, sir.
Q How many of you were tied?
A We were 13 who were tied.
Q What happened to the 13 of you who were tied?
A We were brought to the ravine and then we were bayoneted at the back.
Q Were you bayoneted?
A Yes, sir.
Q How many times?
A Two times.
(A photograph was marked
Prosecution Exhibit No.
274 for identification.)
Prosecution Exhibit No.
274 for identification.)
Q Will you look at Prosecution Exhibit 274 for identification and state what it is?
A This is my picture.
Q Does that mark on the lower part of the right-hand side of your back show your bayonet wound?
A This is my picture.
Q Does that mark on the lower part of the right-hand side of your back show your bayonet wound?
[p. 1744]
A Yes, sir.
CAPTAIN PACE: I offer it in evidence.
GENERAL REYNOLDS: There being no objection, it is accepted in evidence.
(Prosecution Exhibit No.
274 for identification
was received in evidence.)
274 for identification
was received in evidence.)
(A photograph was marked
Prosecution Exhibit No.
275 for identification.)
Prosecution Exhibit No.
275 for identification.)
Q (By Captain Pace) Will you please look at Exhibit 275 for identification and state what it is?
A A wound on my breast and on my hand.
A A wound on my breast and on my hand.
CAPTAIN PACE: I offer it in evidence.
GENERAL REYNOLDS: There being no objection, it is accepted in evidence.
(Prosecution Exhibit No.
275 for identification
was received in evidence.)
275 for identification
was received in evidence.)
Q (By Captain Pace) What happened to your other friends?
A My friends died.
Q How many of them died?
A 11 died.
Q Who killed them?
A Persons in soldier’s uniform killed them.
Q Who were they?
A Japanese.
Q Japanese soldiers?
A They were dressed in uniform, soldier’s uniform.
Q Do you know what nationality they were?
A No.
A My friends died.
Q How many of them died?
A 11 died.
Q Who killed them?
A Persons in soldier’s uniform killed them.
Q Who were they?
A Japanese.
Q Japanese soldiers?
A They were dressed in uniform, soldier’s uniform.
Q Do you know what nationality they were?
A No.
[p. 1745]
Q Were they Filipinos?
A No.
Q Were they Americans?
A No.
Q Do you know what uniform they had on?
A Khaki uniform.
Q Do you know what army that uniform was issued by?
A No.
Q Have you ever seen a Japanese soldier?
A I saw. I don’t know what they were.
Q Were those Japanese soldiers?
A Japanese soldiers.
A No.
Q Were they Americans?
A No.
Q Do you know what uniform they had on?
A Khaki uniform.
Q Do you know what army that uniform was issued by?
A No.
Q Have you ever seen a Japanese soldier?
A I saw. I don’t know what they were.
Q Were those Japanese soldiers?
A Japanese soldiers.
(2 photographs were marked
Prosecution Exhibit No. 276
and 277, respectively, for
identification.)
Prosecution Exhibit No. 276
and 277, respectively, for
identification.)
CAPTAIN PACE: You may cross examine.
CAPTAIN REEL: Is this exhibit being offered?
CAPTAIN PACE: No, it isn’t.
Q (By Captain Reel) These persons in soldier’s uniforms, might they have been members of the Ganaps?
A (Through Interpreter Gojunco) I don’t know.
Q Might they have been members of the Makapili?
A I don’t know.
A (Through Interpreter Gojunco) I don’t know.
Q Might they have been members of the Makapili?
A I don’t know.
CAPTAIN REEL: That is all.
(Witness excused.)
 |
| Photo taken during the war crimes trials in Manila. Image credit: U.S. National Archives. |
1 “Excerpts from the Testimony of Guillermo Aguila in U.S.A. v Tomoyuki Yamashita,” part of the U.S. Military Commission compilation of war crimes documentation, online at the Internet Archive.