MFP, page 2: "Japanese order to massacre all Filipino civilians captured." The following note-book-diary, presumably belonging to a member of the Akatsuki 16,700 Force, was captured in Manila by troops of the U.S. XIV Corps:

Feb.7, 1945: 150 guerrillas were disposed of tonight. I personally stabbed and killed ten.

Feb.8: Guarded over 1,164 guerrillas who were newly brought in today.

Feb.9, 1945: Burned 1,000 guerrillas to death tonight.

Feb.10: Guarded approximately 1,000 guerrillas.

Feb.13: Enemy tanks here are lurking in the vicinity of Banzai Bridge^†. Our attack preparation has been completed. I am now on guard duty at guerrilla internment camp. While I was on duty approximately ten guerrillas tried to escape. They were stabbed to death. At 1600, all guerrillas were burned to death.

Here's a second document from a "captured file of Manila Naval Defense Force and Southwest Area Fleet Operations Order dated December 23, 1944, to February 14, 1945, classified 'secret' — presumably belonging to the OKADA unit":

When the Filipinos are to be killed, they must be gathered into one place and disposed of with the consideration that ammunition and man-power must not be used in excess. Because the disposal of death bodies is a troublesome task they should be gathered into houses which are scheduled to be burned or demolished. They should be thrown into the rivers.

All people on the battlefield, with the exception of Japanese Military personnel, Japanese civilians, and Special Construction Units will be put to death.

The Editorial, "How the Japs Kill the Filipinos," clearly says that the Battalion Order was issued on February 13, and "found in a bound file of the MDF [Manila Defense Force] and SWA Sea Fleet Operating Orders." No doubt many guerrillas were executed, but "all people in the battlefield" certainly weren't put to death.

Congressman Miguel Tolentino of Batangas "proposed the 'execration of Japan and the Japanese'" [from the Philippines], and suggested an Executive Order "imposing a tax on excess profits made during the Japanese Occupation."

^† Jones Bridge