Testimony of Galicano Cordova on Japanese Atrocities Committed in Bauan, Batangas in 1945
[p. 129]
A Galicano Cordova.
Q Do you prefer to testify with an interpreter or can you testify in English?
A I prefer to testify in English.
Q Do you recall the date of February 28, 1945? Do you remember that date?
A Yes, sir.
Q Where were you on that date?
A On that date, I was in my house.
Q And where did you reside at that time?
A During that time, when I woke up, I heard from the town crier that there was a meeting.
Q Where were you living on February 28, 1945?
A I lived in the town of Bauan.
Q And at that time, did you occupy any official position in the city government of Bauan?
A During that time, I was the Chief of Police.
Q Were you present in the Catholic church of Bauan that morning?
A Yes, I was present.
Q What time did you leave the Catholic church?
A I left the Catholic church about seven o’clock.
[p. 130]
A About nine o’clock.
Q In going to church?
A Many civilians.
Q Were there any other persons there?
A Many persons were present there.
Q Were there any Japanese present?
A At present, or at first, there was no Japanese present.
COLONEL HAMBY: The Law Member will rule.
COLONEL POBLETE: Objection sustained.
A Yes.
Q (Continuing) — Were there any soldiers present in the church?
A At first, there were no soldiers in the church.
[p. 131]
A I seen [saw] soldiers after a time.
Q What kind of soldiers were they?
A About ten o’clock when they were having lunch.
COLONEL HAMBY: Proceed in English.
[p. 132]
COLONEL HAMBY: The Law Member will rule.
COLONEL POBLETE: Objection sustained.
A Early in the morning, I heard from the town crier that there was a meeting in the church. So, I dressed myself and went to the mayor to ask for the purpose of the meeting. I met Hagino and Watanabe. I asked Hagino what was the purpose of the meeting and Watanabe answered that a high officer, Colonel Fujishige, was having the meeting. So, Watanabe told me that you must go to the church. They prepared six chairs for the officers. Before going to church, I went home to visit my family. When I arrived home, I did not see my family, it [they] were not there, so I went to the church to wait for the arrival of the officers. When I was there, I met the mayor. I told the mayor to prepare six chairs for the officers. When we were conversing, many Japanese soldiers arrived and about eight officers and between thirty and forty soldiers with them. With their arrival, Hagino and the mayor were talking. So, I asked the mayor, where was the colonel and he told me there was none. Hagino and Watanabe were the ones talking so Watanabe introduced to the Mayor that all women and children could go out. Men only would stay. So, we entered in
[p. 133]
[p. 134]
Q Mr. Cordova, you stated you prepared six chairs for the Japanese.
A Yes.
Q Do you know who occupied those chairs?
A I believe that a high officer would arrive there to proceed. I prepared, the mayor prepared six chairs for the officers for there was a meeting in the church.
Q And did the mayor occupy one of the seats?
A He did not start occupying.
Q Who did?
A Just only we prepared six chairs.
MR. GUTHRIE: Just point to him.
[p. 135]
A This was the man when we were about going to church, those waiting to get by Hagino, and this man told Hagino —
Q Are you finished?
A Finished.
No further direct examination.
A What, I cannot understand.
Q You were told that the purpose or that the people were ordered to assemble in the church [was] because of guerrilla activity?
A Yes.
Q Were you a member of the guerrillas?
A There were no guerrillas.
Q Were you a member of the guerrillas?
A No, sir, I was not a member.
[p. 136]
A There were no guerrillas in the neighboring barrios of Bauan.
Q Did you hear anything of an attempted landing by the American troops in the Batangas the latter part of January 1945?
A I did not hear.
Q Do you know Lieutenant Takemoto?
A No, I do not.
Q How many officers were in the church.
A Eight officers.
Q What were the officers doing?
A They were conversing.
Q What was your job or occupation at the time of the Japanese occupation, particularly on the 28th of February 1945?
A I was the Chief of Police during that time.
Q You were the Chief of Police during the Japanese occupation?
A No, not all, afterwards when, you see, I was a merchant, but when it was about January 1945, I was appointed as Chief of Police.
Q By the Japanese?
A By the Japanese.
Q You stated that there were no guerrilla activities in or around Bauan, is that correct?
A Yes, sir.
Q If official records should show that there was such
[p. 137]
A No, there was none.
Q — (Continuing) would you change your story?
A There were no guerrillas in our town.
Q What about the neighboring barrios?
A There was none also.
Q Do you think there might have been guerrilla activity without your knowledge?
A I did not know of anything.
COLONEL HAMBY: Do you want to call him as a witness for the defense?
MR. MORRISON: We wish to resume cross-examination of this witness at a later date. We can introduce records showing a great deal of guerrilla activities or have live witnesses to testify to such guerrilla activities who were in a position to know.
MR. BONDA: This witness’ official position as Chief of Police, he should have known, or at least have had the means of knowing the conditions, what the conditions were in the town at that time. We request that we be permitted to recall him for further cross-examination
[p. 138]
MR. BONDA: It is not irregular. It is quite common if there is some testimony that comes in that is a surprise, although you can’t really claim it is a surprise except the fact that he says he doesn’t know about it which denial is a surprise and for the purposes of impeaching him, we can introduced the evidence we have in mind and we should have an opportunity to have him explain when he says he doesn’t know of those guerrilla activities after we have brought the documents in. It is not an irregular procedure, it has been done by the Commissions here as it is done every day in the States in civil cases.
[p. 139]
COLONEL POBLETE: The defense can call this witness later as a witness for the defense. For cross-examination, it will end now if the defense does not have any further questions. If the defense would like to discredit the testimony of the witness, they can take it up in the closing arguments. Motion denied.
MR. MORRISON: No further questions at this time, sir.
[p. 140]
A Yes.
Q Do you know that man’s name?
A I do not know his name.
Q How do you remember his face?
A I often saw him in our town.
Q What did that man do on February 28, 1945?
A He killed many persons and burned all the houses in our town.
Q How do you know that?
A Because when we were put in the house of Mr. Bautista, all the people in the house were dynamite blasted. So many people died during that time. After our escaping, when we were in the barrio of San Antonio, I saw that our town burned.
Q But what did that man do?
A That man, before going to the house of Mr. Bautista, he was the one who entered the church and spoke to Hagino before we went out.
MR. GUTHRIE: May the record indicate that during his examination, this witness pointed to a person
[p. 141]
MR. MORRISON: I beg your pardon, sir, I believe there is. We request that the record at this time be read to determine whether the witness did state that Hagino saluted the man whom the witness pointed out.
MR. GUTHRIE: In the interest of saving time, I will withdraw the objection.
MR. MORRISON: Will the reporter please read the question back to the witness?
(Question read by the reporter.)
[p. 142]
COLONEL HAMBY: The Law Member will rule.
COLONEL POBLETE: Objection sustained.
A About three months.
Q And approximately how many times had you seen him?
A I often see him. I cannot count.
Q And you know him and you did know him very well?
A I know him very well.
MR. MORRISON: No further questions, sir.
COLONEL HAMBY: The witness is 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 Galicano Cordova in U.S.A. v Shumpei Hagino, et al.,” part of the U.S. Military Commission compilation of war crimes documentation, online at the Internet Archive.