Echoes of Defeat: The Horrors of Japanese Stragglers in Post-WWII Bukidnon

by Josie Shiraz

Immediately after Japan's surrender in World War II on August 15, 1945, a phenomenon emerged of Japanese soldiers continuing to hide or fight after they had been informed of the Japanese surrender. These straggler soldiers continued to hold out for numerous reasons: they did not understand the war had ended, they feared punishment for desertion, or they felt bound by a sense of duty to continue their mission. The source: Investigation of Captured Japanese Army Stragglers in the Province of Bukidnon, Island of Mindanao. (unnumbered case), focuses on the cannibalism, rape and murder this group of 32 straggler soldiers inflicted on the Bukidnon province of Mindanao.  During World War II, Mindanao was a significant battleground, particularly during the Battle of Mindanao (March–August 1945), part of Operation VICTOR V to liberate the Philippines from Japanese control. The island's rugged terrain, dense jungles, and limited infrastructure made it an ideal environment for Japanese soldiers to evade capture. After the war, many Japanese troops surrendered, but some remained in hiding, particularly in remote areas like Bukidnon, a mountainous province in central Mindanao. The Japanese army continued with organized resistance in Bukidnon for a brief period after the official Japanese surrender. However, approximately 22,250 Japanese troops and 11,900 civilians emerged from hiding across Mindanao at the war’s end, indicating that many had avoided capture in the jungles. Some of these stragglers lived in isolation, some integrated into local communities; however, these soldiers continued a gruesome campaign of terror, unaware of or in denial of Japan’s surrender.

Investigation of captured Japanese Army stragglers in the Province of Bukidnon, Island of Mindanao. (unnumbered case)
I. INVESTIGATION:
The investigation was concerned with the activities of the group of 33 Japanese Army stragglers who had been captured near Intavas, Bukidon on or about 14 February 1947. For about a year and a half before their capture, residents of the province had been subjected to repeated attacks by small bands of Japanese soldiers, resulting in the known deaths of over seventy persons. A number of victims had escaped and brought back stories of torture, murder and rape. Pursuing patrols of the Philippine Army MPC found piles of bones and other evidence of cannibalism. This was later confirmed by the testimony of actual eyewitnesses. Although contact was made by several MPC patrols, resulting in the killing of a few Japanese soldiers, the lair and size of the group could not be ascertained.
The entire province was terrorized. Whole towns were evacuated. Many schools were closed. Agriculture was largely abandoned, and a minor famine threatened.
On the date mentioned, a patrol of the MPC (PA) led by LT. Alejandro Sale, captured a group of 34 Japanese soldiers as above described, and brought them to Sumilao. One later died in the hospital. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the prisoners were guilty of the offenses referred to.
Witnesses and victims were examined and testified under oath. And with the exception of one, wrote his statement narratively in his own handwriting. These statements and annexed hereto.
II. Proceedings:

1. The following witnesses were sworn and testified as hereinafter appears:

Name               Age                 Sex            Home address                    Record
Tan Sio GO      41                   F          Cagayan, Misamis Oriental          1
Bonifacio Kayano  60          M          Tankulan, Bukidon                            4
Epifanio Kinuyog    10           M         Tankulan, Bukidon                            7
Carmelino Mahayao    7       M        Impasugong, Bukidon                   10    
Felix Saguinwan          24       M   Impasugong, Bukidon                           14
Alejandro Sale           27         M     Maramang, Bukidon (MPC Hdqtrs) 18
Constancio Saplinay           M      Buntungan, Sumilo, Bukidon               27
Cresencia Sayam     19        F       Sumilao, Bukidon                                 31
Jovita Sayam               26        F      Sumilao, Bukidon                                 35
Paulino Timoan        30        M        Maramag, Bukidon (MPC Hdqrts) 40
Benito Yabonan        27        M       Quisolon, Sumilao Bukidon            44           
 

1. The following Japanese Prisoners of War were sworn, and testified as hereinafter appears: (All Male)  

Name & Rank           Age                     Place of detention                     Record
        Hajime Ainoda, 1st LT.     29            Cagayan, Misamis Oriental            46-51-53
        Kazuo Asanabe, Cpl.      28            Cagayan Misamis Oriental               56
        Shoichi Fukui, L/Pvt.       32          Cagayan Misamis Oriental               58
        Satoshi Funao, L/Pvt.      28          738th MPC, Manila                                60
        Masateru Gushiken, L/Pvt. 28    738th MPC, Manila                                 62-68
        Ishie Hanada, Cpl.               38       738th MPC, Manila                               74-76
        Kazumi Homan, L/Pvt.       26       Cagayan Misamis Oriental              78
        Yukio Inui, 2nd Lt.                  40        738th MPC, Manila                                80
        Kazuyoshi Ishimurea, 1st Lt. 34 738th MPC, Manila                                  82
        Katsumi Ito, Sgt.                 33         Cagayan Misamis Oriental              85-87
        Yasuo Kai, Sgt.                     35        Cagayan Misamis Oriental              89
        Hiroshi Kamachi, L/Pvt.   35         Cagayan Misamis Oriental              91
        Zenichi Kobata, L/Pvt.       34         738th MPC, Manila                               93
        Kurahachi Kuroki, L/Pvt.   31         738th MPC, Manila                               95
        Motokichi Kyuma, Sgt/Maj  39     Cagayan Misamis Oriental              97
        Jisuke Maekawa, L/Pvt.         34     Cagayan Misamis Oriental              99-101
        Tokifumi Manabe, L/Pvt.       33      738th MPC, Manila                               103
        Toshio Matsumura, Cpl.        30      738th MPC, Manila                              106-104
        Masaru Nagasawa, Sgt/Maj. 35    Cagayan Misamis Oriental             108
        Kikuo Nakaizumi, L/Pvt.          35    Cagayan Misamis Oriental            110-112
        Takeichi Nakamura, L/Pvt.     26    738th MPC, Manila                              114-117
        Mitsugo Nakashima, Sgt.        31   738th MPC, Manila                              119-121
        Keiji Saiho, Sgt.                            33   Cagayan Misamis Oriental             122-125
        Tamotsu Sasaki, Cpl.                31   Cagayan Misamis Oriental             127-130
        Takeshi Sata, L/Pvt.                   36   738th MPC, Manila                                131
        Tadao Sekiba, Sgt.                      32   738th MPC, Manila                                133
         Yoshio Shida, L/Pvt.                  30   Cagayan Misamis Oriental              135
         Fumio Shida, L/Pvt.                   49    Escaped and presumed dead.      137
         Minotaro Tadokoro, CPl.          37    Cagayan Misamis Oriental              144-146
         Same witness – set of sketches                                                                           158
         Hiroshi Teshima, Cpl.               29   Cagayan Misamis Oriental                159-161
         Choichi Tsuji, L/Pvt.                  36    738th MPC, Manila                                 164
         Tatsumosuke Ueda, L/Pvt.    30    Cagayan Misamis Oriental                168
         Rikimi Yamamoto, L/Pvt.        29    738th MPC, Manila                                 170-175-177
(Note: Those at Cagayan are at Hdqtrs. Of 10th Military District, Philippine Army.)
3.The following documents were considered:
Item                                                                Record Ref.
Exhibit “A”- Sketch of area of stragglers’ camp
Schedule “A”- List of POW’s, annotated by Hajime Ainoda.
Schedule “B”- Map of Cagayan, with annotations indicating various activities of the unit.
III. The following victims are referred to in the annexed statements:
*Killed
Name                     Age           Sex      Nationality           Home Address
Bon Tion Go       49               M         Chinese            Cagayan, Misamis Oriental
Bastian Yabonan 57           M           Filipino            Sumilao, Bukidnon
Modisto Ayarayan  35        M          Filipino             Sumilao, Bukidnon
Loberberto  Lalanan   38        M     Filipino             Sumilao, Bukidnon
Jovineio Yabonan          12      M        Filipino           Sumilao, Bukidnon
Augustin Sayam             ?       M         Filipino           Sumilao, Bukidnon
Faustina Tondalas        50     F          Filipino            Sumilao, Bukidnon
Augustin Timoan          72      M         Filipino            Dalwangan, Malaybalay, Bukidnon
Maria Mantata               40       F         Filipino            Dalwangan, Malaybalay, Bukidnon
Filomena Mantata       80       M        Filipino            Dalwangan, Malaybalay, Bukidnon
Maria Mantata                ?         F         Filipino             Dalwangan, Malaybalay, Bukidnon
Casisno Ido                     ?         M        Filipino             Impasugong, Bukidnon
Milagros Escubio de Casino       ?          F          Filipino            Impasugong, Bukidnon
Felipa Mahayao                                ?           F       Filipino            Impasugong, Bukidnon
Isidro Mahayao                          8                 M         Filipino           Impasugong, Bukidnon
Elita Mahayao                         ?                     F         Filipino           Impasugong, Bukidnon
(FNU). Mahayao                     ?                     F        Filipino           Impasugong, Bukidnon
Juliana Saguinwan             10                     F        Filipino           Impasugong, Bukidnon
\./                   `                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
Juanito Homonlay          13                           M  Filipino           Impasugong, Bukidnon
Martha Bacunan              40                       F    Filipino           Impasugong, Bukidnon
Emiliana Saguinwan      14                       F   Filipino           Impasugong, Bukidnon
Felisa Homonlay              20                     F    Filipino           Impasugong, Bukidnon
One unidentified Filipina Civilian, age and residence unknown.
One unidentified Filipino Civilian, age and residence unknown.
Ten unidentified Filipino Civilians, age, sex and residence unknown.
*Of the above, the following are known to have been butchered and eaten after their murder:
Augustin Sayam
Faustina Tondalas
Agustin Timoan
Maria Umarol Timoan
Filomena Matata
Maria Matata
Milagros Escubio de Casino
Emiliana Saguinwan
Felisa Homonlay
One unidentified Filipina.
IV. Discussion:
It is certain that this group of Japanese Stragglers was responsible for the torture, killing and cannibalism of many more victims than are listed in this report. The MPC Files are replete with descriptions of incidents and reports of deaths and dissaperances. The dates and locations of these incidents correspond so closely to the period and area of the operations of the stragglers that it is a moral certainty that they are guilty. However, the instances above listed are the only ones in which there is any hope of convictions on the basis of presently perpetuated evidence.  The difficulties of terrain and transportation in the province of Bukidnon make it appear unlikely that further evidence will be uncovered, with a lengthy supplementary investigation. It is therefore suggested that whatever trial proceedings are instituted be based upon the annexed report, and that those perpetrators not named therein be cleared.
Specific recommendation
1.The identification of Yoshio Shida and Kikuo Nakaizumi by Constancio Saplinay (Record, page 28) was unimpressive and unconvincing. The witness is a boy of 6 or 7 years. He is shy, diffident, illiterate and inarticulate. His identification has hasty and based upon a cursory frightened glance. This boy would crumble under the mildest cross examination. For all these reasons, it is recommended that Shida and Nakaizumi be not charged in this instance.
2.There is no identification or other evidence to show that any of these Japanese was guilty of the murder of Bon Tio Go (Record, page 1). Recommended, therefore, that no action be taken in this instance.
3.The statement of Lt. Alejandro Sale (Record page 25) described the identification of Ishie Hanada (by a girl named “Biday”) as the killer of a number of civilians. Although this girl was unavailable during the course of the investigation, Lt. Sale is confident that he will be able to produce her when required to testify. It is recommended, therefore, that Hanada be charged in this instance. 
4.Several instances of cannibalism are described where the victims are fellow Japanese soldiers. Whether or not such cannibalism constituted a violation of Philippine civil law it is believed that difficulty would be found in having it held to be a War Crime. It is recommended, therefore, that no charges be based thereon.
V. Conclusion:
It is believed that sufficient competent evidence now available has been perpetuated

Source: 
General Headquarters Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers Legal Section, Manila Branch, “Funao,” Pacific Asia War Archive, accessed June 20, 2025, https://pacificatrocitiesedu.reclaim.hosting/items/show/1514.