Recognizing Former Hukbalahap Members as Elements of the Underground Forces During World War II

October 7, 1977

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1207

RECOGNIZING THE FORMER MEMBERS OF THE HUKBALAHAP UNDER LUIS M. TARUC WHO FOUGHT THE JAPANESE IN WORLD WAR II AS ELEMENTS OF THE UNDERGROUND FORCES IN THE PHILIPPINES DURING WORLD WAR II, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, in March 1942, when the fall of Bataan became imminent, a group of Filipino peasants and workers led by Luis M. Taruc banded together in a barrio in Central Luzon to organize a resistance movement, otherwise known as the Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon (HUKBALAHAP) directed against the Japanese Imperial Army during the occupation of the Philippines;

WHEREAS, the active participation of these guerilla fighters must be recognized by the government of the Philippines;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order and decree;

SECTION 1. The former members of the Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon (HUKBALAHAP) who actually fought the Japanese at any time during the period from 1941 to 1945 under Luis M. Taruc are hereby recognized officially as elements of the underground forces of the Commonwealth Government of the Philippines during World War II. cdt

SECTION 2. The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office shall make a listing of these members of the HUKBALAHAP who fought the Japanese during World War II, in coordination with the existing agencies concerned.

SECTION 3. The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office shall process the said claim in coordination with the existing agencies concerned. It shall establish such rules and regulations necessary to establish the service record of these members, in coordination with the organizers, staff, or commanders of the HUKBALAHAP under Luis M. Taruc.

SECTION 4. Agencies implementing the pertinent laws on veterans benefits are hereby enjoined to receive, process, adjudicate and grant, if warranted, the claims of HUKBALAHAP members or their dependents for hospitalization and scholarship, notwithstanding any previous deadlines established to the contrary.

SECTION 5. Such provisions of existing laws, decrees, rules or regulations inconsistent with the provisions of the Decree, are hereby modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. This Decree shall take effect upon approval. acd

DONE in the City of Manila, this 7th day of October, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Seventy-Seven.

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 73 No. 52 Page 11644 on December 26, 1977.