This paper was presented at the Leyte Normal University Regional Workshop-Conference on Social Research last October 17, 2007 by the author, Emil B. Justimbaste. This is just a prelude to a book he is presently writing on the same subject.

Introduction
The Tragedy of Dulag
Northern Leyte Guerillas
Southern Leyte Guerillas
Miranda
Enter Kandleon
MacArthur Connection
Miranda vs. Kangleon
References

    Miranda vs. Kangleon

From then on, it was war between Kangleon and Miranda. After Inopacan, Kangleon would send his troops to Baybay, then a Miranda territory, and try to invade Kampo Langit itself in the Ormoc mountains. But his troops would withdraw because Miranda's lair was too well-fortified. His troops would instead wait for Miranda's men in Baybay where three deadly encounters would take place. Some of Miranda's men would be captured and interred in Kangleon's internment camps Terranova in Matalom and Sleepy Hollow in Malitbog for a few months.⁴¹

Kangleon would call Miranda a bandit and a killer and issued shoot-to-kill orders for him. But Miranda was warned by sympathizers inside the Kangleon camp and took the necessary precautions. Kangleon continued to monitor Miranda's camp with a radio stationed in Barrio Maybog until the camp was raided by Japanese troops during a stormy night in December 1943.⁴²

Evidently the Japanese had knowledgeable guides who could pinpoint Kampo Langit even in the night. Miranda barely escaped the Japanese and had to hide in Camotes. He eventually hid in Bohol for the rest of the war. When the Americans came in 1944, he would not surface because Kangleon still had him in his sights.

A good part of the officers and enlisted men of WLGWF remained loyal to the organization till mid-1944. But after Kangleon received "the American Aid" and unimpeachable confirmation of his appointment as island commander became known, the "Miranda men" had no reason but to dissolve their general staff. Those who were absorbed into the 96th Regiment acquitted themselves creditably, especially in combat with the Japanese after the American landings. On their part, however, these same "Miranda men" were disgruntled over the discrimination displayed towards them in promotions and assignments. Consequently, many of them worked actively to reactivate their organization and secure a belated American recognition.⁴³

In the official history books and pronouncements, Kangleon would become the idol of many Leyteños who were eternally grateful to him for leading the local guerillas. Very little do they know the controversies surrounding his life as a military man during the second world war and the internal wars that he waged among his own guerillas.

They would never learn that his failure to inform Dulag residents of the impending invasion and carpet bombing by the American gunships and war planes would lead to the deaths of possibly a few thousand residents holed in their makeshift bomb shelters in October 18, 1944.

They would never learn of his open collaboration with the enemy while in the Japanese POW camp in Butuan, of his "escape" or of the radio set that mysteriously found its way to the Japanese.⁴⁴

Nor would they ever learn of his free access to his family that was hostaged by the enemy in Tacloban.

What makes a man a "hero"?. The dictionary gives multiple meanings of the word. A hero is defined as an "illustrious warrior or a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities" or even "one that shows great courage". A hero is a person that is brave in an extreme situation and acts anyway; knowing that bad things might befall him, because he or she knows it has to be done. In the words of de Quiros, the occasion for heroism may come by accident but the choice that one makes is never accidental.

Given this definition, some of the names mentioned a while ago may just qualify. Many of them responded to the call of the times and took extraordinary measures beyond what was expected of them. They bravely assumed leadership roles in the hit-and-run war of attrition against the Japanese invaders, risking their lives and those of their families as well. I think the likes of Teraza, Pabilona, Pamanian, Balderian, Erfe, Soliman and Miranda would qualify under our definition, even if their individual weaknesses might diminish a bit of their luster.

As for the others, let's just say they took advantage of the situation, with personal survival being their foremost consideration, using the opportunities and privileges attendant to their positions in the guerilla organization. Some acted like mobsters in gangland and would certainly qualify as scoundrels, but a few big names had more finesse in their actions. A few openly collaborated with the enemy and fewer still secretly operated as double agents. There is no doubt that many of their acts were dubious and served the best interests of the enemy.

Some names have been listed by the Japanese Kempei Tai, which later became part of the intelligence report of Gen. Willoughby. These were the hooded informers who went around the towns pinpointing the guerillas and their supporters to the Japanese. But these lists did not include the top secret double agents who infiltrated the ranks of the guerilla movement. Some of them were actually guerilla leaders who secretly sabotaged the movement. It is sad to note that we are even venerating a few of them as heroes.

I think it is time to dispel the myths of history and to expose these so-called heroes for what they really were. It is time to rewrite the real history of the struggle of our elders and to set the records straight so that our children and grandchildren may not be as blind as we were in the last 60 years.*