Guerrilla Movement In The Philippines

The Commonwealth was much more than just a group of rebels. As established, they were also a network of Philippine government officials that would do whatever they could to get rid of the Japanese. In addition, they were also smugglers. McArthur may have left, but the guerrillas still understood that this was not going to be something that would be easily done by themselves. Instead they knew that they needed to do what they could to get McArthur to return. In order to do that, they needed to keep the United States informed. This would prove to be no simple task, as you could imagine would be the case when there is a heavily guarded and severe occupation taking place. The Commonwealth first made sure the United States understood exactly what

The Filipinos really hurt the Japanese. It also does seem to be overlooked that the Filipinos were incredibly valuable; there was a lot more to this fight. The guerrilla movement played a major role in slowing down the plans of the Japanese. These guerrillas can not be overlooked. “Most American officers surrendered, but only a small minority of Filipino officers and enlisted men did so. The rest vanished with their weapons to fight another day.”66 Legarda goes on, “The unsurrendered include not only those who did not give up physically, but also those who, after physically captivity, had not surrendered in spirit and resumed the fight after their release.”67 This was the difference between the Filipinos and the Americans. For the Americans, surrender meant no more fighting and possibly freedom when it was over. For the Filipinos, on the other hand, surrender was not an option. This was their land for which they were fighting. This was their third ruler. They were ready for their independence and they were going to let the captor know just how serious they were. These guerrillas were notably different than other rebels from other wars. “The ferocity of the national resistance to the Japanese invaders,” is something to behold and grant credit.68 In The Case of General Yamashita, by A. Frank Reel, General Akira Muto, it reportedly uses these words when talking about the Filipino resistance, “In all other colonial areas occupied by the Japanese during the war the conquerors found the native populations to be acquiescent if not cooperative. Only in the Philippines did they encounter fanatical resistance.”69 This war was won with the significant help of the guerrilla movement. It was a story of their dedication to their freedom. This war was completely changed by the Filipinos; it was a story of their dedication to their