in his own behalf
Cabatuan was mentioned 14 times in the Cabatuan Expedition. Also mentioned in the Calinog Expedition.
Governor Tomas Confesor was mentioned in the Bocari Leon Expedition.
Personal Profile
Arriving in Panay
Cabatuan Expedition "Our platoon went to Cabatuan directly, whereas the main forces of the battalion went to Cabatuan by way of San Miguel"
San Miguel Expedition
Calinog Expedition "The enemy that was at Cabatuan retreated toward Calinog and the enemy had first position around the vicinity of Janiuay; and second position at Lambunao; and third position at Calinog"
Janiuay Garrison
Calinog Expedition
Janiuay Expedition
San Miguel Security Unit
Buyo Garrison
Bocari Leon Expedition "In the area around Bocari, Confesor was there, and various wireless equipment, and Watanabe said that, do not return until Confesor and his wireless equipment was captured"
Tigbauan Expedition
San Miguel Expedition
Capt Watanabe Speech
Guimaras Expedition
Personal Profile
HAJIME FUJII
A witness in his own behalf, was sworn and testified as follows through interpreters Yamamoto and Nakamura:
DIRECT EXAMINATION
BY MR. SPRINGER:
Q Will you state your name?
A Hajime Fujii.
Q And your age?
A 38 years old.
Q And your rank in the Imperial Japanese Army?
A At present, 1st lieutenant.
Q Where were you born?
A I was born in Kyushu, Japan.
Q And how large a city is that?
A It is a village.
Q And what would be the population?
A Between 10,000 and 15,000
Q And what was your parent's occupation?
A He was an employee of the Sumitomo Mining Company.
Q What is the first school that you went to?
A Gakoichi Elementary School.
Q And for how long did you go to that school?
A I went there for six years.
Q And then where did you go to school, if at all?
A I then went to the higher school in Kure.
Q And how long did you go?
A I attended there for two years.
Q And then what did you do?
A I then went into the high school No. 1.
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Q And how long did you go there?
A I attended there for one and one-half years. Then later I had a notice to come home; so therefore I transferred to another school.
Q How old were you when you finished your high school?
A I was 19 years old.
Q What did you do then?
A I was then instructor of the Gakoichi Elementary School.
Q For how long?
A I was teaching the sixth grade.
Q How long did you teach there?
A 1 year.
Q Then what did you do?
A I then went to Tokyo.
Q What did you do there?
A I studied by myself.
Q Then what did you do?
A I then entered a higher institute at Waseda University.
Q And how long did you stay there?
A I believe I stayed there about 10 months.
Q And then what did you do?
A Then I received my conscription examination while I was attending the university.
Q And did you enter the army?
A I entered the training force regiment in Fuoka.
Q Was there any special reason why you had to enter the army?
A It was my obligation to do so.
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Q How long did you stay in the army?
A I stayed in the army for 1 year.
Q And then what did you do?
A Then I studied in my home.
Q For how long?
A For about 1 year
Q What did you do then?
A I then went to Kure. I then worked in the naval ordnance factory In Kure.
Q And what kind of a job did you have there? What did you do?
A I was just a clerk.
Q All right. When were you married?
A When I was 29 years old.
Q And do you have any children?
A Yes, I have 2 children.
Q How old are they?
A They are 6 and 10 years old.
Q How long did you work in this position?
A I worked there for about 6 years.
Q Then what did you do? Where did you go?
A Since there was a new plant to be constructed at a place called Kawajini, in Kure, I went to work there.
Q How long were you there?
A I was there for 1 year.
Q What were your duties there?
A I was a clerk.
Q When you left there, where did you go?
A I then went to Nogata and Kyushu.
254
Q And what did you do then?
A Since a plant which is going to manufacture armament plates was to be constructed I went to work there.
Q How long did you stay there?
A I stayed there for about a year.
Q And what were your duties there?
A I was an office clerk.
Q And then after you left there where did you go?
A I then went to a place called Hikari in Yamaguchi prefecture
Q And what did you do there?
A Since a plant which was larger than the plant at Kure was to be constructed there, that plant was used to store armor plates made by civilian firms.
255
Q How long did you stay there?
A I stayed there about half a year.
Q Then where did you go?
A After 6 months I was drafted for training maneuvers.
Q What year was that?
A It was in August 1941.
Q And how long did you stay in the army at that time?
A I stayed there in the army for about 4 weeks.
Q Then what did you do?
A I then went back to my former work.
Q What was your rank when you were called back in August 1941.
A I was a 2d lieutenant.
Q How did you happen to get that rank?
A I was only a 2d lieutenant since I was formerly a reserve officer candidate.
Q When, if at all, did you again join the army?
A I was drafted October 1, 1941.
Q What was your rank then?
A Still a 2d lieutenant.
Q When did you first leave Japan?
A I believe I left Japan November 13, 1941.
Q And where did you go?
A I then went to Formosa.
Q How long did you stay in Formosa?
A I believe I was there for about a year.
MR. SPRINGER (to interpreter): Are you sure of that answer?
INTERPRETER YAMOMOTO: Excuse me. That's one month.
256
Q Where did you go from there?
A I then went to Lingayen.
Q When did you land at Lingayen?
A It was July 1, 1942.
Q Then where did you go from Lingayen?
A I then went to Bataan.
Q And when did you leave Bataan?
A It was either April 10 or 15, 1942
Q Then where did you go?
A I then went to Baguio.
Q And how long were you in Baguio?
A I stayed there for about one month.
Q And then where did you go?
A Then to Manila.
Q How long were you there?
A 1 or 2 days
Q Then where did you go?
A Then to San Fernando.
Arriving in Panay
Q Then where did you go?
A Then came back to Manila in order to go to Panay.
Q When did you land at Panay?
A It was in the early part of October 1942.
Q Where were you first stationed on Panay?
A It was in Iloilo.
Q How long were you stationed there?
A Only 2 days.
Q Then where did you go?
A I then went to Santa Barbara.
Q And how long did you stay in Santa Barbara?
A About a month and a half.
257
Cabatuan Expedition
COLONEL PARMELEE: At this point can the Commission have copies of your Exhibit A?
MR. SPRINGER: Yes sir.
(Defense's Exhibit A handed to Commission.)
Q Now, when was the first so-called punitive expedition that you went on?
A It was during the middle part of November.
Q Where did this punitive expedition start from?
A It was at Iloilo.
Q Who was the commanding officer of that punitive expedition?
A At first it was Major Fukutomi.
Q Who was executive officer?
A It was 1st Lieutenant Motoki.
Q And how many men were in headquarters?
A Do you mean the headquarters at the time of the punitive expedition?
Q In the headquarters of the punitive expedition, the headquarters that went on the punitive expedition.
A There were about 40 or 50 men.
Q Were any Kempei Tai attached to headquarters?
A I believe there were no Kempei Tais the first expedition.
Q All right. How many companies went on that expedition?
A There were the First Company, Third Company, and Fourth Company were dispatched.
Q Who was commanding officer of the First Company?
A 1st Lieutenant Amano.
258
Q How many men were there in the First Company on the expedition?
A There were about 80 men in the First Company.
Q Incidentally, this is November 1942, is it not?
A Yes.
Q Who was commanding officer of the Third Company?
A 1st Lieutenant Kawano.
Q And how many platoons were there?
A There were 2 platoons.
Q And who were the platoon leaders?
A 2nd Lieutenant Fujii and 2nd Lieutenant Sato.
Q How many men were there in that Third Company?
A About 80 men.
Q Who was commander of the Fourth Company?
A 1st Lieutenant Yoshioka
Q Will you take this blue pencil I hand you and trace on this map here where this punitive expedition went to?
INTERPRETER YAMAMOTO: Tour of what date?
MR. SPRINGER: Just the point of furtherest penetration.
A (Referring to map) The first expedition was from Santa Barbara to Cabatuan.
Q Were you and your platoon picked up by this expedition in Santa Barbara?
A Our platoon went to Cabatuan directly, whereas the main forces of the battalion went to Cabatuan by way of San Miguel.
Q While you were in Santa Barbara, before you started on this expedition, were there any civilians in Santa Barbara
A There were no traces of civilians.
259
Q What was the physical condition of the town of Santa Barbara?
A All the houses were burned, except for market, school, and church.
Q Do you know who burned the City of Santa Barbara?
A It was guerrillas.
Q On your trip to Cabatuan from Santa Barbara did you see any civilians?
A We did not see any civilians except for that time when we saw some civilians through the binoculars.
Q From Santa Barbara to San Miguel did any incidents occur?
A You mean to Cabatuan?
Q That's right.
A A man in our group was carrying a grenade mortar, was shot by a hunting rifle.
Q Did anything else happen?
A Just before we reached Cabatuan we were fired upon by guerrillas
Q Did your unit ever arrive in Cabatuan?
A A part of the platoon entered Cabatuan and another part of the platoon entrenched themselves about 1 kilometer away from Cabatuan.
Q Did battalion headquarters ever get to Cabatuan?
A No.
Q And where did battalion headquarters in your unit go from the vicinity of Cabatuan?
A Before they entered Cabatuan, there were many casualties caused by mines and rifle fires. Therefore, they went to Santa Barbara.
260
Q And where did they go from there?
A From there they returned to Iloilo.
Q Do you know any special reason why this punitive expedition was sent out?
A Santa Barbara was fired upon continuously for 2 days; therefore, our force went to Cabatuan where the main enemy concentration was located.
Q And did the garrison in Santa Barbara request assistance from the Iloilo garrison.
A Yes.
Q How long was battalion headquarters in Iloilo before a new punitive expedition went out?
A Approximately one and a half months.
San Miguel Expedition
Q When did the next punitive expedition start out?
A It was in the latter part of November.
Q Will you trace on Exhibit A where that expedition went?
A The expedition started out from Iloilo and went to San Miguel.
Q Who was commanding that expedition?
A It was Major Fukutomi.
Q And was he actually present personally on the expedition?
A I do not remember.
Q How many companies were on the expedition?
A Battalion Headquarters, the First Company, Third Company, and the Fourth Company.
Q And what was your relation to any of the companies or Battalion Headquarters.
261
INTERPRETER YAMAMOTO: That's kind of vague in Japanese.
Q Were you a platoon leader of this expedition?
A Yes.
Q And how many men in all comprised tha punitive expedition?
A Approximately 270 men.
COLONEL PARMELEE: At this time the Commission will recess for about 10 minutes.
(Short recess)
COLONEL PARMELEE: The Commission is in session.
LIEUTENANT EBERHARTER: Let the record show that all members of the Commission are present, the accused together with his personal interpreter, counsel for the defense and counsel for the prosecution are all present.
BY MR. SPRINGER:
Q Where did the punitive expedition go from San Miguel?
A They returned to Iloilo.
Q And why, if you knew, did they return to Iloilo?
A We heard that there were many enemy forces at San Miguel. However, there were none so we returned.
Calinog Expedition
Q Then when did a punitive expedition start out again?
A It was during the early part of December.
Q And where did that expedition go?
A It went to Calinog.
Q Will you take a blue pencil and trace the route which that punitive expedition took.
(Witness does so.)
Q All right. Now, who was the commanding officer of that expedition?
A It was Captain Watanabe.
Q And was Captain Watanabe acting battalion commander at that time?
A Yes.
Q Is that Captain Kengo Watanabe?
A Yes.
Q How many men were there in battalion headquarters?
A About thirty or forty men.
Q And how many Kempei Tai? Were there any?
A Yes, I believe there were some.
263
Q How many companies?
A Three companies: the first, third, and fourth.
Q Who was the commanding officer of the first Company?
A 1st Lieutenant Amano.
Q And the Third Company?
A 1st Lieutenant Kawano.
Q And were you a platoon leader in the Third Company?
A Yes.
Q Who was commanding officer of the Fourth Company?
A 1st Lieutenant Yoshioka.
Q And about how many men in the First Company?
A Approximately eighty men.
Q How many in the Third Company?
A The same, approximately eighty men.
Q And in the Fourth Company?
A Eighty men.
Q And do you know any special reason why that expedition went out?
A The enemy that was at Cabatuan retreated toward Calinog and the enemy had first position around the vicinity of Janiuay; and second position at Lambunao; and third position at Calinog.
Q And from Iloilo to Cabatuan did you see any civilians?
A No.
Q From Cabatuan to Calinog?
A I don't see any civilians.
Q Did you see any guerrillas?
A Just before we came to Janiuay we had a furious battle with the guerrillas.
Q From that point to Calinog did you see any guerrillas or any civilians?
264
A About three kilos from Lambunao we had a furious fight with the guerrillas. At that time we had field artillery and two aircraft supporting us. Therefore, the enemy retreated.
Q Between Iloilo and Calinog were there any guerrillas killed after they were captured?
A No.
Q What was the physical condition of Janiuay when you arrived in Janiuay?
A Before we came to Janiuay we were fired upon by guerrillas, and 1st Lieutenant Kawano and the other soldiers were killed in action.
Q Now, what was the physical condition of the town of Janiuay?
A The houses were burned and there was a mine in the road where trucks usually passed.
Q Do you know who burned the town?
A It was the guerrillas.
Q What was the physical condition of the town of Calinog when you arrived?
A I didn't go into the town of Calinog. However, the First Company entered that town.
Q Did you hear what the physical condition of Calinog was?
A I heard that the town was entirely burnt down and that there were no civilians in it.
Q Where did the punitive expedition go from Calinog?
A The punitive expedition returned to Iloilo. However, the Third Company we met at Janiuay.
Q Did the punitive expedition make any patrols around the town of Calinog?
265
A No, we did not make any patrols.
Q And what, if anything that you knew of, was found in Calinog besides a burned town?
A What things do you mean?
Q Any enemy equipment.
A There were no enemy equipments at Calinog.
Q Was there any enemy equipment captured on that expedition?
A During the battle around the vicinity of Janiuay we captured several rifles. I do not remember how many rifles we have captured. And in the battle around the vicinity of Lambunao we captured several vehicles and typewriters and documents, even a Japanese light machine gun.
Q And did anything out of the ordinary happen to Captain Kengo Watanabe as a result of this expedition?
A Since there were many captured enemy equipments during the warfare around the vicinity of Lambunao, Captain Watanabe received a commendation from Major General Inoue.
Janiuay Garrison
Q And how long did you stay as garrison in Janiuay?
A I was there till the early part of March.
Q What month did you arrive in Janiuay?
A I arrived there on the latter part of December.
Q During your stay in Janiuay were you in command of the garrison there?
A No, it was 1st Lieutenant Kawano.
Q And you were a platoon leader in the Third Company that were garrisoned there?
A Yes.
Q During your stay in Janiuay were there any patrols sent out for the purpose of capturing guerrillas or civilians?
A Yes, we sent out patrols.
266
Q Were there any civilians or guerrillas captured on those patrols?
A We did not capture any civilians or guerrillas on patrols, but we did capture some when we went on a punitive expedition with the battalion headquarters.
Q Was this at a later date or previous?
A We came to Janiuay in the latter part of December, and previous and after that we had carried out punitive expeditions together with the battalion headquarters.
Q What happened to these civilians or guerrillas that were captured in December by battalion headquarters, if you knew?
A They were returned to Iloilo.
Q They were returned. Do you know if any of those guerrillas or civilians were killed after they were captured?
A No, they were not killed.
Q Do you know whether or not they were tortured when questioned?
A They were not tortured.
Q Why did you leave Janiuay?
A Formerly the Third Company was assigned for security around the vicinity of Janiuay. However, it was then transferred to the First Company. Therefore, Third Company returned to Iloilo .
Calinog Expedition
Q In January 1943, did you go from Janiuay on a punitive expedition with battalion headquarters?
A Yes.
Q Who was in command of that punitive expedition?
A It was originally Captain Watanabe and was then changed to Lieutenant Colonel Tozuka during January.
267
Q How many companies went on that punitive expedition?
A There were three companies: the first, third and fourth, and the battalion headquarters.
Q How many men were in battalion headquarters on this expedition?
A From sixty to seventy men.
Q How many in the First Company?
A Approximately eighty men, but the sizes varied according to circumstances.
Q Were you platoon leader in the Third Company?
A Yes.
Q Do you know any special reason why this particular punitive expedition was sent out?
A It was because a section of the enemy forces was at the vicinity of Manbranan. The main force was in the vicinity of Diladila.
Q And did the punitive expedition have any special mission?
A They were ordered to annihilate the guerrillas in the two vicinities.
Q Was your company sent out on a patrol from Calinog?
A They went together with the battalion headquarters.
268
Q Will you trace on the map the route that was taken from Calinog until you returned to Calinog again?
(Witness does so.)
Q All right. You have traced on the map a route going north of Calinog up to San Miguel and then describing a figure 8 running approximately northwest and southeast from San Miguel, is that correct?
A Yes.
Q From the time that you left Calinog to San Miguel, all along this route, back to Calinog, did your platoon capture any civilians or any guerrillas?
A Yes.
Q How many?
A Our platoon captured 5 men.
Q And anyone else?
A Our platoon captured only those 5 people.
Q Do you know the names of any of those persons who were captured?
A A person by the name of Barrios, who was a presiding officer, and his family.
INTERPRETER YAMAMOTO: By "presiding officer," is meant judge.
Q And were these people questioned by you?
A No.
What did you do with them?
A I turned them over to the battalion headquarters.
Q Do you know if they were questioned by battalion headquarters?
A Naturally, I believe they were questioned.
269
Q Do you know if they were tortured when they were questioned by battalion headquarters?
A I do not know, but I believe that they were not tortured by the battalion headquarters.
Q And are those people alive today, as far as you know?
A I have seen them in Iloilo, so I believe they are still alive.
Q Did any other companies or battalion headquarters capture any civilians or guerrillas on this patrol that left from Calinog, went to San Miguel, and patrolled around San Miguel and back to Calinog?
A Two or three nurses were captured by a platoon, and there battalion headquarters captured Lieutenant Chaves' mother.
Q Do you know whether or not those persons were killed?
A They were all returned to Iloilo and the nurses were put in the army hospital. And I believe Chaves, Lieutenant Chaves' mother is still alive.
Q And do you know whether or not those people were tortured when they were questioned by battalion headquarters?
A I do not remember that they had put them to torture. No reason to put them to torture.
LIEUTENANT EBERHARTER: Well, he wasn't even there, was he? Wasn't he out in this expedition and they were sent to Iloilo? So he would have no knowledge of it.
MR. SPRINGER: Well, I'll set it up, if you want.
Q When were those people taken to Iloilo, do you know?
A I believe it was during either January or February.
270
Q Were they taken back by battalion headquarters when it returned to Iloilo?
A Yes. We held Lt. Col. Chaves' mother for a while at Calinog and had her write a letter to Col. Chaves telling him of her capture in order to have him surrender.
Q And did he surrender?
A No.
Q Is his mother still alive today, if you know?
A She was very old, so unless she was -- she became sick, I believe she is still alive.
Q From Calinog did your company or your platoon or your battalion headquarters go on another patrol?
A Yes.
Q Will you take that blue pencil and trace on Exhibit A where that patrol went until the time it returned to Calinog, if it returned to Calinog?
MR. SPRINGER: Let the record show that the witness has indicated on Exhibit A a loop running in a westerly direction from Calinog into tho mountains and back.
COLONEL PARMELEE: What is the loop, now? Calinog west to what?
MR. SPRINGER: Here it is, sir.
COLONEL PARMELEE: We can't see the map very well from here.
MR. SPRINGER: Went to a Barrio Alibunan, north of Mt. Diladila to the fourth fork of that river.
COLONEL PARMELEE: We have got that.
MR. SPRINGER: Cut back south and then east through Valderrama, through Alibunan, and back to Calinog.
271
Q On that patrol did your company or your platoon capture any guerrillas or any civilians?
A Since we were in the interior of the mountains, we could not capture any civilians, or guerrillas; however, we did have a battle with guerrillas.
Q And during that time were any guerrillas captured?
A No.
Q Were any Japanese or any guerrillas or civilians killed during that patrol?
A 2 or 3 Japanese soldiers wore killed in action, and I believe that 14 or 15 guerrillas were killed.
Q Were these guerrillas killed after they were captured or before they were captured?
A They were all killed in action.
Q Were there any other patrols sent out from Calinog at this time?
A Yes.
Q Will you trace on the map the route taken by this patrol?
MR. SPRINGER: Let the record show that the witness indicated approximately the same route taken on the first patrol from Calinog.
Is that satisfactory?
LIEUTENANT EBERHARTER: Yes.
Q Who went on that patrol?
A Lieutenant Colonel Tozuka and Captain Watanabe.
Q And how many companies?
A 3 companies.
272
Q And were any civilians or guerrillas captured on that patrol?
A Battalion headquarters captured several civilians.
Q Did anyone else capture any civilians or guerrillas?
A There weren't any.
Q What happened to these civilians?
A. They were released after investigation.
Q Who investigated then, if you know?
A Captain Watanabe
Q And were these civilians tortured when they were investigated, if you knew?
A. I did not hear of any
Q Do you know the names of any of the civilians that were captured on that patrol?
A I did not know the names.
Q Were there any Japanese soldiers, any civilians, or any guerrillas killed on that patrol?
A We had a fight, a battle, so I believe that many enemies were killed.
Q Were they killed before or after capture?
A They were killed in action.
Q Were there any other patrols sent out from Calinog at this time?
A I do not remember.
Q Do you remember where your company and battalion headquarters went after their return to Calinog?
A The battalion headquarters returned to Iloilo and our company returned in the vicinity of Janiuay.
273
Janiuay Expedition
Q When was the next punitive expedition that your company went on?
A It was during February.
Q Who went on the expedition beside your company?
A Only my company went on the expedition.
Q Will you take this pencil and indicate on the map where your company went?
MR. SPRINGER: Let the record show that the witness indicated a loop running northwest from Janiuay, through the Barrios of Tugas, Manacabac, Tuburan, and back to Janiuay; and another loop running north northwest from Janiuay, running through the barrios of Tuburan, up by Corotan and looping back to the west and back to Janiuay.
COLONEL PARMELEE: The Commission will now adjourn and reconvene at 0830 hours, 3 July 1946
(The Commission adjourned at 1600 hours, 2 July 1946.)
274
xxxxxxx
COLONEL PARMELEE: The new prosecutor will be sworn.
(1st Lieutenant Addison T. Shepherd, JAGD, was duly sworn as prosecutor.)
LIEUTENANT SHEPHERD: There is an additional interpreter to be sworn too.
COLONEL PARMELEE: Very well. The interpreter will be sworn.
277
(Private First Class Nakao was duly sworn as Commission interpreter.)
COLONEL PARMELEE: Is the defense ready to proceed?
MR. SPRINGER: Yes, sir.
HAJIME FUJII
a witness in his own behalf, having be previously duly sworn, testified as follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION (cont'd)
LIEUTENANT SHEPHERD: Will the defense remind the witness that he is still under oath.
(The interpreter translated to the witness.)
MR. SPRINGER: The last statement on the record was as follows:
"Let the record show that the witness indicated a loop running northwest from Janiuay, through the Barrios of Tugas, Manacabac, Tuburan, and back to Janiuay; and another loop running north northwest from Janiuay, running through the barrios of Tuburan, up by Corotan and looping back to the west and back to Janiuay."
BY MR. SPRINGER:
Q On the expedition that went northwest from Janiuay through the Barrios of Tugas, Manacabac, Tuburan and back to Janiuay were there any civilians or guerrillas or Japanese soldiers killed?
LIEUTENANT SHEPHERD: If the Commission please, the prosecution at this point would like to object to the line of questioning in the sense that it is immaterial, irrelevant, and incompetent to the matters in issue at hand.
278
The prosecution would be very happy to allow the defense to put in any geographical background that it wishes to bring in at this time but feels that it is a matter improperly brought before the Commission as to any of the surrounding material, as to whether anyone was killed or any of the other background other than purely geographical.
MR. SPRINGER: If the Commission pleases, the testimony is highly relevant and highly material on this ground: the whole theory of the defense is that prior to July of 1943 the Japanese High Command had followed a policy of honey and sugar with the civilians and that after July and August when General Kono took over under the directions of the 14th Army, then these punitive expeditions in which people were killed and tortured came about; and that those came about under the direct orders of the commanding general, General Kono, and his subordinate, Lieutenant Colonel Tozuka. In order to bring that out clearly and prove it, here is a punitive expedition telling exactly what happened before this date of July. If counsel for the prosecution is willing to stipulate that these punitive expeditions in July, August, and September were carried out under the orders of General Kono and Lieutenant Colonel Tozuka and that the orders of the company leaders were to torture and kill, counsel for the defense will abandon this line of questioning.
LIEUTENANT SHEPHERD: The Government would not care to do that since General Kono is on record in his previous testimony as swearing that he gave no such order. The prosecution renews its objection to the entire line of questioning in regard to anything other than geographical designation of routes of punitive expeditions.
279 & 280
COLONEL FARMELEE: Does the defense consider that the background he is now laying is essential?
MR. SPRINGER: Well, the defense considers that the background, the fact that there were no civilians killed or tortured prior to July 1943 on the punitive expeditions, is certainly highly material as to whether or not orders were or were not given that the civilians should be killed subsequently in July.
COLONEL PARMELEE: The defense must be allowed a certain amount of latitude and it may proceed. The objection is overruled.
A The barrio of Bagumbayan was a base for the enemy combat units in that area. We had one company on that expedition and we had orders not to mistreat the civilians, so we did not even investigate them. And civilians told us that there were no guerrillas in that area so we were proceeding to the next barrio. But when we were doing that the guerrillas attacked us suddenly from the rear and four or five died in the combat. The northwestern town of Calmay was also a base for the enemy and we heard that there were enemies there so we attacked there, but since the civilians did not tell us where the enemies were, we were surprise-attacked there and we sustained about two casualties and the enemy lost about five men; that's all.
Q On that same expedition were there any civilians captured?
A Yes.
Q And were they questioned?
A All those we captured we sent to the company commander and he investigated that.
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Q And who was the company commander at that time?
A 1st Lieutenant Kawano.
Q And do you know whether or not those civilians were tortured when they were questioned?
A No, they were not mistreated.
Q And how do you know that?
A At that time there was an order saying that civilians must not be mistreated and even a beating of the civilians would be punished.
Q On the expedition that ran north northwest from Janiuay, running through the barrios of Tuburan, up and by Corotan, looping back to the west to Janiuay, were any Japanese soldiers, any civilians, or any guerrillas, captured or killed?
A On this expedition we enccuntered surprise attacks in various forms and we lost five or six soldiers; and the enemy sustained some losses too. But no mistreatment or killing of civilians was done on that trip.
Q In other words, none were killed after capture; everybody was killed in combat.
A Do you mean friendly troops, or anyone?
Q Anyone.
A No.
Q About what date did this last expedition get back to Janiuay?
A The end of February or the beginning of March.
Q How long did your company stay in Janiuay after you got back from that expedition?
A About one week.
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Q Then where did your company go?
A We went back to Iloilo.
San Miguel Security Unit
Q And where did you go from Iloilo?
A San Miguel.
Q And was that as garrison or as a punitive expedition.
A As a security unit.
Q And would you trace on the map here with this pencil the route you took from Iloilo to San Miguel.
(Witness traced a route.)
Q How many companies went on that trip?
A I took fifteen men of my platoon.
Q Were you the commanding officer of the garrison at San Miguel?
A No.
Q Who was?
A 1st Lieutenant Koisumi.
Q And you were platoon leader?
A Yes.
Q How long did this company stay in San Miguel as security?
A About two or two and one-half months.
Q And during this time were there any civilians in San Miguel?
A There was a market opened and many people came, especially on Sunday.
Q What was the physical condition of the town of San Miguel?
A There was a bus to Iloilo and there were goods sent back and forth to Iloilo and San Miguel. And it was in a very peaceful condition.
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Q Were the buildings in the town burned or were they as they originally were before the war?
A Except for the market place, everything was burned including the churches.
Q Do you know who burned these places?
A Of course, the guerrillas.
Q How do you know that?
A The method of combat of the enemy, guerrillas, was to burn all the cities and they did that in Iloilo as well as what we have seen in Janiuay, Cabatuan, and Calinog.
Q Did anyone tell you who burned San Miguel?
A After the first expedition we made and we returned to Iloilo we heard that San Miguel was burned by the civilians.
Q During your stay in the garrison in San Miguel were there any Japanese soldiers and civilians or any guerrillas killed?
A We did not even encounter any combat so we did not have any killings.
Q Was there any one killed after being captured, either Filipinos or Japanese?
A No.
Q Were any civilians or guerrillas tortured?
A No.
Buyo Garrison
Q About approximately what date did you leave San Miguel?
A We went to Buyo about the end of May or the beginning ef June.
Q Will you take this pencil and trace on this map, Exhibit A; the route taken fron San Miguel to Buyo?
A The place marked Palagon on this trip is the Buyo that I am talking about.
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Q who was garrison commander at Buyo?
A I was.
Q How many men did you have?
A There were ten men of my own platoon and five Philippine constabularies.
Q How long did you stay as garrison commander at Buyo?
A About one month.
Q And during that time were any civilians in the barrio?
A They continuously-increased after I went to Buyo.
Q. Do you know what the normal population of the barrio is in peacetime?
A I believe that it may be three hundred.
Q And what was the most number of civilians that was there while you were there?
A About twice; about six hundred.
Q And during the time you were garrison commander at Buyo were there any civilians, any Japanese soldiers, or any guerrillas killed?
A We had one attack against us but neither side sustained any losses.
Q And were there any civilians questioned and tortured while you were garrison commander at Buyo?
A No, there was not even one.
Q Were there any Japanese propaganda people come to Buyo while you were there?
A From the time I was in San Miguel propaganda was intensively carried on by the propaganda section.
Q While you were in Buyo was there any?
A Yes.
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Q - What was done? How was it handled?
A At first we gave goods to the civilians and we urged the enemy to surrender and we told them that the Japanese army would not mistreat or hold it against the Filipinos to surrender. And as they know in the attack of Bataan, the prisoners who had surrendered were released even in time of combat; so we urged the enemy to surrender. We said all the good residents should leave the enemy and return to where the Japanese was, and we told the Filipinos that when the Japanese army went out on the expeditions they should not run away from them and they should stay in their homes and welcome the Japanese. But that if they should run away the Japanese army would consider them enemies and they will inflict damages against them.
Q How were the civilians instructed as to this matter?
A While I was in Buyo the daughter of Aguinaldo made various speeches and also we sent out pamphlets and booklets to various districts around the area. And in Iloilo the various mayors of the towns and villages were gathered they were told to tell their people to stay in their homes and to leave those areas where the enemy was active.
Bocari Leon Expedition
Q About what date did you leave Buyo?
A The first part of July.
Q Where did you go?
A Through Leon and to Bocari.
Q Who went on that expedition? Who was the commander of that expedition?
A Lieutenant Colonel Tozuka
Q How many companies?.
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A The battalion headquarters, First, Third, and the Fourth companies.
Q About how many men in all?
A From two hundred to two hundred and fifty.
Q Who was commanding officer of the Third Company?
A I represented the company commander.
Q How did it come about that you were promoted to company commander?
A At that time the Third Company was assigned the security around the Iloilo district and the company commander was weak physically and since the company commander remained at Iloilo, I remained commander.
Q When this expedition started did you have any orders?
A Yes.
Q What were those orders?
A The first was an order to capture all wireless equipment; the second order was to burn all enemy villages and to kill all those who did not surreneer to the Japanese. It said to kill all those who remained in the enemy area.
Q Who gave you those orders?
A Captain Watanabe.
Q Who was he?
A Captain Kengo Watanabe.
Q Who was he?
A The battalion commander but he was a very quiet person and he only went on the expeditions, but all the company orders and commands were given by Watanabe.
Q And the orders from the Heidan went to Watanabe frequently.
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Q Do you know any special reason why an expedition should have been sent to Leon and the vicinity above there at this time?
A In the area around Bocari, Confesor was there, and various wireless equipment, and Watanabe said that, do not return until Confesor and his wireless equipment was captured.
Q Would you take this pencil and trace on this map the route from Iloilo to Leon?
(The witness did so.)
Q How long approximately, or what date did you leave Iloilo for Leon?
A It was on the 8th of July.
Q How long did the battalion stay in Leon?
A We stayed overnight and went to the mountain.
Q Did the whole battalion go to the mountain?
A Yes.
Q Did the whole battalion travel in one group or was there different companies broken up?
A They went in one group to Bocari.
Q Will you trace on this map from Leon to Bocari?
(The witness did so.)
Q From Iloilo to Bocari were there any Japanese soldiers, any civilians, or any guerrillas killed?
A I heard of guerrillas being killed.
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Q Did you hear whether those guerrillas were killed after capture or before capture?
A We attacked the place where the officers of the guerrillas were stationed and we surprised them and there is where we killed them in combat. This was near Leon.
Q Now, were there any other civilians, guerrillas, or Japanese killed en route from Iloilo to Bocari?
A I did not hear of any.
COLONEL PARMELEE: The Commission will recess for approximately 10 minutes.
(Short recess)
COLONEL PARMELEE: The Commission is in session. The witness should be reminded that he is still under oath.
(The interpreter translated to the witness.)
Q After arriving at Bocari, did the battalion proceed as a unit or were the companies broken up and sent on separate patrols.
A After we left Bocari, the companies separated and sometimes they went as a group.
Q How long did your company stay in Bocari before it went out on a patrol, either with battalion headquarters or alone?
A We stayed in Bocari about 3 weeks. And during that time we went once to Leon for provisions.
Q The Third Company, then, stayed in Bocari for 3 weeks with one exception, when they went to Leon for provisions.
A We stayed for 3 weeks in this area around here (indicating on map).
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Q How long were you in Leon before you left the Barrio of Leon to go on patrol?
A You mean when we went after provisions?
Q No, when you went on the patrol, if you did.
A We stayed in Leon for 2 nights, I believe.
Q All right. Then where did you go?
A We went on a punitive expedition between Leon and Tigbauan.
Q Did you go into the mountains, that is yourself personally, around Bocari?
A Yes, under orders to pursue Confesor, I did.
Q Did your company go alone or did battalion headquarters go with you?
A Our company alone.
Q How long had your company been in Bocari before you went on this patrol?
A We only stayed in Bocari one night.
Q Will you take this pencil and trace the route that you took on this patrol?
A (Witness does so.)
Q And how many days were you on that patrol?
A Approximately 2 weeks.
Q And during that time were there any civilians, any guerrillas, or any Japanese soldiers killed?
A There was combat but there were no casualties.
Q Were any civilians or guerrillas captured?
A We captured civilians, and also enemy officer.
Q How many?
A We captured 20 civilians, a total of 20 civilians, and one officer.
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Q Did you come on any guerrilla installation?
A We saw wireless equipment and accessories, Confesor's documents, gasoline, typewriters, hospitals, and barracks built to withstand bombing.
Q Was that in one place or in many places?
A It was in various places.
Q What happened to these 20 civilians and guerrilla officer who was captured?
A The Kempei Tai investigated the 20 civilians and released them at that spot. And the officer was an officer connected with the wireless communications, so we took him back to Iloilo. The treasurer of Confesor's Government was killed and we took the family, his family to Iloilo. However, the wife of the treasurer ran away during the night.
Q Do you know the names of any of these civilians or guerrilla leader that were captured?
A I do not know the name of the civilians, but I believe the officer's name was 1st Lieutenant Francisco
Q And where was the treasurer of the Confesor Government killed?
A In between Bocari and Camandag.
Q After returning to Bocari did you go on any other patrols?
A No.
Q Then where did your company go from Bocari?
A The Fourth Company took our place in pursuing Confesor, so the Third Company returned to Leon.
Q Will you mark on the map the route that your company took from Bocari to Leon?
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A (Witness does so.)
Q How long did your company stay in Leon?
A One or two nights.
Q And on the trip from Bocari to Leon, were there any Japanese soldiers, any civilians, or any guerrillas killed?
A We only had one week provisions, so we did not -- but we stayed 2 weeks so we did not -- we hurried right back to Leon.
Q Did battalion headquarters go from Bocari to Leon?
A When we reached Leon the battalion headquarters was already there.
Tigbauan Expedition
Q Where did your company go from Leon?
A We went to Tigbauan and en route we went on punitive expeditions.
Q Will you trace the route your company took from Leon to Tigbauan?
A (Witness does so.)
Q Did you have any special mission on your trip from Leon to Tigbauan?
A The areas around Dapdap, Napnapan and Dorog were strong points of the enemy, so were told to attack them.
Q Now, from Leon to Tigbauan were any Japanese soldiers, any guerrillas, or civilians killed?
A When you say Japanese soldiers, do you refer to the troops in my own company or in the battalion as a whole?
Q In your own company.
A In our company there were 2 killed in battle.
Q Did your company go alone on this trip fron Leon to Tigbauan along the route you have marked on the map?
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A We were alone until about the time we came to Bagacay, where we met the battalion headquarters.
Q Were any civilians, or any guerrillas killed by your company on the trip from Leon to Tigbauan?
A In the neighborhood of Napnapan from about 10 meters the enemy surprise-attacked us with automatic rifles, and we killed 2 or 3.
Q Were any civilians or guerrillas killed after they were captured?
A Not in our conpany.
Q How long did your company stay in Tigbauan?
A I believe about one night.
San Miguel Expedition
Q Then where did you go from Tigbauan?
A We went to San Miguel.
Q And did your company alone go or did battalion headquarters or another company go with you?
A The whole battalion.
Q And on the way from Tigbauan to San Miguel were there any Japanese soldiers, any civilians, or any guerrillas killed or captured?
A One of my subordinates was killed and I saw many dead bodies.
Q Dead bodies of Japanese or Filipinos or both?
A Filipinos.
Q Had these people been shot or beheaded?
A They were beheaded.
Q Did your conpany kill any civilians after capture?
A No.
Q Any guerrillas?
A No.
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Q How long did your company and battalion headquarters stay in San Miguel?
A We stayed in San Miguel 2 or 3 hours and went back to Iloilo
Q Will you take a pencil and mark the route that was taken from Tigbauan to Leon to Iloilo?
A We came back one night at Tigbauan and went around to Napnapan, came back to Tigbauan for one night, and then we proceeded through San Miguel to Iloilo.
Q How long did you stay in Iloilo?
A 5 days to 1 week.
Q And approximately what date did you arrive back in Iloilo?
A The middle of August.
Capt Watanabe Speech
Q Do you know where General Kono was during this expedition?
A He was in Iloilo; however, the combat headquarters were at San Miguel and Oton.
Q Did you go to any meetings at which General Kono was present?
A I did not go.
Q Did you hear anything about any of those meetings?
A After we came back to Iloilo from in the Tigbauan area, I heard of a meeting in which there was a speech ooncerning punitive expeditions held at Iloilo. This was a battalion meeting of which the battalion commanders -- Taga, Kinishta and Tozuka were present.
Q And who else?
A General Kono, Lieutenant Colonel Watanabe, and Captain Watanabe, and the adjutants of the various battalions.
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Q Did you hear anything in particular about that meeting -- strike that.
What was the approximate date that you heard that this meting was held?
A I do not know what day it was held but after we came back from Tigbauan, when the various battalions came back to Iloilo it was held.
Q Did you hear what occurred at that meeting?
A The punitive expeditions around the Tigbauan area were especially conducted in a good manner because many civilians surrendered and Captain Watanabe was asked to make a speech concerning his method of going out on punitive expeditions at the meeting.
Q Did you hear what Captain Watanabe said about conducting punitive expeditions?
A I heard that he said that the civilians must not be handled in such a lukewarm manner as in the past, but the punitive expedition must be carried on thoroughly in order to gain the control of the whole island of Panay.
LIEUTENANT SHEPHERD: May the Commission please, prosecution makes the suggestion that if General Kono and Colonel Tozuka are going to be called, if they were present at this meeting, that their testimony would be much better than what Fujii learned by hearsay or from some rumor; and on that ground the prosecution would object to this line of questioning and the answer.
COLONEL PARMELEE: I think the Commission Understands this is hearsay.
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MR. SPRINGER: Well, if the Commission pleases, this testimony is not hearsay by any rule of evidence that I ever heard of.
COLONEL PARMELEE: The testimony is that he was not at this meeting; that is the point at issue now; he was not at this meeting, as I understand it. He is telling what he understood or heard took place at the meeting.
MR. SPRINGER: That's right. But the point in issue is the state of mind of the witness. It might be the fact is that all they did was to have tea at the meeting and said nothing about anything. But if he heard that other things were said, even though in fact they were not said, then he is testifying as to what his state of mind was, and the reason for it.
COLONEL PARMELEE: Could you ask him what his state of mind was as a result of all these things that took place and boil it down then?
LIEUTENANT SHEPHERD: Sir, if the Commission please --
MR. SPRINGER: Yes, sir. But I want to present all the facts to the Commission.
COLONEL PARMELEE: The Commission wants the facts, you see. We want to know what took place at the meeting. If we have to know that, why, we would have to get General Kono or Colonel Tozuka.
LIEUTENANT SHEPHERD: If the Commission please, the reason the prosecution mentioned it at this particular time is that some of the questions seem to be almost contradicting each other and the prosecutor was getting
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a bit mixed up. That is why for his own benefit, and for the Commission's, he thought perhaps that clarification should be made by men who were actually present at the meeting.
If the Commission please, for instance, the accused testified that, as I recall it, Captain Watanabe was commended for his work on the expedition because a lot of civilians surrendered. Then he goes ahead and says that Captain Watanabe made a speech saying that they were too lukewarm in their treatment of the civilians. It just didn't make sense to me, that a man would be patted on the back, and then get up before those who who just commended him and say, "you have commended me for something that is entirely wrong." For that reason the prosecutor thought it might be better to get the testimony of men who were present at the meeting itself.
COLONEL PARMELEE: Well, of course, the defense will have to present his case as he has seen it, within certain limits. And on cross-examination you will have a chance to bring out the inconsistencies as to testimony. All the Commission is interested in is getting at the facts and getting at them in the shortest possible time, at the same time allowing the defense to go ahead and present his case.
MR. SPRINGER: I would like to correct a statement which the prosecution made to the testimony, and I think the record will bear it out. It was not that Captain Watanabe's actions had been lukewarm, but that the action, in general had been lukewarm --
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COLONEL PARMELEE: Well, I believe these deductions on the basis of the testimony can be made in the closing argument or brought out on cross-examination.
MR. SPRINGER: Yes sir. But I just wanted to correct that statement in the record.
COLONEL PARMELEE: Very well. That was a statement; it wasn't testimony or evidence.
MR. SPRINGER: I understand that.
COLONEL PARMELEE: The prosecution has not an objection but an observation, is that right?
LIEUTENANT SHEPHERD: We did make it in the form of an objection, but at this time the prosecution will withdraw the objection.
COLONEL PARMELEE: Then the defense may proceed.
MR. SPRINGER: Will the reporter read the last question and answer.
(The last question and answer was read by the reporter.)
BY MR. SPRINGER:
Q Did you hear anything else that occurred at that meeting?
A And Captain Watanabe also said that in order to fulfill the Heidan orders to capture the one thousand guerrilla chiefs and the 13 or 15 wireless equipment on Panay, the punitive expeditions must be carried on in more thorough fashion than in the past.
Q Who did you hear this from?
A I heard this from 1st Lieutenant Otsuka and 1st Lieutenant Kumai.
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Q And do you know bow they knew?
A 1st Lieutenant Kumai was at the meeting.
Q Why was he at the meeting?
A He went as the adjutant of the battalion.
Q When did you leave Iloilo?
A About the 21st of August.
Q And how many days was that after you returned from Tigbauan?
A About 5 or 7 days.
Q Did this meeting take place between the time of your return from Tigbauan and the time you left Iloilo?
A I did not know when the meeting was held, although I did know there was a meeting but when I asked Otsuka, Lieutenant Otsuka, he said It was held before we left for Guimaras. I thought the meeting was held before I went to Bocari, but I found out that it was after we returned from Bocari. And the various battalion commanders would not have been home before we returned from Bocari.
Q Now you are speaking of what you learned after you became a prisoner of war.
A I knew that there was a meeting and that Captain Watanabe made a speech about punitive expeditions; but the further details I heard in the stockade here.
Q And what further details do you speak of?
A What I have just spoken of.
Q What's that?
A That the guerrilla chiefs and wireless equipment cannot be captured, using the ordinary method.
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LIEUTENANT SHEPHERD: If the Commission please, prosecution asks that all the testimony of the accused in regard to what he learned about the meeting and his state of mind be stricken, as it is shown that his state of mind has apparently been refreshed and he first found out what went on in the meeting after all the punitive expeditions were over and he was by that time a prisoner in the stockade. So it wouldn't have influenced his mind at that time.
COLONEL PARMELEE: Does the defense counsel want to make a statement in regard to this?
MR. SPRINGER: Yes sir. I would like to say that at the time I discussed this with the defendant the only confusion was as to the date and when he learned this, and I appreciate that a great number of these questions have been apparently repetitious and redundunt, but it is the belief or my prior knowledge, that it was a problem of translation and language difference necessary to bring the point out. And I think that on further questioning it will be developed that that does in fact exist.
COLONEL PARMELEE: The Commission, of course, is interested only in the facts. We are trying to get at the facts, and we want direct evidence or circumstantial evidence. And the Commission understands that a lot of this testimony is hearsay and will, of course, give it weight accordingly. The Commission will take cognizance of the remarks of the prosecutor and defense counsel and the testimony will have to remain in the record.
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LIEUTENANT SHEPHERD: Sir, the only point the prosecutor was making was that by questions asked by the defense and from the answers of the accused he states that what went on in this meeting he did not learn about until 1945. The defense in its offer of proof has shown that it was trying to show the background to explain these killings. Well, obviously, if he doesn't learn about something till after the killings take place, they have no effect upon it. And that was the point the prosecution wished to call attention to.
COLONEL PARMELEE: Well, the prosecution has a good point there. You were trying to let the Commission know about the state of mind of the defendant?
MR. SPRINGER: Yes.
COLONEL PARMELEE: What bearing does this have, things that he learned --
MR. SPRINGER: Well, what I was trying to bring out before was that I think that that particular testimony is a language-difference interpretation of the problem; that my previous information was that he had learned those things at the time from Lieutenant Otsuka and Lieutenant Kumai -- that it was prior to the departure of the expedition to Bocari, but both Kumai and Otsuka said it was prior to the departure from Guimaras. That is what he is trying to explain now -- that his recollection when he first came was that it was -- (gesturing), and then there was this other problem that you have spoken of, and I would like to pursue that further.
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COLONEL PARMELEE: Well, proceed. Let's get right down to the issue as soon as we can.
The Commission will recess for approximately 10 minutes.
(Short recess)
COLONEL PARMELEE: The Commission is in session.
LIEUTENANT SHEPHERD: Will the interpreter remind the witness that he is still under oath.
(The interpreter translated to the witness.)
BY MR. SPRINGER:
Q When did you first learn that there had been a meeting?
A That was after I came back from Tigbauan and was in Iloilo.
Q At that time what did you learn had happened at the meeting?
A I learned Captain Watanabe was made to give a speech to the various battalion commanders concerning the method of conducting punitive expeditions because his expedition was a very good and a model expedition.
Q Did you learn anything else at that time about the meeting?
A Yes.
Q What?
A And I heard that Captain Watanabe said that the punitive expedition, the method of punitive expedition up to now was too lukewarm and from now on they must be done in a more thorough manner.
Q What did you learn after you became a prisoner of war about the meeting?
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COLONEL PARMELEE: May I ask defense counsel what relevance it has now on the state of mind as to what he learned afterwards.
MR. SPRINGER: What I am trying to do, if the Commission please, is to clarify this last portion of his testimony. In other words, I intend to follow through and show what he learned after and then ask him to give an explanation for the inconsistency.
LIEUTENANT SHEPHERD: If the Commission please, I think I know what counsel is after, but the accused has already stated that he learned the whole thing afterward, except that Watanabe made a speech. What Watanabe said he had stated in the testimony that he learned after he became prisoner of war. I would suggest to counsel that if he is trying to tie these dates down, do so, but don't say what did you learn after you became a prisoner of war, when he has already testified as to what Watanabe had said.
MR. SPRINGER: Well, as stated before, and the Commission is well aware of this, a great difficulty with language difference exists here, and it is possible that this testimony to which the prosecution alludes can be explained on that basis, and that is what I intended to show.
COLONEL PARMELEE: Well, make it as brief as you can. Proceed.
(The last question was read by the reporter.)
A Lieutenant Colonel Watanabe said that he had no knowledre of these things occurring, so in order to verify my memory I asked 1st Lieutenant Kumai and 1st Lieutenant Otsuka.
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If Lieutenant Colonel Watanabe kept on saying that he did not know of these things we were going to call Lieutenant Colonel Taga from Calamba. And in order to verify my memory I asked the two lieutenants.
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Q So actually you learned on two occasions what occurred at the meeting, once before you went to Guimaras and once after you became a prisoner of war.
A Yes.
COLONEL PARMELEE: Can we have the witness resume the stand or will additional reference be made to the map?
MR. SPRINGER: I will be referring to the map.
LIEUTENANT SHEPHERD: If the Commission please, the prosecution, I believe, had a motion to strike before the Commission before the recess and it was prosecution's understanding that the defense was using these questions to clear up the matter and so make unnecessary that motion to strike. I believe that the accused has straightened the matter out and indicated that he did have knowledge of this meeting before he became a prisoner of war, which is a contradiction of his previous testimony. Upon those grounds the motion will be withdrawn, that is, the motion to strike.
COLONEL PARMELEE: Very well.
Guimaras Expedition
Q When you left Iloilo in August where did you go?
A Guimaras.
Q Do you recall the approximate date that you left for Guimaras?
A I believe it was about the 21st of August.
Q And who went to Guimaras, how many companies?
A The headquarters and the first and third companies.
Q And how many men in all went?
A About two hundred.
Q And how many platoons did you have in your company during the operations on Guimaras?
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A One platoon.
Q And how many men in that platoon?
A About fifty, and under myself there were twenty.
Q Do you know any special reason why a punitive expedition should have been sent to Guimaras at this time?
A Yes.
Q What were those reasons or what was the reason?
A At that time Lieutenant Colonel Castillo was there and also Captains Golez and Harandome, 1st Lieutenants Labi, Dadi, Rocario and Militante were on the Island of Guimaras, which was a very strong point of the guerrilla forces and we were told to capture them so we went on a punitive expedition.
A From whom did you learn that these people were on Guimaras?
A We received a map indicating the location of the various people from the battalion headquarters and we had explanations from Captain Watanabe.
Q Did you as company commander receive any special orders in connection with the punitive expedition to Guimaras Island?
A The guerrillas on the Island of Guimaras were very bold and said that the Japanese Army could come any time but we will resist them so we had to go and attack then.
Q Did you receive any special orders in connection with this expedition prior to parting on the expedition?
A In order to catch the guerrilla chiefs it was necessary to gather information on intelligence. In order to do that they said it was well to go soon to the guerrilla area and it was especially good to go to the guerrilla area soon and capture
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people and interrogate them for information. And it was also good to use women to gather information. And we also had orders to burn all the homes and kill the people in the guerrilla area.
Q Who gave you those orders?
A Captain Watanabe.
Q And who was Captain Watanabe?
A He was the commander of the punitive expedition.
Q Was Lieutenant Colonel Tozuka also on the expedition?
A Yes.
Q Then what position in battalion headquarters did Captain Watanabe occupy?
A He was in charge of intelligence and operations.
Q What time of the day did the expedition Guimaras?
A We left about 7 or 8 o'clock, after dark, and reached Guimaras about midnight.
Q What did your company do after you landed at Guimaras?
A Our company went to Supang.
Q Was that immediately after you landed?
A On the route we captured some people.
Q Did you go to Supang immediately after you landed?
A Yes, we went straight to Supang.
Q Was that just your company or the whole expedition?
A It was only my company. It was only my platoon and my command section.
Q Will you take this pencil and show the route that was taken from Iloilo to Supang.
(Witness did so.)
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Q You have indicated the main road marked on Exhibit A from Sto. Rosario to Supang, is that correct?
A Yes.
Q From Sto. Rosario to Supang were there any Japanese soldiers, any civilians, or any guerrillas captured?
A No.
Q Was there anyone captured?
A Yes.
Q Was anyone killed?
A No.
Q How many people were captured from Sto. Rosario to Supang?
A Two or three.
Q And were they questioned?
A Yes, sir.
Q And were they tortured when they were questioned?
A Yes.
Q How were they tortured?
A The women were completely undressed.
Q How else?
A Between Buenavista and Supang we investigated one girl and she was undressed.
Q Were the men tortured?
A We did not capture any men.
Q What did you learn from these people whom you captured?
A The night we reached Sto. Rosario there was a dance in Buennvista at which Rocario and Militante were present. When they heard the noise of the approaching boat they dissolved the dance. And the other girl we captured gave us detailed
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information about the Guimaras Island so we did not have to torture her.
COLONEL PARMELEE: The Commission will recess until 1300 hours.
(The Commission recessed at 1130 hours, 15 July 1946.)
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