THE EARLY DAYS OF RESISTANCE IN CABATUAN DURING WORLD WAR II
Patricio Confesor (right) in 1974 with Toshimi Kumai
Source: The Blood and Mud in the Philippines
by Eulalio Morata
Editor's note:
The following is a personal account of Mr. Eulalio Morata, one of those who first organized the Emergency Provincial Guard in enemy occupied Iloilo which became the nucleus of civilian resistance in Cabatuan and later in Panay.
On August 8, 1942, I visited Deputy Governor Patricio Confesor in his hideout at Barrio Acao, Municipality of Cabatuan, Province of Iloilo in the house of Mr. Salvador Soldevilla. After exchanging our views about the situation of the war, I inquired as to why he preferred to stay in his present hiding place. He answered that the place was favorable and strategically located. He could easily go to any of the mountains of Leon and the mountains of Ma-asin without passing the poblacion inasmuch as he preferred to be accessible to the messengers of any local resistance official who desired to communicate with him; besides, his brother who was the civil governor of Panay and Romblon could make the place the distribution center for his instructions, executive orders, etc., through him having been appointed as deputy governor then residing in the said barrio.
On August 14, 1942, I again met the deputy governor at the house of Mr. Severo Cartoja, a kilometer away from his previous headquarters. After exchanging pleasantries, we then talked of organizing the EMERGENCY PROVINCIAL GUARD. The following night, he came to my cottage together with Mr. Pedro Eguia. We drafted and formally finalized the plan and the three of us formed the nucleus of the EPG. We began recruiting the disbanded USAFFE soldiers and other able bodied male civilians. The response was enthusiastic so that within a few days several soldiers answered the call. My cottage was made the General Headquarters of the EMERGENCY PROVINCIAL GUARDS.
Deputy Governor Confesor sent out soldiers to campaign for our food supplies. The neighboring barrio tenientes and the teachers assigned as food production campaigners furnished us rice, chickens, and other food stuffs. Other soldiers were also sent out to "borrow" firearms owned by the civilians to augment our few weapons.
#Amirang, Cabatuan Ambush
At about 8:00 p.m. of August 24, 1942 twenty-four EPG's armed with three automatic rifles, one garand, eighteen infield rifles and three revolvers, left our Headquarters at Acao to ambush the Japanese at Amirang as planned and agreed upon.
The following were members of the group who originally came from the Headquarters at Acao: Deputy Governor Patricio Confesor, 1st Lt. Juan Vicente Ledda of the Army, Corporal Eulogio Paez of the Philippine Scout, Sergeants Pedro Equia, Eulalio A. Morata, and Jose Forro; Privates Arcadio Origin, Eduardo Espejo, Elisio Fajardo, Donto Mesana, Pedro Morata, Francisco Galindo, Mamerto Flores, Juan Palmes, Filemon Redondo, Baltazar Pelonia, Adres Bueron, Nicasio Yniego, Ananias Chitcirita, Paulino Obar, Eusebio Baeña, Federico Palacious, Cleofas Panistanted, and Leopoldo Babas.
The night was dark; it was showering and the road was muddy, but the zeal of patriotism was burning in the heart of every one compelling us to undertake the risky adventure. At about 9:30 p.m. we reached Amirang. Immediately, the guerillas took their positions and dug their foxholes on the northern side of the bank of Tigum River overlooking the road and the bridge. We waited for the Japanese to pass by, but during the whole night, they failed to come.
Very early the next morning, one squad under the command of Sergeant Jose Forro separated from us and made their way to Tinio-an. The mission as ordered by Deputy Governor Confesor was to intercept the enemy in case of an encounter at Amirang. Another force under the command of Captain Jose Magallon stationed at Tigbauan Provincial, Maasin, was to engage the enemy incase reinforcement from Janiuay came for help.
We took our breakfast and dinner at the house of Mr. and Mrs. Numeriano Carasco at Barrio Ingas. Late in the afternoon, Deputy Governor Confesor ordered us to resume our former position and be ready for the ambush. At this instance, Lt. Juan Ledda objected to the order, explaining that the safety of the soldiers in case of retreat was not favorable. He further said, "Boys, do not be impatient. If we cannot encounter the Japanese tomorrow, we will surely meet them the next day."
I replied, "If we cannot ambush the Japanese tonight, I will go home and plow my farm. There is no use staying here without work."
"We will go home," retorted the other guerilleros.
Then in a loud voice, Deputy Governor Confesor said, "I will disband this organization if we cannot ambush the Japanese tomorrow."
"All right, just wait. I shall find a better place for us to station ourselves," responded Lt. Ledda.
At about 7:00 p.m. we took our supper at the house of Teniente Posoy at Amurao. After supper, we took again our position at the place where we stayed the preceding night. During the whole night, again no Japanese passed by.
#Banguit, Cabatuan Ambush
Very early in the morning of August 26, 1942, our guard intercepted one Filipino-American mestizo on his way from Ma-asin to Iloilo and was made a prisoner.
At about 6:30 a.m. we heard rifle shots somewhere in Barrio Banguit where an apparent ambush was going on. Immediately, the boys stationed themselves close to the road but later retreated to their foxholes on the northern side of the bank overlooking the road and the bridge. Then Deputy Governor Confesro ordered the telephone lines cut at once. Later we learned that other guards had caught the driver of the truck fired at in Banguit. Our two prisoners were placed under the custody of Mr. Mamerto Colorado.
The ambushed truck at Banguit, as we learned much later, had two other Japanese soldiers and was fired upon by Sergeant Jose Forro and his men. The Japanese soldiers escaped and rushed to report at their nearest garrison at Tiring.
Then at about 8:00 a.m. we heard the sound of the Japanese mortar and machine guns from Santa Barbara coming toward Cabatuan. Japanese reinforcement fired wildly upon the bushes at Banguit and also around the poblacion. Likewise, a truck of Japanese soldiers from Ma-asin started moving toward Cabatuan.
Several minutes later, a truck load of Japanese soldiers enroute to Ma-asin was forced to stop as the rushing waters of the flood had carried away some supporting posts of the bridge forcing the enemy vehicle to return and wait infront of the house of Mr. Sinforoso Padilla for the flood to subside.
However, we were all ready for any eventuality, itching for the awaited encounter. Besides, the original 24 soldiers from Acao, had been reinforced by several civilian volunteers. Among them were former USAFFE disbanded members Demetrio Correa, Alfredo Largo, Anastacio Tobias, Mamerto Colorado and others.
#Bacan, Cabatuan Ambush
At about 9:00 a.m. we saw a Japanese automobile moving slowly from Ma-asin, then stopped at Barrio Bacan. Four Japanese soldiers alighted, followed by another group of four who altogether proceeded advancing toward our position.
Corporal Eulogio Paez ordered, "Range 500!" As the Japanese were within the target range, Corporal Paez again said, "Range 300. Automatic rifles first . . . Fire!" This marked the first actual engagement of the civil resistance in Cabatuan against the enemy.
When the Japanese soldiers who were waiting near the house of Mr. S. Padilla heard the guns of the guerilleros, they left their truck, fired their mortars and machine guns and proceeded northward, attacking us on the left flank. Enemy reinforcement from Ma-asin was timely, crawling along the banks of the river, also attacking us on the right flank. The air was filled with smoke from the mortars and machine gun fire.
Since we were outnumbered in weapons and helpless, we retreated toward the north and hid among the bamboo clumps. Corporal Paez covered our retreat with intense outburst of his garand. Sporadic fires from our group prevented the enemy from pursuing us but they captured our civilian host who had prepared our dinner.
Deputy Governor Confesor, Sergeant Eguia and I composed the group who took our dinner at the house of Miss Rosalina Belisario at Barrio Tuy-an, Cabatuan. Mr. Demetrio Correa was already in the house mending his torn trousers ripped by some bamboo thorns when he fled for safety. Mr. Alfredo Largo who was ordered to guard our right flank had separated from us and could not be contacted. Other soldiers took their dinner at the houses of the generous civilians.
Our group returned to Acao at night, passing the western side of Amirang after crossing the swollen Tigum river. We were all happy talking about our first experience in actual combat which became a common knowledge to the whole town, so that from that time on, disbanded soldiers and civilian volunteers swarmed our headquarters for enlistment. Spies and collaborators who were betraying their countrymen were rounded up and brought to our Headquarters for investigation. If the findings showed that they were dangerous to the security of the movement they were imprisoned.
On September 15, 1942, we were called from our headquarters at Acao and ordered to proceed to the poblacion of Cabatuan. At about 5:00 p.m. the soldiers were requested to gather in front of the Municipal Building of Cabatuan. Upon arrival, we learned about our mission; we were told to hoist both the American and Filipino flags. Guerilleros and civilians witnessed the solemn occasion. Captain Confesor delivered a stirring patriotic speech.
On September 17, 1942, several Japanese soldiers from Sta. Barbara and Tiring attempted to enter the poblacion of Cabatuan but were repulsed. Guerilla soldiers stationed at Banguit engaged the enemy at Inabungan. As a result, four Japanese were killed. The Emergency Provincial Guards captured one Japanese rifle and fifty rounds of ammunitions. One field glass was also taken. Immediately, the enemy returned to their garrison at Tiring.
At about 7:00 p.m., Captain Inocencio Fallaria and a company of his men arrived in Cabatuan. He proceeded to Ma-asin the following morning to reinforce the men of Major Offemaria to to attack the Japanese garrison at the Dam Site. Major Offemaria was the Commanding Officer of the First Iloilo Battalion composed of ex-USAFFE men. In the determination of the undergound to get the Maasin Dam Site from the Japanese soldiers at any cost, the combined men under Captain F. Fallaria and Major Francisco Offemaria of the guerilla units began attacking the Dam Site garrison on October 20. Captain P. Confesor also deployed his men at Cabatuan ready to intercept the enemy in case of reinforcement from Sta. Barbara. A message center was established at the house of Teniente Teban Franco located at the outskirt of the poblacion on a promontory hill. I was ordered to take charge of the said message center.
To avoid interception from the well guarded Poblacion of Cabatuan, the Japanese soldiers — about sixty strong, passed Pamul-ogan, Tupol, Acao, Inabasan and Tamban at about twelve o'clock noon, to help their besieged comrades at the Dam Site.
On September 21, one Japanese soldier from the Dam Site escaped unnoticed through the cover of darkness. He was caught and killed by the civilians at the Salacay ricefield, very early the next morning. Another Japanese named Sikichi Singya, who also escaped from the Dam Site was cuaght by the civilians at Barrio Kaigon and he was shot by his guard as he tried to escape.
On October 5, Mr. Edilberto Roldan enlisted in the Emergency Provincial Guard. He was made in charge of the Message Center of Calayo to replace me. Captain Patricio Confesor transferred me to our headquarters at Acao and given charge of all correspondence in our Office.
On October 17, 1942, our headquarters was transferred to the house of Captain P. Confesor at Barrio Balic. In this command Post several volunteers came for enlistment. This time, under orders from higher echelon, the guerilla soldiers burned down the houses in the Poblacion including the church convent — a move which was criticized by some residents. Captain P. Confesor then commanded us to disperse from our headquarters and to lie low for the time being.
In the early part of January, 1943, Captain P. Confesor moved his headquarters to Barrio Bucari, Leon. Later, he was made in charge of the Office of the Civil Affairs unit of the Guerilla Army. Upon the organization of the Guerilla Army under the command of General Macario Peralta, the EPG desisted from any armed encounter with the enemy to devote itself to the task of providing security and protection to the Civil Government of Panay and Romblon under Governor Tomas Confesor.
Source:
Cabatuan, Its History and People
The Cabatuan Historical Society, Cabatuan, Iloilo