Testimony of Guillermo Aguila on Japanese Atrocities Committed in Cuenca, Batangas in 1945
[TRANSCRIPTION]
This page contains the testimony of Guillermo Aguila 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. 1742]
GUILERMO AGUILA
[Batangas History, Culture & Folklore believes the first name above should be Guillermo.]
DIRECT EXAMINATION
A (Through Interpreter Gojunco) Guilermo [Guillermo] Aguila.
Q Where do you live?
A Barrio Labac, Cuenca, Batangas.
Q Did you live at Barrio Labac on the 7th day of March, 1945?
A Yes, sir.
Q Will you describe what happened on that date, please?
A In the morning of that day, one Japanese came and took
[p. 1743]
Q How many companions were with you?
A 18.
Q Where did they take you?
A We were brought to Dita, [a] Barrio of Cuenca.
Q What happened when you were taken to Dita?
A We were asked to cut grasses in the afternoon. At 3 o’clock, we were tied.
Q How long did you cut grasses for the Japanese?
A From 8 o’clock until 3 o’clock.
Q 8 o’clock in the morning until 3 o’clock in the afternoon?
A Yes, sir.
Q How many of you were tied?
A We were 13 who were tied.
Q What happened to the 13 of you who were tied?
A We were brought to the ravine and then we were bayoneted at the back.
Q Were you bayoneted?
A Yes, sir.
Q How many times?
A Two times.
Prosecution Exhibit No.
274 for identification.)
A This is my picture.
Q Does that mark on the lower part of the right-hand side of your back show your bayonet wound?
[p. 1744]
CAPTAIN PACE: I offer it in evidence.
GENERAL REYNOLDS: There being no objection, it is accepted in evidence.
(Prosecution Exhibit No.
274 for identification
was received in evidence.)
(A photograph was marked
Prosecution Exhibit No.
275 for identification.)
A A wound on my breast and on my hand.
CAPTAIN PACE: I offer it in evidence.
GENERAL REYNOLDS: There being no objection, it is accepted in evidence.
275 for identification
was received in evidence.)
A My friends died.
Q How many of them died?
A 11 died.
Q Who killed them?
A Persons in soldier’s uniform killed them.
Q Who were they?
A Japanese.
Q Japanese soldiers?
A They were dressed in uniform, soldier’s uniform.
Q Do you know what nationality they were?
A No.
[p. 1745]
A No.
Q Were they Americans?
A No.
Q Do you know what uniform they had on?
A Khaki uniform.
Q Do you know what army that uniform was issued by?
A No.
Q Have you ever seen a Japanese soldier?
A I saw. I don’t know what they were.
Q Were those Japanese soldiers?
A Japanese soldiers.
Prosecution Exhibit No. 276
and 277, respectively, for
identification.)
CAPTAIN PACE: You may cross examine.
CAPTAIN REEL: Is this exhibit being offered?
CAPTAIN PACE: No, it isn’t.
CROSS EXAMINATION
A (Through Interpreter Gojunco) I don’t know.
Q Might they have been members of the Makapili?
A I don’t know.