I have just seen the Trial of the Tiger of Malaya (Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita) who surrendered to my unit the 14th Infantry Regiment, USA at Kiangan, Mt. Province in August 1945—as shown in Channel 7. It is a dramatization that overplays the injustice allegedly committed against him, the commentator concluding that of the 12 newspapermen who covered the trial all voted among themselves no evidence had been presented to warrant conviction.
The TV presentation is a part of a series of trial presentations. It made a point of the fact that the presentation falsi1ied evidence in the testimony of Lapus and Galang and the court was ordered to finish the trial in as short a time us possible, so it allowed the admission of hearsay evidence.
The sentence was handed down on Dec. 7, 1945—Death by hanging—for not taking the precautions to prevent the anticipated atrocities.
Gen. Yamashita had said he was not informed of the commission of atrocities otherwise he would not have condoned them or if discovered after commission he would have punished the perpetrators.
Official Gazette for March 9, 1975: SECRETARY of Tourism Jose D. Aspiras told the national press club of Canberra, Australia, that democracy under the New Society exists on a much wider base in his country, and so provides more impetus to economic, political, cultural and social development. Secretary Aspiras is in Australia as head of a cultural and travel mission whose performances have won raves from both Australian officialdom and leaders of the travel industry. The New Society, Secretary Aspiras said, was brought about by Martial Law which he described as a “unique political experience.” The secretary cited the process of holding referendums as proof that democracy exists in the Philippines. The results of the recent referendum expressed massive support for the President and his crisis government. “The fact is that democracy exists on a wider base,” he said. “The oligarchy and their political and terrorist tentacles have been eliminated so that the people can speak directly.”
CHAIRMAN Leonardo B. Perez of the Commission on Elections said his office would take appropriate action against non-voters and other violators in the February 27 referendum. He also said the Comelec would likewise prosecute all persons who reportedly have committed acts violative of the Election Code. He further added that all persons who disrupted the proceedings will be prosecuted to preserve the credibility of the referendum. He said that there are 38 possible offenses, other than non-voting or boycotting, that could have been committed during the last referendum. Included in these violations are tampering with ballots, intimidation, coercion, giving drinks to referendum voters, and other forms of interference that could disrupt the balloting and destroy the credibility of the referendum.
THE COUNTRY’S development banks must provide more credit and financing assistance, not only for traditional, large scale industries but also for new and medium scale industries to generate more rapid increase in production and economic growth. This exhortation was made jointly by Natural Resources Secretary Jose Leido Jr. and Vice Chairman Jose V. de Ocampo of the Development Bank of the Philippines in addresses at the 12th national convention of private development banks in Iloilo City. Secretary Leido underscored the need not only for private development bankers but also the entire private sector to call the attention of the government on needed reforms to correct existing decrees and rules, and suggest ways of increasing production. Vice Chairman de Ocampo, on the other hand, strongly emphasized the need for private development bankers to initiate moves for greater food production in pursuing the President’s top priority area in the national plan.
We should record the fact that the pillage, the rape and murders started long before the landing of the Americans in the Philippines.
I must order these documented.