Testimony of Maximo Malvar of Santo Tomas, Batangas on the Japanese Forces in His Area in 1945
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| Photo taken during the war crimes trials in Manila. Image credit: U.S. National Archives. |
[p. 39]
Q Please state your full name, age, address and nationality
A Maximo M. Malvar, 49 years of age, resident of Santo Tomas, Batangas Province, Filipino.
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 in Santo Tomas.
Q What is your present occupation?
A Agriculturist.
Q What was your occupation during the Japanese occupation?
A I was the Acting Provincial Governor of Batangas.
Q What can you tell about the disposition and make-up of the Japanese forces in this area during the Japanese occupation?
A During that time, there were three units of Japanese forces stationed here, namely, the garrison, the Kempei-tai of Lipa and the Kempei-tai (Japanese Military Police) of San Pablo, Laguna. Members of the garrison stayed here for only a short time and went to some unknown destination. The Military Police of Lipa and San Pablo were under the Kempei-tai Headquarters stationed in San Pablo, Laguna. Colonel Hibi and his executive officer, Captain Okuda, were in charge of this organization.
The “zoning” system was effected by Colonel Hibi, whereby information was extracted from the inhabitants by gathering the people in a plaza and made to stay for several days without food.
On February 2, 1945, my servant informed me that some of the members of the Military Police went to our home and asked for me. I was not at home at that time and my servant told them that I was in Manila. When the Japanese learned that I was not in my home, they left. The people of the town, upon learning that I was not in my home, became alarmed and began evacuating their homes. Some went to the mountains, others to the bank of the river, thinking that these places were the safest.
Q Can you describe each one of the Japanese officers you have mentioned?
A Yes, sir.
Q Describe to us Colonel Hibi.
A Colonel Hibi was about 5 feet 4 inches tall in height, medium build, weighed about 130 pounds and approximately 39 years of age. His hair was black and short. He had no scars or marks on his face, his teeth were normal and he wore no glasses. He appeared to be an educated person and he was dressed neatly. He did not speak either English or Tagalog.
Q How about Captain Okuda?
A Captain Okuda, reputed to be the worst of all the officers ever stationed in this place, measured about 5 feet 8 inches in height, weight about 160 pounds, and his age was about
[p. 40]
42 years. His hair was black, shaven; his complexion was yellow and he had the typical Japanese slanting eyes. He wore no glasses. He walked with a stoop and when he laughed, he closed his eyes and moved his shoulders up. He had a peculiar way of looking down when talking. He was dressed shabbily and he appeared to be uneducated.
Q Would you be able to identify these officers if you saw them again?
A Yes, sir.
Q Have you anything further to add to your statement?
A No, sir.
/t/ MAXIMO M. MALVAR
PROVINCE OF BATANGAS
TOWN OF SANTO TOMAS
/t/ MAXIMO M. MALVAR
/T/ HERMAN MANDELL, Capt., TC
Investigating Officer, War
Crimes Investigating Detachment.
[p. 41]
of October, 1945, personally appeared before us MAXIMO M. MALVAR, and gave the foregoing answers to the several questions set forth; and that after his testimony had been transcribed, the said MAXIMO M. MALVAR read the same and affixed his signature thereto in our presence.
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Municipal Bldg., Real Street Santo Tomas, Batangas, P.I. |
/s/ Herman Mandell /t/ HERMAN MANDELL, CAPT., TC |
| 17th October 1945 |
/s/ Joe J. Riley, 1st Lt., Inf. /t/ JOE J. RILEY, 1st Lt., Inf. |
1 “Excerpts from the Testimony of Maximo Malvar in U.S.A. v Tomoyuki Yamashita,” part of the U.S. Military Commission compilation of war crimes documentation, online at the Internet Archive.