Testimony of Rosenda Moog on Atrocities Suffered at the Hands of the Japanese in San Jose, Batangas in 1945
[TRANSCRIPTION]
This page contains the testimony of one Rosenda Moog of San Jose, Batangas regarding Japanese atrocities she suffered and observed during World War II. The pages contained herein 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. Most of the testimonies were translated from Tagalog and have been corrected for grammar by Batangas History, Culture and Folklore where possible. The pagination is as 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. 50]
R E S T R I C T E D
Q Please state your full name, age, address and nationality.
A Rosenda Moog, 20 years old, Taysan, San Jose, Batangas Province, Filipino.
Q What is your occupation?
A Housekeeper.
Q Do you intend to remain at your present address?
A Yes, I do.
Q Did you suffer any mistreatment in the hands of the Japanese? If so, please related it.
A Yes. On March 18, 1945, at about 8:30 in the morning, just after we, 25 persons in all, had taken our breakfast at the house of Nicomedes Ona, I saw about 40 Japanese soldiers coming. They said 40 Japanese soldiers came directly to the house where we were staying and encircled the house. I was one of the six persons who ran away as soon as we saw the Japanese coming. I was bayoneted when I passed the encirclement of the Japanese soldiers, the bayonet passing through my right thigh to the back. I was carrying my two-year-old son in my arms when I was hit and since I was concerned with his safety, I continued to run even after being hit by the Japanese. I ran straight to our house in Banaybanay II and upon reaching it, I told the rest of my family of what happened. We immediately packed the few belongings that we could carry and then went to Taal Volcano. We stayed there for 36 hours while my wound was tended to by a doctor from our barrio who happened to be in the same place.
Q Were there no Japanese soldiers in Taal Volcano?
A No, there were no Japanese in Taal Volcano. We stayed there for 1½ days until the Americans who were already in Lemery, Batangas Province took us from Taal Volcano, and brought us to their lines.
Q Do you know the names of these 40 Japanese soldiers that you saw?
A No sir, that was the first time I saw them.
Q Can you describe any of them?
A They were attired in Japanese uniforms while some were in civilian clothes. I did not notice their uniforms very much as we ran as soon as they were coming.
Q Can you describe their insignia?
A No, as I said, I was too frightened to notice it.
Q Do you know to what unit or organization they belonged?
A No, I do not know sir.
Q Do you have any idea what provoked the Japanese to bayonet you and the rest of the other people?
A No sir, I have no idea why they bayoneted us. We were peaceful people.
[p. 52]
Q I hand you Exhibit F and ask you what it is.
A It is a photograph of myself showing my scar on my back and right hip from bayonet wounds inflicted by the Japanese on me on 18 March 1945 in San Jose, Batangas Province.
Q Have you anything further to add to your statement?
A No sir, I have nothing more to add.
/t/ ROSENDA MOOG
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES
TOWN OF SAN JOSE
/t/ ROSENDA MOOG
Investigating Officer
War Crimes Investigating
Detachment
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES
PROVINCE OF BATANGAS
TOWN OF SAN JOSE
/t/ GUILLERMO F. MARIANO
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| Rosenda Moog shows here bayonet wounds. Image courtesy of the United States National Archives. |