Memoirs of pain : Kempei-Tai torture in the airport studio, Fort Santiago and the old Bilibid Prison

MEMOIRS OF PAIN Kempei-Tai Torture in the Airport Studio, Fort Santiago and the Old Bilibid Prison, to Redemption in Muntinlupa

by

GUSTAVO C. INGLES

With the only Authentic List of Prisoners Court-Martialed by the Japanese and Consigned to the New Bilibid Prisons {1942-1945}

Mauban Heritage Foundation San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines

1992 M

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l1=1 14'J'ZCopyright 1992 by Gustavo C. Ingles All Rights Reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored ill a retrieval system, or transmitted in any foml or by any means, including mechanical, electronic, microfilming, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written pennission from the publisher. 77lis does not apply to quotations from the book to be published in reviews or critical evaluations, provided that copies are subsequently fumished the author.

Published by the Mauban Heritage Foundation P.O. Box 88, Up, Quezon City 1101, Philippines ISBN 971-91298-0-8 Cover design by Larry Francia Editorial Consultant: Raul R. Ingles Fourways Printing, Inc. 137 Aurora Blvd., San Juan Metro Manila, Philippines

(iv)

In memory of my parents, Ricardo V. Ingles and Gen()veva Calleja, of Mauban, Quezon

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Two military prisoners who encouraged me to write my experiences as a prisoner of war were Vicente Lanuza MP 140 and Conrado Agustin MP 250. The former was then occupied compiling the bio-data of the military prisoners in the New Bilibid Prisons while the latter was then busy making a diary on the life of the prisoners. Their main reason then was that of all the paws, I had the rare experience of being incarcerated in four Kempei-Tai

garrisons aside from my'stay in the old and the new bilibid prisons.

I started making notes on my experiences early 1974. The

Association of ex-Japanese Military prisoners (ASJP) embarked on the project of publishing the list of the military prisoners.

Conrado Agustin was in charge of the project while I helped in finalizing the book. It was finished in 1981. Only twenty (20) copies were printed by mimeograph due to lack of funding.

While we were preparing the book, Conrado again reminded me about my story. He even went to the extent of allowing me to use some of his sketches.

After the release of Terry Adevoso from detention by then President Ferdinand Marcos in 1974, he embarked on a project to consolidate the story of the Hunters Guerillas. He assigned to me the task of writing about prison life of the Hunters POW's. It was only then that I gathered all my notes to write the story earnestly.

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The story was edited by my sons Eric and Dave. I had Rey Rillo, the Architect in my firm, to make sketches of some of the persuasive methods employed by the Kempei-Tai.

My

secretaries, Mrs. Alicia D. Ramos and Carlota C. Sevilla, were occupied in typing and re-typing the stories as they were corrected. After it was finished, Charles McDougald, author of the Marcos File, requested a copy of the part describing the preparation and the raid of Muntinlupa. His comment was to have the story edited by somebody who has experienre in making a book.

I decided to give the manuscript to my brother Raul, a jour-

nalism professor, for him to review the book to make all the necessary changes. It was already the first week of March and my target date for its release is April 11, the 50th anniversary of the Hunters. My son Dave helped in preparing laser printouts of the edited version to facilitate printing.

LarryS. Francia, an artist-poet designed the cover of the book.

The pictures of Airport Studio were provided by Mr. & Mrs. Amador Ong,the original owners of Airport Studio.

Details on the story about Remy's death were gathered from Frisco San Juan and Seniong Angeles.

To the above persons and all others whom I have interviewed through the years to make the telling of this story a reality, 1 can only say "Thank you." This book is theirs as well as mine.

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CONTENTS 1

PROLOGUE I. II.

Descent to the Airport Studio

6 25

Retrospect on "Water Cure"

III. Kempei-Tai Substations

30

IV. Within the Maelstrom of Fort Santiago

35

V.

Friendly American Stragglers

56

VI. Return to the Airport Dungeon

61

VII. Old Bilibid: Nostalgia and Intimations of Doom

71

VIII. New Bilibid Prisons: A Chance to Live Anew

90

IX.

A Daring Plot to Raid Muntinlupa

106

X.

Rescue Operations and Trek to Freedom

113

EPILOGUE: Swift Death an Alternative

120 125 - 170

APPENDICES

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APPENDICES

A. List of War Prisoners Court-Martialed by the Japanese

and Consigned to the New l3ilibid Prisons (1942-1945)

127

B. Photos of Female War Prisoners

161

C. Hunters (ROTC) Guerillas Organization Chart

163

D. The Tribune news clipping on the capture of Col. Hugh Straughn (Sept. 1, 1943)

164

E. The Tribune news clipping on the arrest of Cresencio G. Reyes for killing two Japanese (Oct. 2, ]943)

166

F. The Sunday Tribune news clipping on the release of 33 guerilla prisoners from Fort Santiago (Nov. 14, 1943) G. Recollections on a War Prisoner

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167

FOREWORD

The task of writing one's memoirs is a challenge that has always perplexed the beginner or daunted the valiant. Some talk about it and keep on talking without writing; a few start writing but flounder in the treacherous tides of narration. But the compulsion is there and one or two autobiographers lost at sea finally make it to the shore.

This is a brief account of what happened within a year of my life fifty years ago. The half-century mark which is also the Golden Anniversary of the Hunters Guerillas intensified my desire to commemorate the event with a book. No less compelling was the thought that I had something to say and must tell it the way it was. No one else, definitely, could do it for me.

And that was how the book came to be written. The reader, I hope,will find a message in it. For it is the message that will make the book survive just as the idea for the book has nourished me all these years. Now at the age of 70, I have finally reached the shore. To have beached my boat at all is for me an exaltation of life.

Gustavo C. Ingles April 29, 1992

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PROLOGUE

I

N EARLY JANUARY 1942, the Hunters or Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Guerillas was organized by disbanded cadets of

the Philippine Military Academy and members of the rifle team of the ROTC unit

of Jose Rizal College.

Within three months, it rapidly expanded by attracting more ROTC cadets from Mapua Institute of Technology. Letran College, San Beda College, University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila and University of Santo Tomas. PreparatoryMilitary Training (PMT) cadets of Mapa High School and Sl. John's Academy also joined.

The headquarters of the ROTC Guerillas was transferred from San Juan, Rizal to the hills of Antipo\o, Rizal on April 6, 1942. A shortage of arms led the guerillas to plot and carry out lightning raids on the armories of Up, Mapua and Union College.

The assorted guns, rifles and ammunitions gathered were more than enough to make the ROTC/Hunters a striking force to contend with.

Japanese mountain troops with extensive combat experience took the initiative and tracked down the Hunters HQ at Malabanca,Antipolo and launched a surprise attack on July 4, 1942.

Commanding Officer Mike Ver (PMA Class '43) of the Hunters Guerillas was killed in the Japanese assault. As a result, many of

MEMOIRS OF PAIN

the fresh recruits were demoralized and returned home, leaving only a hard core of around 30 guerilleros to carryon the fight.

Terry Adevoso ePMA Class '44) took command of the remnants of the Hunters Guerillas after the death of Mike Ver. On August 30, 1942, he staged an ambush of a Japanese army convoy along the zigzag road of Pugad Lawin at the boundary of Rizal and Laguna.

Numerous vehicles were blown up and only a few of the Japanese troops barely managed to escape leaving behind the dead and wounded . The successful ambush rekindled the interest of hundreds of young men to join the Hunters. Many former members who had given up upon Mike's death returned with renewed confidence to risk their lives for a worthy cause.

Enlistment in the different combat units, specially those of Remy Gozon, Sisoy Pia and Ernie Parpan, swelled with new recruits. As a consequence, the scope of operations was enlarged and parallel activities undertaken. Additional combat units were organized under Naning Guerrero and Vic Estacio. Frisco San Juan, Vic Novales and Marcelino Tan meanwhile liaisoned with and conducted training of the Hukbalahap guerillas of Southern Luzon based in San Antonio, Laguna.

With all these activities to build up the force and establish a solid base in the mountains, operations in the

Manila area

diminished until it was realized that this important source of financial aid and supplies should be given adequate attention.

Neglecting contact with the capital city would be detrimental to the underground movement as a whole.

The liaison unit in Manila was under the supervision of Celso Estrella, ali as Mutya, a violin professor from the University of the Philippines.

Terry Adevoso, as Commanding Officer of the

2

Prologue Hunters, authorized Mutya to expand his unit and gave him a free hand in organizing and overseeing the operations in Manila.

Communication received from Mutya during the month of September was, however, negligible and this caused apprehension in the Hunters headquarters. Terry decided that I be sent to Manila early in October to size up the situation and see how communication could be improved further.

Among my findings were: 1. The functions of the Mutya unit were too much for

the small number of personnel available.

2. Small independent units of the Hunters in the Manila area insisted in sending their reports direct to the Hunters HQ.

3. Several matters requiring immediate decision still had to be referred by Mutya to the Hunters HQ. These were particularly true in matters involving linkage with other guerilla units.

4. Mike's death still lingered and caused apprehension in the minds of many symphatizers of the Hunters, despite the successful ambush of Japanese troops at Pugad Lawin.

These handicaps were analyzed at the Hunters headquarters .

The remedy agreed upon was to set up an umbrella organization in Manila to take care of intelligence and liaison work. Among its important tasks was to make spot decisions on matters that needed immediate action. I was to take charge of this intellige nce network which would have to start operations by early November.

I relinquished all my duties in the Hunters headquarters includ -

ing my position as Executive Officer.

3

MEMOIRS OF PAIN

My new job was just like organizing the Hunters guerillas in Manila all over again. My unit assumed the name of Manila I did not set up any permanent office for

Intelligence Net.

headquarters. Only trusted and selected persons were apprised of my role and allowed to contact me directly. Several indiscreet drop centers for messages were organized to receive and relay vital information.

For Executive Officer, I selected Perfecto

Soriano, a former high-school classmate. To dissemble my presence in Manila, I worked as a janitor in the San Juan municipal building.

Among the units I secretly set up and activated were the Manila Police detachment made up of police desk sergeants of the different police stations and the Manila Intelligence Unit composed of professionals.

For the former unit, my direct contact was

Felixberto Damian and for the latter, Cesar Castillo.The activities of the Manila Police detachment will be described later in this book when the secret operation was detected by the Kempei-Tai. The members of the Manila Intelligence Unit were never caught. This unit was supervised by Homer M. Ingles assisted by Leonardo Darvin and Domiciano de J.esus, all of them architects.

They were ab le to procure the plans of Japanese military installations built by Matsumura Gumi and other Japanese construction companies in the greater Manila area. All the plans collected were later sent to the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) headquarters in Australia by submarine. A small political section was part of this unit under Judge Jose D. Ingles, at that time adviser of President Jose P. Laurel in Malacanang. Copies of all orders from the Japanese Military Administration and policies of the Philippine Government concerning the guerilla pacification campaign were relayed to the Hunters HQ.

4

Prologue I made weekly visits to Terry's headquarters either in San Mateo or Pililla wherever Terry happened to be.

In one of my visits to San Mateo, I learned of the death of Alberto Castillo, my Executive Officer in the Propaganda Section of the Hunters during the early days of its operation. In my last visit to Pililla, I was introduced to a group of new recruits from Muntinlupa and Pasay City. This happened in June and the meeting took only a few minutes. My attention was attracted to a recruit with shifty eyes. He was a lanky fellow by the name of Sergio Reyes. Little did I suspect that I would be meeting him again before the month was over under entirely different circumstances.

I had two more meetings with Terry after this incident. On our last meeting, I noticed Terry limping from a swollen ankle which he suffered while eluding a Japanese patro\' This last mee ting occurred in the fields of Antipolo in Marikina Valley three days before that fateful day of June 23,1943.

5

NAME

ABA YA, Consolacion 89 ADEVOSO, Eleuterio (Terry) 2,18, 20,22,58,59,61,63,66,105,106, 107,108,109,116,117,118,119, 120,121,123, AGUINALDO, Emilio 121 AGUSTIN, Conrado 104

-cCALDERON, Ikeng CARREON, Godofredo CARUNGCONG, Jose COSTEGAN, Pauline CASTILLO, Alberto CASTILLO, Cesar CRUZ, Gabriel CRUZ, Pedro

ALBERT, Enrique 100,105,119 ALCANTARA, Artemio 70 ALCANTARA, Arturo 61,100 ALEXANDER, Paul (Alex) 56 ANDERSON, Charles 120,124 ANGELES, Arsenio (Seniong) ANONUEVO, Leonardo AQUINO, Felisa AQUINO, Kikoy

1lI 61,68 119 89 5 4 107 23,121

-DDAMIAN, Felixberto 4,100,119,79, 115 DARVIN, Leonardo 4 DAVIS 122 DAZA, Juaning (Johnny) 65,107 DOMONDON, Francisca 58,59 DUNGO, Tomas 79

122 23 61,70 109

-BBAGALAY BAKLA BAND, Antonio BASCON, Emesto BEDANA, Rufino

INDEX

-E-

109 61,68,70 61,100 119,121 6,100

ERFE, Mejia (Max Agudo) 63 ,64,66,67 ESPALDON 122,123 ESTACIO, Vicente 2, 107, 109,1lI, 114 ESTRELLA, Celso (Mutya) 61,79,116 EV ARLE, Napoleon 66

BELARMINO, Ester 89 BONIFACIO, Andres 121 BOURBON, Jose 107,108 BUENAFE, Marcelo 46 BUENAFE, Mamerto 46 BUENO, Marciano 107,109,114,115, (Mars Lazo) 116 BURGOS, Agapito 70 122,123,124 BURNS, Bob

-FFERRER, Juanito (Janet) FIGUERAS, Jose FRUTO, Manuel

107,109 70 100

-G · GALANG, Ricardo GAMO, Bienvenido

172

101 99

NAME GILBUENA, Francisco 106,111,112 GILBUENA, Vicente 106,111,112 GOLDSBOROUGH, Edwin (Goldie) 45,57,60 GONZALEZ, Augusto 56 GONZALEZ, Eduardo (Ado) 57 GONZALEZ, Jose (Chito) 56 44 GONZALES, Prescioso GONZAGA, Sister Louis D. 89 GOY ARGET, Stanley 46,58,59,60,74 GOZON,Reymundo (Remy) 2,22,59,61 105,115,119,120,123,124 GUEVARRA, Antonio 106,111,112 46 GUEV ARRA, Santiago GUERRERO, Honorio (Naning) 107, 109,111,114 70 GUINTO, Leon G. 121 GULAPA, Patrocinio

-HHERMAN, Otto (Oliver Henderson)

INDEX -LLAUREL, Jose P. LENEHAN, Dick LIS, Sister Mary D.

-MMACLANG, Col. MANAS, Clodualdo MANGLAPUS, Raul MAURICIO, Jimmy 115,119 MacARTHUR, Douglas MENDOZA, Gregorio

57,59

58 122

-NNAGAHAMA, Akira 70 NAKAR, Guillermo 45 NERI, Jaime 44,45,53,81,84,85,86 87,100 2,6,100 NOV ALES, Vicente 87 NUENO, Topacio

45,48,119 4 4

-JJESUS, Cerilo de (TIo) 120,124 JESUS , Domiciano de JOCSON, Picong JOTA, Melquiades

32 106,112 100 61,79,86,100,

115 MESINA, Ignacio 46,58,59,60,74,84, MILLS, Harry 86,87,88 100 MISA, Eriberto 99 MISA, Guillermo 44 MONTILLA, Gil 40 MORELOS 105,119,121 MOSKAIRA, Roger

-1INGLES, Gustavo (Tabo) INGLES, Homer M. INGLES, Jose D.

4 122,124 89

23,68,

-0-

4 122 120

OCAMPO, Antonio 99 OCAMPO, Enunanuel de (Maning) 58,106,107,109

173

NAME O'FARREL, Elsa ORTEGA, Francisco

INDEX

61,73,88,89 46,84,85,87

RODRIGUEZ, Engr.

-s-

-pPABICO, Leon PANADERO, Dominador PARPAN, Ernesto (Parpy)

SAKAKAlDA, Richard 85,86 SAKO, Corporal 113,114 SAL VAOOR, Pedro 70 SAN, SAN Go 73,80,81,89 SAN JUAN, Frisco (Johnnie) 2,59,

119 61,100 2,58,

61,64,68,70 PASCUAL, Silvestre PAZ, Rosauro

23,119 61,68

PHODACA, Josefina PIA, Loreto PIA, Narciso (Sisoy)

104 61,68 107,109,

61,65,107,120,122,123 SAN PEDRO, Honorio SINAHON, Silvestre SISTEMA, Marcelino SORIANO, Perfecto STRAUGN, Hugh

111,114,116 PICKETT, Charles PIKE, Gertrudes D.

41,42,44 89

TAN, Marcelino 1 TANG KIANG, Clarita 104 TODD, Henry 46,58,59,60,74 TORRES, Antonio 70 TUPAS, Ernesto 116

100

-RRAMA, Francisco de la RAMOS, Melchor RAMUELLA, Manuel REBULLEDO, Benedicto REMOQUILLO, Abelardo REYES, Antonio REYES, Cresencio G. REYES, Eduardo REYES, Francisco REYES, Jose REYES, Luis REYES, Sergio RILLO, Salvador

116 23 100 4 46,58,86

-T-

-QQUIJANO, Jose

84,85,86,87

104 79,100 66 79 106,112 66

-vVELASCO, 122 VEYRA, Vicente de 99,114 VER,Miguel 12,18,20,22,32,56,68

123 VILLAR, Frankie VILLALON, Bandong VILLAMOR, Jesus VILLANUEV A, Eufracio VILLANUEV A, Pete VILLAREAL, Antonio

84,85,86 70 66 65,66 66 5,14,15 44

174

23 180,111 65 120,121 68 61,70

;'::'::~<T::~ I Roderick IIIIIII 11111 'IIIIIIII~ 111111111 IIII Hall CoIl. 14038 0787.4157 1992 .. J: R I TAG E Memoirs of pain : Kempei-Tai torture In the airport studio, I. 1 II II A II Y Fort ~antiago and the old Bilibid Prison , to Redemption in

Muntlnlupa I by Gustavo C. Ingles