|
In the early part of April 1942 Cebu was invaded by the Japanese. An aircraft carrier
landed on the vicinity of the Jetafe waterfront. Thinking there was a landing, Philippine
army stationed in Dat-an, Carmen, Bohol moved to Jetafe the whole night. Under the mantle
of darkness, they took their most strategic position in camouflage hiding behind buri palm
thickets. Aware of the movement of the Philippine Army the night before, an observation
was made on the following morning. A Japanese reconnaisance plane made the observation
over Jetafe. Philippine army in their strategic bivouac started shooting at the plane.
Japanese planes started and dropped napalm and heavy bombs on the hiding place of the
Filipino soldiers. From the carrier, large canon balls were fired, stripping the town.
Coconut trees and tall vegetation were knocked down. After less than an hour of
skirmishes, Filipino soldiers took cover in different directions but the Japanese planes
followed them with machine guns. Several soldiers were killed right on the spot. The
scattered turso of Lt. Pio Campos, the commanding officer, were found else where. Other
soldiers were found dead on the nearby hills late in the evening by a rescue team led by
Lt. Jaime Borja. |
