NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Third Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The heroic contributions of the Mindanaonon guerrillas during the Second World War 
remain largely unrecognized in the country’s consciousness, if not regarded as a mere 
footnote to history, despite their significant role in resisting Japanese occupation forces from 
1942 to 1945.  
This bill seeks to correct this gross neglect and historical oversight by declaring as 
National Heroes the courageous men and women from Mindanao who fought to defend their 
land, laid their lives to preserve freedom, and protect their people during one of the darkest 
epochs in Philippine history. Their contributions were critical in slowing down the Japanese 
advances which otherwise would have destructive actions elsewhere and ensure immediate 
victory across the Pacific. Their presence served as an inspiration and provided impetus in 
maintaining local resistance until the eventual liberation of the Philippines. 
This bill aims to officially recognize these individuals and ensure that their stories are 
included in the country’s historical narrative. Among those who deserve commendation are 
Major Manuel D. Jaldon, Major Rosauro P. Dongallo, Pastor Ilogon Sr., Captain Andres Bacal, 
Major Jose Manuel C. Montalvan, Salipada K. Pendatun, Lt. Felipe Fetalvero, Captain Ramon 
Onahon, Lt. Alfredo L. Cayton, Macario Diaz, Captain Claro Laureta, the Tiano Brothers 
Ronaldo, Nestor and Apollo, and numerous other guerrilla leaders and warriors who risked 
their lives that their countrymen may live. Their leadership and valor while organizing 
resistance forces, defending strategic locations, and liberating towns and regions from 
Japanese occupation played no small part in the country’s fight for independence.  
This bill also seeks to mandate the National Historical Commission of the Philippines 
(NHCP) to conduct research, install monuments and publish historical records to extol and 
honor the heroism of these Mindanaonon fighters. 
By acknowledging these Mindanaonon guerrillas as National Heroes, the nation fulfills 
its duty to hold in great respect those who have sacrificed their lives for the country’s freedom. 
This declaration will not only ensure that their names are immortalized in history but will also 
inspire future generations of Filipinos to embrace patriotism, courage, and unswerving love for 
the country. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
11480
March 17, 2025
2:13 pm


NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Third Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT 
DECLARING AS NATIONAL HEROES THE MINDANAONONS WHO RESISTED 
THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION FORCES DURING WORLD WAR II 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as the “Mindanao Heroes During World War 
II Declaration Act”. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared that the Filipino Nation recognizes the 
heroic acts of the people in Mindanao particularly those who joined the resistance movement 
in the fight against the Japanese Occupation Forces during the Second World War, so that 
this southern part of the islands of the Philippines will be free and regain its independence. 
SEC. 3. Objectives - The objectives of this Act are: 
1) To correct the bias against the heroic participation of the people from Mindanao
and the different regions of the country in resisting the advances of the Japanese
invaders from 1942 to 1945;
2) To develop local writers to write about their local heroes who actively participated
and/or supported the guerrilla movement against the Japanese armed might;
3) To recognize the long delayed declaration of the heroism of the guerrillas in
Mindanao and other regions against the Japanese invasion; and
4) To lay the groundwork for the rewriting of Philippine history to incorporate the heroic
deeds of our brothers and sisters in Mindanao and other regions and make our
Philippine history truly national and complete.
SEC. 4. The following are declared National Heroes of the Philippines for their heroism having 
participated as guerrilla soldiers in the resistance movement against the Japanese invasion 
forces in Mindanao: 
a. From Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro
1) Major Manuel Jaldon - In the early days of October 1942, Major Jaldon with a few
officers and men, having collected some arms and ammunition, formed a guerrilla unit
at Himaya, a sitio in El Salvador, Cagayan. He issued a call to reservists and civilians
to join in the renewal of hostilities against the enemy;
2) Lieutenants Marcelino Maagad and Marcelo Gebe, who decided to join forces, and
having heard of the activities of Major Jaldon, placed their guerrilla bands at his
disposal on November 15, 1942 at Bolisong headquarters. They were assigned to the
11480


Malanang-Barra-Iponan sector with Lt Maagad as Commanding Officer, and with their 
initial energetic push, brought into their fold some thirty five men and thirteen rifles, 
one shotgun, two revolvers, and some ammunition 
 
3) Lieutenants Arturo Campo, Norberto Jacalan, and Otoniel Cotejo who were 
organizing a guerrilla unit at Nasagpian, also reported to Maj Jaldon and thereafter 
fused with the Malanang-Barra-Iponan sector, increasing the strength of the unit to 
about eighty-eight officers and men; 
 
4) Lieutenants Andres Bacal and Marcelino Barillo - In November 1942, the two officers 
organized a guerrilla unit at Pagatpat, Cagayan, and beginning with a handful of men, 
they expanded to about one hundred men and officers in their sector; 
 
5) Lieutenant Aracid Hamid, who created a small guerrilla band in Taytay, El Salvador 
while Maj Jaldon was organizing his units at Himaya, and later reported to the latter for 
duty, placing his unit at Jaldon’s disposal; 
 
6) Major Angeles Limena who organized a guerrilla unit called the West Misamis 
Oriental sector which occupied the area lying west of the Alubijid river. This in turn was 
subdivided into Lugait sector under Lt Constantino Medado; Naawan sector under Lt 
Carlito Suband; Initao sector under Lt Antonio Ognir; and Alubijid sector under Major 
Fidencio Laplap; 
 
7) Pastor Ilogon Sr., was inducted into the resistance movement on October 23, 1942 
by Major Angeles Limena at Alubijid, Misamis Oriental. He was appointed Chief Food 
Administrator, charged with feeding the 109th Infantry Regiment of the 109th Division, 
10th Military District. 1stLt M.P. Barilla, then acting commander of the 109th Regiment, 
lauded Ilogon: “The help you extended to the Army xxx during this time of emergency 
is tantamount to fighting against our common enemy in the firing line.” Pastor Ilogon 
was so effective as Chief Food Administrator, the Japanese put a prize for this capture 
- dear or alive. 
 
8)  Lieutenant (later Major) Ignacio S. Cruz, was the Quartermaster of the 109th 
Division. He was a prisoner of war, according to the Guerrilla Padre Father Haggerty, 
who directed large guerrilla activities even while in custody of the Japanese. He used 
to be professor in Spanish at the Ateneo de Cagayan and had been a reliable adviser 
to the American priests. After the war, he became Misamis Oriental Governor and 
Congressman. 
 
9) Lieutenant Pedro D. Collado of Balingasag sector. On September 16, 1942, Lt 
Collado with Private First Class (Pfc) Clyde M. Abbott, and their band of twenty nine 
guerrillas, attacked and killed a Japanese officer and two soldiers living in the 
Balingasag church tower; 
 
10) Pfc Fausto Omondang, a Philippine Constabulary (PC) officer, together with 
nineteen guerrillas took over the puppet government of Talisayan the night of 
September 19, 1942, captured the mayor and beheaded the Japanese overseer. They 
proceeded to Gingoog, took the town on September 20, followed by the taking of 
Quinogitan, Camiguin consisting of the municipalities of Catarman, Sagay and 
Mambajao. Despite their achievements, having defied the authority of Col Wendell 
Fertig, the over-all guerrilla commander in Mindanao, he and his men were disarmed 
and taken into the custody of the 110th Division on December 1, 1942; 
 


11) Major Fidencio M. Laplap, who took over as Regimental Commander of the 109th 
Infantry Regiment (portions of Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon), after Ist Lieutenant 
Marcelino Barrillo was relieved of command; 
 
12) Major Rosauro P. Dongallo who succeeded as Regimental Commander of the 110th 
Infantry Regiment in June 1943, operating from Tagoloan River, Misamis Oriental to 
the eastern border of the province. He was remembered for retrieving some P143,000 
in emergency notes from the provincial building during the attack on Butuan.  
 
13) The Tiano Brothers: Enshrined at the Local Heroes Memorial in the Ramon 
Magsaysay monument in Cagayan de Oro City, the three Tiano brothers served 
different roles in the Second World War with the same objective: to repel the Japanese 
invaders. The eldest Ronaldo Tiano, joined the guerrilla movement in Misamis Oriental 
in 1942, and with his rank as USAFFE First Lieutenant, served as a battalion 
commander of the 120th Infantry Regiment of the 10th Military District under Major 
Angeles Limena. The second brother, Nestor served as a radio operator of the 7th 
School Squadron but at the onset of WWII, his outfit was converted to a machine gun 
company attached to the 71st Infantry Division. On Jan 23, 1942, he was with the 
company who rushed to repel a Japanese attack but was hit in the head which led to 
his death. Apollo Tiano, the third brother, likewise joined the guerrilla movement in 1942 
and served as Second Lieutenant under Colonel Robert Bowler, Commander of the 
Western Mindanao Corps. In 1945, as the commanding officer of the E Company, 
under the 108th Infantry Division, Apollo helped in liberating Malabang, Lanao, 
Cotabato and Davao together with the 24th Division, 10th Corps of the US 8th Army. 
Choosing a soldier’s life, he met his death in Korea on June 21, 1952 having joined 
the BCT fighting Chinese forces in Chorwogon, Korea. 
 
b. From Cotabato and Maguindanao 
 
1) Salipada Khalid Pendatun, a Cotabato Moro, and son of an old line of datus, was a 
Filipino lawyer and an influential adviser to the Governor of Mindanao before the 
Japanese invasion. A promising political figure, he had been Moro adviser to the 
Philippine Army during the invasion. A wealthy landowner (rice land in the Cotabato 
swamps), Pendatun had gathered guns and volunteers together to protect his property. 
As the Japanese cruelty began to reach his people, he formed a guerrilla organization 
from the remnants of General Guy O. Fort’s Moro Bolo Battalions. The force became 
a large one comprised of both Christians and Moros, and Pendatun’s men 
acknowledged him as “brigadier general.”  
 
2) Major Udtog Matalam headed the Bolo Battalion which helped the Special Unit of 
the 101st Division to check on the foreign invaders which already penetrated the town 
of Cotabato. They fought the advancing enemy from Paido-Polangui proceeding 
towards Pagalungan and Pikit. The Battalion was able to hold the enemy forces for two 
days, before withdrawing, then attacking the enemy garrison on September 20, 1942 
at Pikit, killing 68 Japanese soldiers including two officers.  
 
3) Captain Feliciano Magsakay, a former Commanding Officer (CO) of the PC 
Detachment at Lebak-Salaman (then part of Sultanate of Maguindanao), who 
accepted the leadership invitation by some prominent citizens. In November 1942, 
Magsakay, with seven regular PC and PA soldiers armed with rifles and ten civilians 
handling shotguns, ambushed a Japanese patrol and killed the Japanese Captain, said 
to have been a Bataan “Hero,” four other Japanese and two Filipino civilians.  
 
4) Capt. Gumbay Piang, USAFFE, of Dulawan (now Datu Piang, Maguindanao), who 
was paroled due to ill health from the concentration camp at Malaybalay, a virtual POW, 


secretly organized a guerrilla unit out of former USAFFE officers, men, and civilians 
whom he selected in his confidence for bravery, discretion, and patriotism. In the 
middle of August 1943, he and twenty three followers underwent an arduous and 
dangerous journey to Misamis, Misamis Occidental to contact personally and secure 
recognition and authority, which he eventually got from Colonel Fertig, the 
Commanding Officer of the Tenth Military District.  
 
c. From Iligan 
 
1) Lieutenants Felipe Fetalvero (PC) and Lazaro Silva (PA) who, together with PC 
Sergeant Felipe Moralita, and their guerrilla troops in the Iligan area, ambushed an 
estimated 250 Japanese troops along the National Highway going to Kauswagan on 
Sept. 16, 1942.  
 
2) Lt. Pedro Andres organized a guerrilla company early in October 1942, composed 
of civilians and former USAFFE officers, with headquarters in Dawag, Sta. Filomena, 
Iligan. His unit was later designated as “I” company, and hot on his trail were Japanese 
patrols who were determined to bring him dead or alive. Instead, he chose his battle 
and on October 24, 1942, ambushed two cargo trucks, one confiscated bus, and a 
passenger  car, all loaded with Japs. One Japanese officer and fifteen of this men were 
killed.   
 
d. From Sarangani 
 
1) Capt. Nicolas Villamor, with his band of guerrillas in Malungon and Buayan, merged 
with some sixty USAFFE officers with rifles and shotguns, under the leadership of 
Capt. Roman R. Aquino, FA, USAFFE. 
 
e. From Bukidnon 
 
1) Lieutenant Leopoldo Blanco - In October 1942 at Imbatug, Lieutenant Blanco made 
progress in the collection of arms and ammunition and reassembled the reservists in 
the area in collaboration with Colonel Ernest E. McClish and Captain Onofre Hipe. 
They organized the 111th Infantry Regiment composed of two battalions, with the 2nd 
Bn under Lieutenant Blanco’s command; 
 
2) Pfc Marciano Derrota and Private Romeo Jaga organized guerrilla units in the later 
part of July 1942,  in Kalabong and Dalirig-Puntian area. In October 1942, Derrota with 
forty eight men ambushed enemy trucks at Mangima, killing some Japanese and 
captured foodstuffs and other supplies. For being fast on the go and very active, 
Derrota was nicknamed “The Mystery Shadow” by his men. He was joined by a certain 
Corporal Ludovico Lopez who had about forty men and a few arms.  
 
3) Marino Avanceña, claiming to be a Captain under Major Bowler, called all guerrilla 
leaders in Sumilao and instructed them to place their units under the command of 
Bowler. They were organized into a battalion with Avanceña himself in command. On 
December 26, 1942 he ordered an attack on Impasugong and Maluko. It was later 
found that Avanceña was a suave pretender, that he represented himself, but still he 
was credited with his planned attacks which resulted in the killing of forty Japs with 
only one wounded on the side of the guerrillas. His daring impersonation was reported 
to be responsible in recovering thousands of rounds and ammunition. 
 
4) Pfc Vicente Leuterio of Kibawe and Alipio Juntilla of Alanib, all of Bukidnon, merged 
their guerrilla units with Salipada Pendatun of Kalungan, Cotabato, in the later part of 
1942. Leuterio’s exploits started after he escaped from the Japanese. On Oct 5, 1942, 


he organized some twenty five reservists and civilians, and arming the strongest and 
most capable men under him, Leuterio inaugurated the Seventh Anniversary of the 
Philippine Commonwealth by attacking the Japanese outpost in Kitaotao at dawn of 
Nov 15, 1942. This attack netted seven Japanese and one Filipino policeman killed in 
action and a few Japanese wounded, with no casualties among his group. With 
Pendatun as the leader of the merged guerrilla unit, they invited other unsurrendered 
officers and men such as Teodoro Garcia, Nicolas Gabutina, Tomas Cabili, Melencio 
Orbase and several Americans to join the resistance movement. 
 
5) Sergeant Leopoldo Alberto and Joepe Nobleza in Alanib, headed a guerrilla band of 
about fifty men consisting of reservists, PC men and civilians. They were with rifles, 
some automatic, and each man carried no less than seventy rounds of ammunition. 
About the first week of December 1942, a certain Capt. Alipio Juntilla left his hiding 
place and went to Major Bowler to ask for authority to organize a guerrilla unit in Alanib 
and vicinity. On December 12, 1942, Juntilla returned with a platoon detachment, and 
absorbing the unit of Alberto and Nobleza organized the Alanib sector. Other officers 
in hiding volunteered and by Dec 14, 1942, this group numbered around two hundred 
fully armed men with .30 caliber rifles, three of which were automatic, a medical unity, 
labor pool, and an ordnance section. This unit was later absorbed by Pendatun’s ever 
growing guerrilla unit. 
 
6) On Jan 15, 1943, Lieutenant Feliciano Castelo and his men crossed the Sawaga 
river and marched towards the Philippine Constabulary (PC) Barracks occupied by 
Filipino BC’s (Bureau of Constabulary organized by the Japanese) under Lt. Juan 
Lagrama, a POW. Lagrama offered to surrender all arms and ammunition but while 
negotiations were going on, a Roque Asenero, BC, slipped unnoticed and informed the 
Japanese commander. Immediately, Lt. Castelo’s position was shelled and machine-
gunned. The Bukidnon-Cotabato Forces (BCF) lost five men and seven wounded, 
while casualty on the enemy’s side was believed high. That act of treachery on the part 
of a Filipino engendered deep rancor in the hearts of the guerrillas.  
 
f. Misamis Occidental 
 
1) Lieutenant Anacleto C. Dino, Morgan’s junior officer in 8th Lanao Co, (PC), Lts. 
Patrocinio Garcia and Joaquin Diamal, both PA, who organized the militia in Guba, 
Misamis in Sept 1942. Diamal, upon instruction by Morgan, arrived at Misamis on the 
19th of September with about forty men.  
 
g. From Zamboanga 
 
1) First Lieutenant Paterno Lubaton was appointed to head the militias in September 
1942, with Lt. Esteban Abad in Katipunan District; Lt. Francisco Hamoy in Dapitan 
District; and Lt. Rafael Claso in Maniway District (a big barrio of Dapitan). On Oct 17, 
1942, the Pagadian sector was formally organized with Capt. Nicolas P. Lasola as 
Sector Commander. The Sindangan Militia District was headed by Maj. Justinio Teano, 
an old PC officer who assumed command of the 107th Infantry Regiment on Nov. 17, 
1942.  
 
h. From Agusan 
 
1) Second Lieutenant Hilarion Aniasco (PC), Tirso Gerona, a civilian volunteer, and 
their newly formed guerrilla band, who ambushed a Japanese car on Sept 26, 1942, 
on its way to Buenavista from Butuan to get fish and vegetables, killing two Japs and 
one Filipino civilian guide.  
 


2) Atty. Jose R. Villanueva and 2Lt Benjamin Famador, escaped POW from 
Cabadbaran,  revolted. Swelled by the presence of Lt Thomas R. Baxter, Lt Rosauro 
P. Dongallo, Lt. Alfredo Cayton, Lt Plenio Atega, and Sgt Gregorio Vence, they fought 
a Jap patrol of undetermined number at Km 4 Cabadbaran-Butuan road, inflicting some 
casualties on the enemy. The Dongallo brothers, Thomas Baxter and Vicente Zapanta, 
(later Major) and his wife, using the latter’s banca Athena, sailed to Misamis Oriental 
and joined Lt Col McClish’s 110th Division at Balingasag. Two other early guerrilla 
leaders, Cruz Ranario (later Capt) and Atty Teresa Corvera, intelligence agent, joined 
the unit in Cabadbaran. In Ampayon, the group formed by Lope Desiata, ex-policeman 
and Sgt Demafelis (later Lieut) joined the Cabadbaran guerrilla command under Lt. 
Benjamin Famador, Lt. Plenio Atega, and Sgt Gregorio Vence. 
 
3) Seargent Salvador Ciencia (Lieut), Sgt Demafelis (Lieut), Lt. Vicente Cembrano 
(Capt) formed another group in Libertad, with Pvt George Abapo, PS, 3Lt Benjamin 
Pia, Tirso Gerona, civilian volunteer and 3Lt Arturo Leonardo. 
 
4) In Jagupit, a small band of USAFFE soldiers and officers formed a guerrilla unit 
under Lt Cayetano Serrano, Lt Ernesto River and Lt Eduardo Curato (escaped POWs) 
which later joined the Cabadbaran forces. 
 
i. From Surigao 
 
1) Macario Diaz the unsurrendered Municipal Mayor in Masgad, organized a guerrilla 
force. Despite having only a few arms and ammunition, Diaz and his band fought the 
Japs around Lake Mainit, particularly the Siana Mines. They likewise encountered 
Japanese patrols and engaged them in hit and run attacks. 
  
2) PC Major Ceferino Garcia, Jose McCarthy in Tanday, and Captain Tomaning in 
Lianga, organized guerrilla units operating in Gigaquit and environs.  
 
j. From Davao Province 
 
1) Claro Laureta, another unsurrendered USAFFE Captain (later Lt Col) organized a 
guerrilla band which firmly resisted the Japanese. He was formerly the CO of Camp 
Victa Co, PC in Davao. With about forty soldiers of his former command, he maintained 
a guerrilla unit along the Lubuganon river and enforced law and order in the settlement 
of some 4,000 civilian evacuees from Davao City. On May 1, 1942, Lt Napoli, one of 
Laureta’s officers, with some soldiers, surprised the Japanese garrison at 
Pagsabangan, killing seventy five men including eleven Moros, and many wounded. 
In Mati-Manay: In June, 1942, Sgt Jovita Pedraya, USAFFE, took command of about 
200 men formerly under Capt Asis, CO, who was killed while forcing his men to 
surrender to the Japs. This group was later made into the 111th Prov Bn under the 110th 
Division with Lt Owen P. Wilson, commanding and Pedraya, Executive Officer. In 
Cateel-Lingig, Lt Teodulfo Villarin formed small guerrilla units which were later 
absorbed in the 110th Division.  
 
SEC. 5. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) is hereby directed to 
undertake a full blown research on the life and the activities of the above-declared National 
Heroes including yet unidentified individuals who offered their lives in the altar of freedom.  
The NHCP is likewise tasked to publish a book on these National Heroes from 
Mindanao, to erect the monuments of the Mindanao Heroes and the historical markers of the 
different sites of the war against the Japanese Occupation Force in coordination with the local 
governments on the area. 
 


SEC. 6. Appropriation - The amount of Thirty Million Pesos is hereby appropriated to the 
National Historical Commission to undertake the activities as provided in this Act. 
 
SEC. 7. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,