President Ramon Magsaysay (1907-1957) was one of the country's best-loved and best-admired presidents who championed for the poor and pushed and advocated for a true and genuine land reform. As Secretary of National Defense, Magsaysay was able to dismantle the Hukbalahap, a communist group with an unorthodox manner. Plots to kill and assassinate the Defense Secretary were ordered by Huk head Luis Taruc and hit squads were sent and dispatched. The whole story below---
A movie, "Objective: Patayin si Sec. Magsaysay!" was made in 1957, based from the true story of an Ex-Huk assigned to kill RM. It starred Jose Padilla, Jr., Arsenia Francisco, Oscar Moreno, Carlos Salazar, Aida Carino, Teddy Baenavides, Gil de Leon and Ruben Rustia. The movie was directed by Mike Velarde under Champion Pictures.
Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay (August 31, 1907 - March 17, 1957) was the third President of the Third Republic of the Philippines from December 30, 1953 until his death in a plane crash in 1957.
... In early August 1950 Magsaysay offered President Quirino a plan to fight the Communist guerillas, using his own experiences in guerrilla warfare during World War II. After some hesitation, Quirino realized that there was no alternative and appointed Magsaysay Secretary of National Defence on August 31, 1950. He intensified the campaign against the Hukbalahap guerillas, waging one of the most successful anti-guerrilla campaigns in modern history. This success was due in part to the unconventional methods he employed and developed alongside an American adviser, General Edward Lansdale. The counterinsurgency the two deployed utilized soldiers distributing relief goods and other forms of aid to outlying, provincial communities. Where before Magsaysay the rural folk looked on the Philippine Army if not in distrust, at least with general apathy, during his term as Defense Secretary Filipinos began to respect and admire their soldiers. (Wikipedia)
From the file--- The Hukbalahap Insurection: A Case Study of a Successful Anti-Insurgency Operation in the Philippines, 1946-1955 by Major Lawrence M. Greenberg/ 1987
The new secretary of national defense's popularity and fame did not escape Taruc's notice. During his first year in office, Magsaysay was the target of several Huk assassination attempts. Fortunately, all of these attempts failed and in one case, the agent was "turned" after having a long discussion with Magsaysay.
One of several young men sent to assassinate Magsaysay during his first year as secretary was Thomas Santiago, known as "Manila Boy." Santiago was one of Luis Taruc's personal bodyguards and totally dedicated to the Huk cause. Leaving the mountains with grenades and pistols hidden in his clothing, he went to Manila where, while watching the secretary's office, he overheard a group of citizens talking about Magsaysay. To his great surprise, they were praising the secretary as a new national hero. When young Santiago challenged their contentions, he was taken aside by a former guerrilla leader and told that he should talk to Magsaysay to see if what he heard was indeed the truth. The following morning, Santiago did just that. After an hour of often heated debate, Santiago shook Magsaysay's hand, turned his weapons over to the secretary, and told him, "I came to kill you. Now please, let me work for you."34 As was the case with several Huk personalities during Magsaysay's term, "Manila Boy" went to work for the secretary, touring the country and telling all who would listen to him of Magsaysay's dedication to the people and the nation.
This episode however, should not suggest that Magsaysay's personality and charisma overcame all adversity -- it did not. Several other assassins arrived in Manila, but they too failed to kill Magsaysay. The secretary was by then living with Lansdale in a Manila residence quietly protected by a special team of Filipino bodyguards who specialized in stealth and night operations. Although never publicized, several "hit teams" were quietly dispatched by these extraordinary bodyguards. One might wonder why these attacks were kept secret -- Lansdale recalls Magsaysay saying that it would be best to remain silent and let Taruc wonder what happened to his men, ie, were they killed or had they deserted.
Simon:
ReplyDeleteFunny how it was never mentioned in the news that MAGSAYSAY was actually ASSISTED by the CIA that time.
In the mid-80s, the US government was compelled by a group of university students to release classified documents so that the public would know the real thing. One document was about the HUKBALAHAP insurrection. It revealed that the CIA got involved in a covert operation to make the Huks give up.
While it's true that Magsaysay was truly loved by the Filipinos, no one could have said for sure whether he would have succeeded in persuading the Hukbalahap to surrender without the secret help of the CIA. The CIA was there, and in some ways must have intimadated the rebels to finally throw in the towel.
Another item that was revealed was MAC ARTHUR's SECRET arrangement with the Japanese after the Second World War.
After Yamashita was hanged in Manila, the other Japanese officers were never punished! They all went back to Japan unpunished, and compelled to sign an agreement not to do atrocities to other nations ever again.
Outside, it was the fact.
In a classified document that was revealed in the 90's, the story was more complicated than what the US and Filipino citizens knew.
This paper revealed the AGREEMENT Mac Arthur had made with the Japanese government.
During the second world war, Japan was an expert in BIOLOGICAL WARFARE. They tainted the Philippine waters of dysentery, cholera, and other nasty biological warfare (mostly released during the DEATH MARCH in Bataan)... that the US and Britain nothing knew about. Japan was quite advanced in this area, and Mac Arthur proposed to the Japanese government: Give us the SECRET of your biological warfare and we will not execute your generals.
I couldn't believe it when this document was revealed to the public.
It definitely changed my view about great men who were considered as heroes by many.
Simon, sinong Mike Velarde ang director nitong movie? Ito ba yung sa El Shaddai? Or ito yung composer?
ReplyDeleteJM, what really caused the plane to crash that killed Magsaysay? There were reports that a bomb was placed inside the plane and that this was allegedly planned by the CIA. Is there truth to this theory? Or was it just plain rumor?
ReplyDeleteJames, I'm not sure about that.
ReplyDeleteSimon:
ReplyDeleteOfficially, there was no bomb placed in the plane. Though rumors persist.
James:
I'd say it must be the El Shaddai guy. He was involved in producing films with Gerry de Leon and Eddie Romero before. One of them is LILET.
I can't say for sure if he had directed this one, but the other Mike Velarde was a composer of music, I don't think he ever dabbled in filmmaking.