Testimony of Cipriano Rodelas on Japanese Atrocities Committed in Lipa, Batangas in 1945
[TRANSCRIPTION]
This page contains the testimony of Cipriano Rodelas of Lipa, Batangas on the atrocities committed by the Japanese in the town 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.
 |
| Photo taken during the war crimes trials in Manila. Image credit: U.S. National Archives. |
[p. 1546]
CIPRIANO RODELAS
called as witness on behalf of the Prosecution, being first duly sworn through Interpreter Rodas, was examined and testified through the Interpreter as follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION
Q (By Captain Pace) What is your name?
A Cipriano Rodelas.
Q Where do you live?
A In the barrio of Lodlod.
Q How do you spell that?
A L-o-d-l-o-d.
Q Is Lodlod about three kilometers southwest of Lipa?
A Yes.
Q Did you live at Lodlod on February 28, 1945?
A Yes.
Q Where did you go in the morning of February 28?
A I did not go anywhere. I stayed at home.
Q Did you stay home all day on the 28th of February?
A No.
Q Where did you go on the 28th of February?
A The Japanese told us to go home because we were going to be given passes.
Q Where did you go to get the passes?
A To the town.
Q What town?
A Lipa.
Q What time did you go to Lipa?
A About 7 o’clock in the morning.
A Cipriano Rodelas.
Q Where do you live?
A In the barrio of Lodlod.
Q How do you spell that?
A L-o-d-l-o-d.
Q Is Lodlod about three kilometers southwest of Lipa?
A Yes.
Q Did you live at Lodlod on February 28, 1945?
A Yes.
Q Where did you go in the morning of February 28?
A I did not go anywhere. I stayed at home.
Q Did you stay home all day on the 28th of February?
A No.
Q Where did you go on the 28th of February?
A The Japanese told us to go home because we were going to be given passes.
Q Where did you go to get the passes?
A To the town.
Q What town?
A Lipa.
Q What time did you go to Lipa?
A About 7 o’clock in the morning.
[p. 1547]
Q How many people from Lodlod went to Lipa?
A About 400 people.
Q Were they all male civilians?
A Yes.
Q Were they all males in Lodlod?
A Not all of them were from Lodlod. Some of them were evacuees.
Q Did all the males in Lodlod on that day go to Lipa at the same time you did?
A Yes.
Q Describe where the 400 people went?
A When we were on our way, we reached the Church of Divine Love, and this is about in the western part of the town.
Q What is the name of the church?
A Divine Amour or Divine Love.
Q What happened after you reached there?
A We were asked to line up two by two.
Q Yes.
A And we were given numbers.
Q What was your number?
A 136.
Q What happened after everybody had received numbers?
A After we were all given numbers, we were asked to walk towards the seminary.
Q What seminary?
A Seminary for the Fathers.
Q And after you got there, what happened?
A We were asked to sit down on the floor.
A About 400 people.
Q Were they all male civilians?
A Yes.
Q Were they all males in Lodlod?
A Not all of them were from Lodlod. Some of them were evacuees.
Q Did all the males in Lodlod on that day go to Lipa at the same time you did?
A Yes.
Q Describe where the 400 people went?
A When we were on our way, we reached the Church of Divine Love, and this is about in the western part of the town.
Q What is the name of the church?
A Divine Amour or Divine Love.
Q What happened after you reached there?
A We were asked to line up two by two.
Q Yes.
A And we were given numbers.
Q What was your number?
A 136.
Q What happened after everybody had received numbers?
A After we were all given numbers, we were asked to walk towards the seminary.
Q What seminary?
A Seminary for the Fathers.
Q And after you got there, what happened?
A We were asked to sit down on the floor.
[p. 1548]
Q Yes.
A And while we were sitting on the floor, the numbers were called from 1 to 20 and so on. We were going to be — They told us that we were going to be returned to the town, and that was the place where we were going to be given the passes.
Q Is this the seminary of which you speak, the Minar [Minor] Seminary, located just south of Lipa on the Rosario Road?
A Yes.
Q Do you know what day the residents of Antipolo and Aniloa [Anilao] were taken to the Minor Seminary?
A No, I do not know.
Q Do you know of they were taken there?
A No.
Q Were they there the same day you were?
A They were not there.
Q Alright. Did they start taking people from the seminary?
A Yes.
Q In groups of 20?
A Yes.
Q How many people from Lodlod were in the seminary at the time this started?
A Maybe 400.
Q What time did they take your group?
A Maybe about 10:30.
Q Alright. What happened after you were taken?
A We were lined up towards the town.
Q Yes.
A And while we were sitting on the floor, the numbers were called from 1 to 20 and so on. We were going to be — They told us that we were going to be returned to the town, and that was the place where we were going to be given the passes.
Q Is this the seminary of which you speak, the Minar [Minor] Seminary, located just south of Lipa on the Rosario Road?
A Yes.
Q Do you know what day the residents of Antipolo and Aniloa [Anilao] were taken to the Minor Seminary?
A No, I do not know.
Q Do you know of they were taken there?
A No.
Q Were they there the same day you were?
A They were not there.
Q Alright. Did they start taking people from the seminary?
A Yes.
Q In groups of 20?
A Yes.
Q How many people from Lodlod were in the seminary at the time this started?
A Maybe 400.
Q What time did they take your group?
A Maybe about 10:30.
Q Alright. What happened after you were taken?
A We were lined up towards the town.
Q Yes.
[p. 1549]
A We were taken towards the town and after reaching an empty and dilapidated house on the road, we were stopped by the two Japanese who were with us.
Q These two Japanese soldiers had taken you from the seminary; is that right?
A Yes.
Q What did the Japanese M.P. do when he stopped you?
A We were asked to go to the side, because they said there were airplanes.
Q What happened then?
A We were on the side of the riverbank. When we were asked to go to the side, the Japanese told us to go inside and apartment downstairs of the house.
Q Where was this house?
A It was on the end of the road to Lipa.
Q What happened there?
A Where?
Q In the house.
A We were tied.
Q What happened then?
A After we were tied, we were then led to near the riverbank.
Q What happened there?
A We were then asked — Upon reaching the riverbank, we were then asked to go down two by two.
Q Is this riverbank the one about one kilometer southeast of Lipa?
A Yes, down south of Lipa.
Q What happened after you were at the riverbank?
Q These two Japanese soldiers had taken you from the seminary; is that right?
A Yes.
Q What did the Japanese M.P. do when he stopped you?
A We were asked to go to the side, because they said there were airplanes.
Q What happened then?
A We were on the side of the riverbank. When we were asked to go to the side, the Japanese told us to go inside and apartment downstairs of the house.
Q Where was this house?
A It was on the end of the road to Lipa.
Q What happened there?
A Where?
Q In the house.
A We were tied.
Q What happened then?
A After we were tied, we were then led to near the riverbank.
Q What happened there?
A We were then asked — Upon reaching the riverbank, we were then asked to go down two by two.
Q Is this riverbank the one about one kilometer southeast of Lipa?
A Yes, down south of Lipa.
Q What happened after you were at the riverbank?
[p. 1550]
A We were bayoneted.
Q How many at a time?
A We were brought two at a time and two, together, at a time, were bayoneted.
Q Describe how they bayoneted you.
A When I reached the place where the Japanese who bayoneted us was I right away bayoneted.
Q How many times?
A Once.
Q Where was that?
A Near the riverbank.
Q Where did the bayonet enter your body?
A On my left back. On the back side of my back.
Q How many at a time?
A We were brought two at a time and two, together, at a time, were bayoneted.
Q Describe how they bayoneted you.
A When I reached the place where the Japanese who bayoneted us was I right away bayoneted.
Q How many times?
A Once.
Q Where was that?
A Near the riverbank.
Q Where did the bayonet enter your body?
A On my left back. On the back side of my back.
CAPTAIN PACE: Mark this for identification, please.
(Photograph of witness showing
wound was marked Prosecution
Exhibit No. 256 for identification.)
wound was marked Prosecution
Exhibit No. 256 for identification.)
Q (By Captain Pace) Will you look at Prosecution Exhibit No. 256 for identification and tell us what it is?
A This is my picture.
Q Is the mark on your body where you were bayoneted?
A Yes.
A This is my picture.
Q Is the mark on your body where you were bayoneted?
A Yes.
CAPTAIN PACE: I offer it in evidence.
GENERAL REYNOLDS: There being no objection, It is accepted in evidence.
(Prosecution Exhibit No. 256
for identification was received
in evidence and so marked.)
for identification was received
in evidence and so marked.)
Q (By Captain Pace) What happened after they stuck
[p. 1551]
a bayonet in you?
INTERPRETER RODAS: I beg your pardon?
CAPTAIN PACE: “What happened after they stuck a bayonet in you?”
A I didn’t know anything anymore, because I fainted.
Q (By Captain Pace) When did you regain consciousness?
A After a while, I regained consciousness.
Q What did you see, then?
A I saw many scars of the dead.
Q Did you see the dead bodies of the people who had left Lodlod with you?
A Yes.
Q (By Captain Pace) When did you regain consciousness?
A After a while, I regained consciousness.
Q What did you see, then?
A I saw many scars of the dead.
Q Did you see the dead bodies of the people who had left Lodlod with you?
A Yes.
[p. 1552]
Q Were the Japanese still there?
A Yes, they were still there.
Q What happened, then?
A There were still Japanese there who threw stones at those who are still alive — or who were still alive.
A Yes, they were still there.
Q What happened, then?
A There were still Japanese there who threw stones at those who are still alive — or who were still alive.
CAPTAIN PACE: (To the Interpreter) You are sure it was “throwing stones?”
(Translated to the witness.)
THE INTERPRETER: “They were throwing stones at us.”
Q (By Captain Pace) What happened then?
A (Through the Interpreter) After a while, why, I felt my hands were numb, and then a dead body fell on my feet, and I tried to wiggle my feet away from it. After hitting many times, my feet were free and my head was up, and the tie of my hands, I was able to reach with my teeth. I bit hard with my teeth, and after a while, the tie on my hands was free, and then, after that, I left.
Q Were the Japanese still there when you left?
A There were none there. Maybe, they were out to lunch.
Q How were the Japanese who bayoneted you dressed?
A They were dressed in faded khaki, soldiers.
Q Did they have anything else on?
A Nothing else, except that.
Q How about aprons?
A The only one who killed was the one who only had a covering here (indicating), an apron.
Q How, how many people from Lodlod survived?
A I am the sixth, I am one of the six.
A (Through the Interpreter) After a while, why, I felt my hands were numb, and then a dead body fell on my feet, and I tried to wiggle my feet away from it. After hitting many times, my feet were free and my head was up, and the tie of my hands, I was able to reach with my teeth. I bit hard with my teeth, and after a while, the tie on my hands was free, and then, after that, I left.
Q Were the Japanese still there when you left?
A There were none there. Maybe, they were out to lunch.
Q How were the Japanese who bayoneted you dressed?
A They were dressed in faded khaki, soldiers.
Q Did they have anything else on?
A Nothing else, except that.
Q How about aprons?
A The only one who killed was the one who only had a covering here (indicating), an apron.
Q How, how many people from Lodlod survived?
A I am the sixth, I am one of the six.
[p. 1553]
(A photograph was marked
Prosecution Exhibit No. 257
for identification.)
Prosecution Exhibit No. 257
for identification.)
Q (By Captain Pace) Will you look at Exhibit 257 for identification and tell what it is?
A This is one of my companions, Francisco Rodelas.
Q Did he survive the massacre?
A Yes.
Q Does this show the wound that he received there?
A Yes, sir.
A This is one of my companions, Francisco Rodelas.
Q Did he survive the massacre?
A Yes.
Q Does this show the wound that he received there?
A Yes, sir.
CAPTAIN PACE: I offer this in evidence.
GENERAL REYNOLDS: There being no objection, it is accepted in evidence.
(Prosecution Exhibit No. 257
for identification was
received in evidence.)
for identification was
received in evidence.)
(A photograph was marked
Prosecution Exhibit No.
258 for identification.)
Prosecution Exhibit No.
258 for identification.)
Q (By Captain Pace) Can you tell me what Exhibit 258 for identification is?
A This is one of my companions, one named Magsino.
Q Does that show a wound that he received on that day?
A Yes.
A This is one of my companions, one named Magsino.
Q Does that show a wound that he received on that day?
A Yes.
CAPTAIN PACE: I offer it in evidence.
GENERAL REYNOLDS: There being no objection, it is accepted in evidence.
(Prosecution Exhibit No. 258
for identification was
received in evidence.)
for identification was
received in evidence.)
Q (By Captain Pace) Now, out of the 400 people, the six of you were all that survived, is that right?
A Yes.
A Yes.
[p. 1554]
CAPTAIN PACE: You may inquire.
CROSS-EXAMINATION
Q (By Captain Sandberg) Do you remember when the Japanese evacuated all the civilians from Lipa?
A No, I do not remember.
Q Do you remember that there was such an evacuation of all civilians from Lipa?
A I do not remember.
Q Do you have a resident’s certificate?
A I left it in my home?
Q Were you asked by the Japanese to show your resident’s certificate?
A No.
Q Did you know that the way by which the Japanese distinguished the guerrillas was by whether or not they had a resident’s certificate?
A I do not — they did not ask anything.
Q Well, you generally kept this resident’s certificate on your person, didn’t you?
A No, I don’t have.
Q You mean you didn’t have a resident’s certificate?
A When?
Q At the time of this occurrence?
A No, I didn’t have a resident’s certificate.
Q And you say that the Japanese at the time of this incident didn’t ask you whether you had a resident’s certificate?
A No, they did not ask.
Q Were you, in fact, a guerrilla?
A No, I do not remember.
Q Do you remember that there was such an evacuation of all civilians from Lipa?
A I do not remember.
Q Do you have a resident’s certificate?
A I left it in my home?
Q Were you asked by the Japanese to show your resident’s certificate?
A No.
Q Did you know that the way by which the Japanese distinguished the guerrillas was by whether or not they had a resident’s certificate?
A I do not — they did not ask anything.
Q Well, you generally kept this resident’s certificate on your person, didn’t you?
A No, I don’t have.
Q You mean you didn’t have a resident’s certificate?
A When?
Q At the time of this occurrence?
A No, I didn’t have a resident’s certificate.
Q And you say that the Japanese at the time of this incident didn’t ask you whether you had a resident’s certificate?
A No, they did not ask.
Q Were you, in fact, a guerrilla?
[p. 1555]
A I am not a guerrilla.
Q How long after this occurrence did the American forces arrive in your town?
A It still took quite a long time.
Q Several days?
A I do not remember, because at that time, I was suffering.
Q How long after this occurrence did the American forces arrive in your town?
A It still took quite a long time.
Q Several days?
A I do not remember, because at that time, I was suffering.
CAPTAIN SANDBERG: That is all.
REDIRECT EXAMINATION
Q (By Captain Pace) You had a resident’s certificate at your home, did you not, in Lodlod?
A When?
Q The day you left with the Japanese on February 28.
A No, I didn’t have.
Q Were you told that you were being taken to Lipa to get those certificates?
A No.
Q What were you being taken to Lipa for?
A We were going to be given passes so that we could work.
A When?
Q The day you left with the Japanese on February 28.
A No, I didn’t have.
Q Were you told that you were being taken to Lipa to get those certificates?
A No.
Q What were you being taken to Lipa for?
A We were going to be given passes so that we could work.
CAPTAIN PACE: That is all.
(Witness excused.)
Notes and references:
1 “Excerpts from the Testimony of Cipriano Rodelas in U.S.A. v Tomoyuki Yamashita,” part of the U.S. Military Commission compilation of war crimes documentation, online at the Internet Archive.