BLITZKRIEG

         7:55 am 07 December 1941, Japanese Zero planes attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii(10) and the Imperial Army made new landing in Mindanao to ready the offensive in Luzon(11). Treating the newcomers as a new threat, Moro men enlist themselves in USAFFE or United States Armed Forces in the Far East to repel the new invaders. Those who were not accepted joined the guerilla troops. Prominent names joined guerilla, namely Manalao Mindalano, Lieutenant Salipada Pendatun, Datu Udtog Matalam, Gumpay Piang, and Tomas Cabili(12). In Sulu Moro leaders also formed guerilla forces; Lieutenant Konglam Tio, Trespices, Irabo, Ali, Egam Datiles, Tulawis, under Lieutenant Colonel Alejandro Suarez and formed the 125th Infantry Regiment.

          There were also sided with the Japanese as a response to Japanese Officials' invitation to join the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere(13). Among them Sultan Alauya Alonto, Datu Sinsuat Balabaran, Datu Minandang Piang, Datu Ombra Amilbangsa, Datu Gulamu Rasul, and Datu Salih Ututalum. They believe that working with the Japanese will serve the best for the many and Japan may grant Independence for Mindanao.             

          Skirmishes between Christian members of Japanese Bureau of Constabulary and Moro guerillas came into open during the war when a patrol led by Captain Sebastian Javelosa of Constabulary attacked a gurilla base in Buluan and captured Datu Butu Mangudadatu and Datu Daongtan. As a vengeance, the guerillas siege the Bureau of Constabulary garrison in Tacurong, capturing 40 soldiers and an official was slain, Lieutenant Grogorio Jayme.

          President Quezon while on exile, died in Saranac Lake, New York on 01 August 1944 and immediately Vice President Sergio Osmeña sworn in as the new President.

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THE LIBERATION

          On 20 October 1944, General Douglas Mac Arthur landed in Leyte with President Sergio Osmeña. Commonwealth Republic was reestablished on 27 February 1945. General Mac Arthur declared the Philippines liberated from Japanese on 04 July 1945. Finally, the  Japanese Imperial Forces surrendered on 15 August 1945 after the US plane Enola Gay dropped Atomic Bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. The terms of surrender was signed aboard the USS Missouri anchored at Tokyo Bay.  

          After the war, President Osmeña appointed Salipada Pendatun as Governor of Cotabato and Datu Manalao Mindalano as member of Executive Committee of Philippine Veterans Legion. In 1946 elections, Salipada Pendatun was elected Senator and Datu Ombra Amilbangsa and Manalo Mindalano as Congressmen. 

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