Freed 2,147 Prisoners in the Internment Camp in Los Baños

by: Edjun Mariposque

The 78th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Los Baños Prison Camp celebrated last February 23, 2023 and was held at Charles Fuller Baker Memorial Hall in the University of the Philippines, Los Baños, Laguna.

Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez, Los Baños Mayor Anthony Genuino, other LGUs, Veterans and descendants of the fallen Heroes of World War II were among who gave respect and importance of the said event.

The 97-year-old Bb. Sofia G. Tidon who was a former guerrilla stated in her speech that she averted the Japanese slavery and she was one among the survivors of the massacre. Unfortunately, her parents and siblings were killed.

Way back in 1943, the Baker Hall was used by the Japanese as a prison camp for American prisoners and other foreigners where they were starved and suffered severe humiliation.

On February 23, 1945, the Japanese were attacked by the combined forces of Pangkat ng Guerilyang Filipino from the members of ROTC Hunters, Hukbalahap 48th Chinese Squadron, private army of Pres. Manuel Quezon, Pangkat Marking and other irregular troops with the help of the Americans.

The joint forces were organized by Lieutenant Colonel Gustavo Ingles, a member of the Hunters, was assigned by the American Forces who manage the Guerillas in Southern Luzon.

Lieutenant Colonel Honorio Guerrero and ROTC hunters lead the first attack. They successfully controlled the camp with the help of the Americans from Company B, 511th Paratroop Infantry, then freed the 2,147 prisoners.

Unfortunately, when the Japanese Major General Masatoshi Fujishige and Warrant Officer Sadaaki Konishi learned that the internment camp was ruined by fire and their prisoners escaped, they were furious and retaliated against the Filipinos residing in the barrios of Los Baños.

Around 70 Filipinos were captured and were brought inside the St. Therese Chapel. They burned the chapel and those who tried to flee were executed gun-down.
On Feb 26, 1945, which was 3 days after, over 1,400 Filipinos were gathered, tied and were detained. Houses were burned down and many families were massacred.

In 1946, Major General Masatoshi Fujishige was charged and convicted for the death of thousands of Filipino civilians. While the sadistic Warrant Officer Sadaaki Konishi was tried and convicted of war crimes by the American tribunal and was extradite to Japan and was hanged in 1949.