Anything Under the Sun
Ilonggo soldiers on other war fronts (2)
3. Major Alejandro Sale - During World War II, two regiments of Ilonggo soldiers were sent to Mindanao 61st Inf Regt and 62nd Inft Regt. When the order to surrender came, some Ilonggo soldiers surrendered. Others returned to Panay and joined the guerillas.
But some chose to remain in Mindanao like Capt. Alejandro Sale of San Miguel, Iloilo of the 62nd Infantry Regiment who joined the guerillas there.
In 1946, Sale led his 11 men of the 98th PC Company and captured 37 Japanese soldiers at Mr. Katinlad, Sumilao, Bukidnon. There they discovered smoked human flesh including a roasted leg of a woman, an open skull and some stewed human flesh in a kettle.
The Japanese explained that they preferred human flesh due to scarcity of food and that it was safer to catch human beings than wild animals.
Japanese commander Col. Fumio Suzuki of the 15th Debarkation unit was fed with choice human meat-liver and breast of women. There were around 90 Filipino victims.
After the war, Col. Fumio and his men were charged of cannibalism. Fumio committed suicide after the US forces began the investigation where Sale acted as a witness. The rest of the Japanese were released after given general amnesty by the Philippine Government. Sale is a recipient of the Gold Cross and other military decorations.
4. Sgt. Ramon Sobejano - When World War II ended in 1945, among the thousands of US soldiers who fought in Europe and returned to America was a small Filipino from Barrio Cabilauan, New Lucena, Iloilo.
He was Sgt. Ramon S. Subejano who brought back 18 medals earned for killing more than 400 Germans in battle.
One of the medals was the much coveted Silver Star which cited him for "Gallantry in action on 7 December 1944 in the vicinity of Dillengen, Germany" The citation continued: "At the risk of his life, Pvt Subejano made his way along through devastating 20mm and machine gun fire and hand grenade explosions to the building. He then entered the strong point and going from room to room, kiled five enemy, wounded six and forced the remaining 37 to surrender."
After the war, the American press took notice of his war exploits calling him "one-man army from the Philippines" and "Sergeant York of the Philippines."