Evening star., 1946-05-12
Roxas Faces Complex Task
In Taking Philippine Helm
Many Troublesome Problems Made Far More
Difficult by Rebellious Hukbalahap, Heavily
Armed and Ready to Kill <:ss
BY o. J. Magee

To the Capital of Nation plagued by
coal strike came man a few days
ago who, if he were more frank than
discreet, could tell the United States
that comparatively speaking we are
basking in prosperity and have no
troubles worth mentioning. He is Presi-
dent-elect Manuel Roxas of the Phil
ippines.
Since his arrival here Thursday night
in company with Paul v. McNutt,
American high commissioner to the
Philippines, Roxas has spread the word
around that his country, soon to become
independent, needs more help from
Uncle Sam. Within few days he will
fly back to Manila and tackle the
myriad problems which are soon to be
turned over to him by the aging and
weary President Osmena.
Americans, puzzled a bit when he
overcame the handicap of acknowledged
service under the Japanese during much
of the war, will hear more and more of
Roxas as time goes on. In his early
fifties, wealthy, well educated, an ac-
complished linguist, firm and determin-
ed, he carries about him a get-things-
done air reminiscent of the late Presi-
dent Roosevelt. Any day now some
columnist will tag him the Philip
pines Strong Man"
He needs to be strong.
Tremendous Task Ahead.
Sixteen million inhabitants of the
7,000-odd islands in the Philippines
are watching him. Most of these watch
ers are friendly. They want him to be
human dynamo, man of action who
will restore order, rebuild cities and
towns, set the schools going again, re-
store utilities and industrial plants, de-
stroy the bands of japanese soldiers
who are still holding out in the hills.
In country where the careless use OF
the word "collaborator" spells death to
whole families, the people want to know
whether trials of alleged collaborators
will be called off now. What will Roxas
do about the legalized $3.50 split of rice
crops by tenants and owners? Does he
realize the Chinese have stranglehold
upon all retail business in the cities?
Must the Spaniards continue to domi-
nate the nations culture? Can he unite
a far-f1ung archipelago made up of
people who learned politeness from the
ati ~ ho 1c
the Four Freedoms from the Cauca-
slams? -
These are only few of the questions
to which Roxas is expected to supply
answers. But above everything else, as
practically all Filipinos will agree, the
one thing they demand from their new
president is that he maintain good re-
lations with the United States and be
certain that in the event of aggression
by any Asiatic power, Uncle Sam will
back up the Philippines from the start.
Warlike Group a Problem.
The eyes of a new nation are upon
Roxas and not all the eyes are friendly.
Some are suspicious, like the Moros in
They are Mohammedans and they have
been suspicious of practically every one
since they killed Magellan in 1921. Some
of the watchers are downright enemies
of the new president. The majority of
these claim membership in the Hulk
balahap.
The Hukbalahap, which dominates
the most productive rice-growing region
in Luzon, is usually regarded as Roxas'
number one problem.
Hukbalahap, a Pampangan word
meaning Peoples Army Against the
Japanese" has an estimated standing
army of 10000 armed men and $4,000
reservists. Organized in the early days
of japanese occupation by Leftist lead
ers, the Hukbalahap made life extremely
unpleasant for any outsider who moved
into south central Luzon. Their many
enemies claim that battles between
Huks and other organized Filipino guer-
rilla units we're more common through