Testimony of Carlos Marquez on Japanese Atrocities Committed in Bauan, Batangas in 1945 - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore Testimony of Carlos Marquez on Japanese Atrocities Committed in Bauan, Batangas in 1945 - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore

Testimony of Carlos Marquez on Japanese Atrocities Committed in Bauan, Batangas in 1945

Batangas History
1 Aug, 2019

[TRANSCRIPTION]

This page contains the testimony of Carlos Marquez on Japanese atrocities committed in the town of Bauan, Batangas in 1945. This particular transcription is from his testimony in U.S.A. v Shumpei Hagino, et al. 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.

Manila War Crimes Trial US Army
Photo taken during the war crimes trials in Manila.  Image credit:  U.S. National Archives.

[p. 168]

CARLOS MARQUEZ

witness for the prosecution, being first duly sworn, testified as follows through Interpreter Campomanes:

DIRECT EXAMINATION

BY MR GUTHRIE:

Q State your name?
A Carlos Marquez.
Q Mr. Marquez, your arms are severed at the elbows and your legs at or about your knees. Has your physical condition been that way since prior to February 28, 1945?
A Yes, sir.
Q Where did you live on February 28, 1945?
A Inside of town.
Q What is the name of that town?
A Bauan, Batangas.
Q Were you in your house in Bauan on February 28, 1945?
A Yes, sir.
Q Who else was in your house with you at that time?
A My father; he was sick.
Q What is his name.
A Damian Marquez.
Q And what was his age at that time? How old was he?
A Seventy or sixty. I don’t know.
Q Did anything unusual happen?
A No, sir.
Q Did you see any Japanese on that morning?
A Yes, sir, but I didn’t know him.
Q Did he come to your house?

[p. 169]

A Yes, sir.
Q What did you see this Japanese do?
A As soon as these three Japanese came to our place, they proceeded to my father and bayoneted him twice. Then, they returned to me and bayoneted me first here (indicating) and then, as I evaded it with my left arm, they thrust again and I was hit here (indicating).
Q Will you indicate for the record where you were hit by the bayonet?
A This is the first thrust (indicating).
MR. GUTHRIE: The witness has indicated a place just below his left nipple which appears to be a scar about one-half inch in length.
A (Continued) This is the second.
MR. GUTHRIE: The witness indicates a scar on his left shoulder about half an inch in diameter.
A (Continued) This is the third.
MR. GUTHRIE: The witness indicates a third scar below his left shoulder and on his side about one-half inch in length.
Q What happened to your father when he was bayoneted?
A He died.
MR. GUTHRIE: That is all.

CROSS-EXAMINATION

BY MR. MORRISON:

Q Mr. Marquez, what was the nature of your father’s illness on February 28, 1945?
A Old age.

[p. 170]

Q Where there any incidents in Bauan similar to those which you say occurred on February 28, 1945, prior to that date?
A No, sir.
Q Do you know the reasons for this Japanese activity such as that which you described?
A I don’t know, sir.
Q Do you know of any Japanese by the name of Takemoto?
A I don’t know him because I didn’t meet him.
Q Do you know who it was who bayoneted you?
A I do not remember.
MR. MORRISON: No further questions.

REDIRECT EXAMINATION

BY MR. GUTHRIE:

Q It was a Japanese soldier that bayoneted you, wasn’t it, Mr. Marquez?
A Japanese.
Q And it was a Japanese soldier that killed your father?
A Yes, sir.
Q Have you ever been a guerrilla at any time?
A No, sir.

MR. GUTHRIE: That is all.

MR. MORRISON: No further questions.

COLONEL HAMBY: Any questions by members of the Commission? The witness is excused.

(Witness excused.)
Notes and references:
1 “Excerpts from the Testimony of Carlos Marquez in U.S.A. v Shumpei Hagino, et al.,” part of the U.S. Military Commission compilation of war crimes documentation, online at the Internet Archive.
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