Testimony of Agustin Lunar on Japanese Atrocities Committed in Cuenca, Batangas in 1945
This page contains the testimony of Agustin Lunar on Japanese atrocities committed in the town of Cuenca, 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.
AGUSTIN LUNAR
DIRECT EXAMINATION
CROSS EXAMINATION
REDIRECT EXAMINATION
Notes and references:
1 “Excerpts from the Testimony of Agustin Lunar in U.S.A. v Tomoyuki Yamashita,” part of the U.S. Military Commission compilation of war crimes documentation, online at the Internet Archive.
[p. 1737]
called as witness on behalf of the Prosecution, being first duly sworn through Interpreter Gojungco, was examined and testified as follows through the Interpreter:
Q (By Captain Pace) Will you give your name, please?
A (Through Interpreter Gojunco) Agustin Lunar.
Q Where do you live?
A Longos, town of San Felipe, Batangas. [More correctly, Sitio Longos, Barrio San Felipe, Cuenca, Batangas.]
Q Did you live there on February 19, 1945?
A Yes, I lived [there].
Q Will you describe what happened that evening?
A On February 19, evening, [the] Japanese arrived.
Q What did they do?
A Some went up and the others remained down and killed the people.
Q Some went up where?
A Went up the house.
Q What did you do?
A I ran away.
A (Through Interpreter Gojunco) Agustin Lunar.
Q Where do you live?
A Longos, town of San Felipe, Batangas. [More correctly, Sitio Longos, Barrio San Felipe, Cuenca, Batangas.]
Q Did you live there on February 19, 1945?
A Yes, I lived [there].
Q Will you describe what happened that evening?
A On February 19, evening, [the] Japanese arrived.
Q What did they do?
A Some went up and the others remained down and killed the people.
Q Some went up where?
A Went up the house.
Q What did you do?
A I ran away.
[p. 1738]
Q When did you return?
A The next day.
Q What did you find in your house?
A My house was burned and my mother and nephew were killed.
Q How had they been killed?
A By bayonet wound.
Q Did you look in any other houses?
A I saw dead people in other houses.
Q How many?
A One of the houses had three were dead, and in the other, four — seven.
A The next day.
Q What did you find in your house?
A My house was burned and my mother and nephew were killed.
Q How had they been killed?
A By bayonet wound.
Q Did you look in any other houses?
A I saw dead people in other houses.
Q How many?
A One of the houses had three were dead, and in the other, four — seven.
CAPTAIN PACE: Will the interpreter please repeat the answer?
INTERPRETER GOJUNCO: In one of the houses, three were dead; in the other, seven.
CAPTAIN PACE: You may cross examine.
Q (By Captain Reel) Mr. Lunar, were you active with the guerrillas?
A No, sir.
Q Did you ever help the guerrillas?
A No, sir.
Q Do you know whether any of the other people involved in this episode were guerrillas?
A I knew nobody.
Q Well, did you know of guerrilla activities in Longos at about this time?
A None.
A No, sir.
Q Did you ever help the guerrillas?
A No, sir.
Q Do you know whether any of the other people involved in this episode were guerrillas?
A I knew nobody.
Q Well, did you know of guerrilla activities in Longos at about this time?
A None.
[p. 1739]
GENERAL REYNOLDS: The Commission will interrupt to terminate that line of questioning further.
CAPTAIN PACE: One more question, sir.
Q (By Captain Pace) Were these Japanese soldiers who burned the houses of your barrio?
A (Through Interpreter Gojunco) Japanese soldiers.
A (Through Interpreter Gojunco) Japanese soldiers.
CAPTAIN PACE: Thank you very much.
(Witness excused.)
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| Photo taken during the war crimes trials in Manila. Image credit: U.S. National Archives. |
1 “Excerpts from the Testimony of Agustin Lunar in U.S.A. v Tomoyuki Yamashita,” part of the U.S. Military Commission compilation of war crimes documentation, online at the Internet Archive.