Testimony of Elisa Magpantay on Japanese Atrocities Committed in Cuenca, Batangas in 1945
[TRANSCRIPTION]
This page contains the testimony of Elisa Magpantay 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.
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| Photo taken during the war crimes trials in Manila. Image credit: U.S. National Archives. |
[p. 1736]
ELISA MAGPANTAY
called as witness on behalf of the Prosecution, being first duly sworn through Interpreter Gojungco, was examined and testified through the Interpreter as follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION
Q (By Captain Pace) Where do you live?
A (Through Interpreter Gojunco) Sitio Longos, Barrio of San Felipe, Cuenca, Batangas
Q Where did you live in February, 1945?
A Sitio Longos, Barrio San Felipe, Cuenca, Batangas.
Q Did the Japs come to your place?
A Yes, sir.
Q On February 19?
A Yes, sir.
Q Tell what happened, please.
A They went up and told us to go down, to go to the yard.
Q And after you went to your yard, what happened, then?
A We were bayoneted there, stopped.
Q Did you escape?
A Yes, sir.
Q What time in the evening was this?
A 7 o’clock.
Q When did you return to your barrio?
A On the fourth day.
Q On the fourth day after February 18?
A On the fourth day after February 19.
Q What did you find when you returned?
A I saw that all my companions were dead.
A (Through Interpreter Gojunco) Sitio Longos, Barrio of San Felipe, Cuenca, Batangas
Q Where did you live in February, 1945?
A Sitio Longos, Barrio San Felipe, Cuenca, Batangas.
Q Did the Japs come to your place?
A Yes, sir.
Q On February 19?
A Yes, sir.
Q Tell what happened, please.
A They went up and told us to go down, to go to the yard.
Q And after you went to your yard, what happened, then?
A We were bayoneted there, stopped.
Q Did you escape?
A Yes, sir.
Q What time in the evening was this?
A 7 o’clock.
Q When did you return to your barrio?
A On the fourth day.
Q On the fourth day after February 18?
A On the fourth day after February 19.
Q What did you find when you returned?
A I saw that all my companions were dead.
[p. 1737]
Q How many of them were there?
A 11.
Q Were they members of your family?
A All of them.
Q How had they been killed?
A By bayonet.
A 11.
Q Were they members of your family?
A All of them.
Q How had they been killed?
A By bayonet.
CAPTAIN PACE: You may cross examine.
COLONEL CLARKE: No questions on this witness.
(Witness excused.)
Notes & References:
1 “Excerpts from the Testimony of Elisa Magpantay in U.S.A. v Tomoyuki Yamashita,” part of the U.S. Military Commission compilation of war crimes documentation, online at the Internet Archive.