Testimony of Juan Zamosa on Japanese Atrocities Committed in Tanauan, Batangas in 1945
[TRANSCRIPTION]
This page contains the testimony of one Juan Zamosa on Japanese atrocities committed in Tanauan, Batangas in 1945. The pages contained herein are now declassified and were part of compiled documentation1 of war crimes trials conducted by the United States Military Commission after the conclusion of World War II. This transcription has been corrected for grammar where necessary by Batangas History, Culture and Folklore. The pagination is as it was contained in the original document for citation purposes.
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| Photo taken during the war crimes trials in Manila. Image credit: U.S. National Archives. |
[p. 2196]
JUAN ZAMOSA
called as a witness on behalf of the Prosecution, being first duly sworn through Interpreter Dionisio, was examined and testified through Interpreter Dionisio as follows, with Interpreter Rodas acting as “check” interpreter:
DIRECT EXAMINATION
Q (By Captain Pace) Give your name, please.
A (Through the interpreter) Juan Zamosa.
Q Where do you live?
A In the Barrio of Tunauan, in the Town of Tanauan.
Q Did you live there in Tanauan on February 10, 1945?
A Yes, sir.
Q Tell what happened on the morning of February 10th.
A In the morning of that day, there were two soldiers that came. After the two soldiers came to our house, they took me and brought me to the house of the mayor.
Q How many people did they take?
A There were many, around 50 persons.
Q What happened then?
A When we arrived there, we saw 50 other persons tied together.
Q Where did you go, then?
A We were all hog tied, and the men were separated from the women, who were placed under the house.
Q Were the women tied?
A The women were tied, but the children were not, and the men were also tied.
Q What did they do with the men?
A After they were tied, they asked us if we were all
A (Through the interpreter) Juan Zamosa.
Q Where do you live?
A In the Barrio of Tunauan, in the Town of Tanauan.
Q Did you live there in Tanauan on February 10, 1945?
A Yes, sir.
Q Tell what happened on the morning of February 10th.
A In the morning of that day, there were two soldiers that came. After the two soldiers came to our house, they took me and brought me to the house of the mayor.
Q How many people did they take?
A There were many, around 50 persons.
Q What happened then?
A When we arrived there, we saw 50 other persons tied together.
Q Where did you go, then?
A We were all hog tied, and the men were separated from the women, who were placed under the house.
Q Were the women tied?
A The women were tied, but the children were not, and the men were also tied.
Q What did they do with the men?
A After they were tied, they asked us if we were all
[p. 2197]
Filipinos.
Q What did they do to you?
A We answered that we were Filipinos.
Q What did the Japanese do to you?
A After we were questioned, we were released one by one, and we were bayoneted one by one.
Q How many men were bayoneted before your turn came?
A I think there were around 25 who were already bayoneted.
Q How did you escape?
A When my turn came, which was — I was number 26 — I ran away with the hope that I won’t really be killed.
Q How many men were in the group?
A There were around 100, including men and women.
Q How many men?
A There were around 50.
Q Have you ever seen any of those men alive since that date?
A I saw no one survive, even until now, I have seen no one.
Q What did you see, if anything, happen to the women?
A I saw a pregnant woman who was assaulted by a Japanese officer, and I saw also the child inside that came out of the stomach and was thrown away.
Q What made the child come out of her stomach?
A Perhaps, it was due to the slashing of her stomach.
Q Who slashed her stomach?
A A Japanese officer, if I am not mistaken.
Q What did he slash it with?
Q What did they do to you?
A We answered that we were Filipinos.
Q What did the Japanese do to you?
A After we were questioned, we were released one by one, and we were bayoneted one by one.
Q How many men were bayoneted before your turn came?
A I think there were around 25 who were already bayoneted.
Q How did you escape?
A When my turn came, which was — I was number 26 — I ran away with the hope that I won’t really be killed.
Q How many men were in the group?
A There were around 100, including men and women.
Q How many men?
A There were around 50.
Q Have you ever seen any of those men alive since that date?
A I saw no one survive, even until now, I have seen no one.
Q What did you see, if anything, happen to the women?
A I saw a pregnant woman who was assaulted by a Japanese officer, and I saw also the child inside that came out of the stomach and was thrown away.
Q What made the child come out of her stomach?
A Perhaps, it was due to the slashing of her stomach.
Q Who slashed her stomach?
A A Japanese officer, if I am not mistaken.
Q What did he slash it with?
[p. 2198]
A A sword.
Q Have you ever seen any of these women or children alive since that date?
A I have seen no one survive, even until now.
Q These Japanese that you have spoken of, are they soldiers or sailors?
A I am not quite sure, sir, whether they are members of the navy or army, but what I know [is] they are soldiers.
CAPTAIN PACE: You may cross examine.
Q Have you ever seen any of these women or children alive since that date?
A I have seen no one survive, even until now.
Q These Japanese that you have spoken of, are they soldiers or sailors?
A I am not quite sure, sir, whether they are members of the navy or army, but what I know [is] they are soldiers.
CAPTAIN PACE: You may cross examine.
CROSS EXAMINATION
Q (By Captain Sandberg) Did you give any assistance to the guerrillas?
A I did not give any.
CAPTAIN SANDBERG: That is all.
CAPTAIN PACE: Thank you.
A I did not give any.
CAPTAIN SANDBERG: That is all.
CAPTAIN PACE: Thank you.
(Witness excused.)
Notes and references:
1 “Excerpts from the Testimony of Juan Zamosa in U.S.A. v Tomoyuki Yamashita,” part of the U.S. Military Commission compilation of war crimes documentation, online at the Internet Archive.