Vicente T. Cubero (September 28, 1911 – October 22, 1942) also known as Captain Francisco
Salazar was a Filipino guerilla commander and a secret agent of the USAFFE. He is considered the
national hero of Bohol. He died after he was shot by Japanese forces in Ubujan, Tagbilaran. A
memorial was established in Tagbilaran to honor his bravery.[1]
Early life[edit]
Cubero was born on September 28, 1911, at Barrio Carmen, Lanuza, Surigao, his parents were fullbloodied Boholanos, originally from Bohol. His father Isidro Cubero hailed from Loon while his
mother, Antonia Tejol, is from Corella. In Cubero's boyhood, they lived in 2 cities before they would
migrate and settle in Surigao.[2][better source needed]
World War II[edit]
Before the war, Cubero was originally an agent of the USAFFE. His job was to spy on pro-Japanese
spies based in Bohol. He later boarded a boat bound for Bohol in Macrohon, Leyte in May 1942,
made several stops, and disembarked in Bohol in the later part of June 1942.[3] While in Bohol,
Salazar met and befriended Lt. Juan "Aning" Relampagos, who led the trading vessel he boarded in
Leyte. Relampagos identified himself as a USAFFE officer; Cubero introduced himself as Captain
Francisco Salazar, who experienced the same actions with Relampagos. Over the course of the
voyage, Salazar eventually revealed his true identity to Relampagos.[4] After landing in Bohol,
Salazar served as a secret agent of the USAFFE. He went from place to place incognito or
assuming different aliases. Salazar was assigned to manage active combat operations against the
Japanese.
The Moalong Ambuscade[edit]
At 7:30 am on September 27, 1942. Salazar was the commanding guerilla
following ambuscade.[5][better source needed]. Two trucks consisting of 70 Japanese soldiers were heard.
Some of the Japanese soldiers were undercover while the rest of the Japanese forces were close to
their area. Salazar and his men became anxious, and Salazar edorder his men to fire. Some of the
armory of the Japanese forces were appropriated and used by Salazar's men.[6][better source needed] One of
the Japanese trucks was blown up and fell into the sea after a grenade was thrown into the driver's
seat. Following ambuscade, the Japanese forces were immobilized. They attempted to fight back
and hid in different spots to defeat Salazar's forces.[3]
References[edit]
1. ^ "Capt. Francisco Salazar- Bohol-Philippines.com". www.bohol-philippines.com.
Retrieved October 2, 2022.
2. ^ "Captain Francisco Salazar : guerrilla hero of Bohol of World War II : a biography
[manuscript] / by Exuperio Omila Barrera · FHL-Roderick Hall". fhl.omeka.net.
Retrieved October 2, 2022.
3. ^ Jump up to:a b "Remembering our forgotten Boholano heroes". The Bohol Chronicle. Bohol
Chronicle Radio Corporation. April 8, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
4. ^ "PART 5: Men who came to Bohol, made significant impact, and now largely forgotten". The
Bohol Chronicle. Bohol Chronicle Radio Corporation. September 2, 2019. Retrieved October
2, 2022.
5. ^ "The Moalong & Ubujan Ambushcades". nitmart.tripod.com. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
6. ^ "The Moalong Ambuscade- Bohol-Philippines.com". www.bohol-philippines.com.
Retrieved October 3, 2022.