RUPERTO K. KANGLEON
6th Secretary of National Defense
May 28, 1946 to August 31, 1950
A military strategist whose name is legendary in the pre-war Philippine Constabulary
and during the guerilla campaigns against the Japanese occupation armies, Senator Ruperto K.
Kangleon served his government and people since early youth.
Kangleon was born in Macrohon, Leyte on March 27, 1890, as one of the six children –
five sons and a daughter – of Braulio Kangleon and Flora Kadaba.
He studied up to sixth grade in Leyte and had transfer and complete his elementary
education in Surigao, because he refused to submit to what he considered was the over-bearing
and oppressive conduct of some school authorities. Having graduated from the elementary
grades, he went to Cebu, where he completed his high school course. Here he distinguished
himself as all around star athlete, which won for him a berth in the First Philippines Olympic
Team sent abroad in 1912-1913.
After graduation from the Cebu High School, he went to Manila and enrolled in the
College of Liberal Arts, University of the Philippines. But the military profession attracted him so
he went to the Philippine Constabulary Academy in Baguio where he graduated in 1916.
His first assignment after securing his commission as a young lieutenant fresh from
military school was to fight “Oto”, the notorious Panay bandit whom he subdued in no time. This
and other campaigns in the Visayas (Panay) and Mindanao Islands won him military citations
and renown. He served with the Philippine Constabulary up to 1936 and later transferred to the
Philippine Army. He was inducted into the United States Armed Forces in the Far East on
September 1941.
It was once told that Gen. Douglas MacArthur planned to land somewhere in Luzon,
not in Leyte. Perhaps, MacArthur thought it would be a better strategy to recapture Bataan and
Corregidor, the object of his vaunted promise: “I shall return.”
But there was one man who opposed this move. He was Gen. Ruperto K. Kangleon, the
leader of the guerrilla forces in Leyte. His indignation would forever be seen as a turning point in
Philippine history.
A MILITARY LIFE
Kangleon was born on March 27,1890, in barrio San Roque, Macrohon in Southern
Leyte, a 45-minute pumpboat ride to Limasawa Island. He was the second in Braulio Kangleon
and Flora Kadava’s brood of six. Kangleon started his elementary education in his hometown and
continued it in the neighboring town of Maasin, now a city and the provincial capital of Southern
Leyte. He attended high school in Cebu City where he excelled in athletics and became a
member of the Philippine Olympic Team.
As a young man, Kangleon was admitted to the Philippine Constabulary School, the
precursor of the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City. Among his contemporaries were
Ramon D. Gaviola Jr., former presiding justice of the Court of Appeals, and the late Rev. Mario
G. Gaviola, former archbishop of Lipa City. Soon after finishing his degree in the military
academy, Kangleon launched his military career, a much-coveted, luxurious and highly
respectable line of work in those days.
As a new officer-graduate, Kangleon’s baptism of fire involved combating outlaws and
bandits in the provinces. Clad in shiny leather boots, wide-side khaki breeches, and a khaki
shirt/coat — the prescribed military uniform of commissioned officers then — Kangleon led
constabulary units in successful pacification campaigns against lawless elements.
As a young lieutenant, he was also assigned to Imus, Cavite, a town noted for
beautiful women. There he met Valentina Tagle, married her and together raised 10 children,
the inspirations of his military career.
WORLD WAR II
After becoming provincial commander of Bohol and Cebu, World War II found Kangleon
as the commanding officer of the 81st Infantry Division in Samar. As a Lieutenant Colonel then,
Kangleon was ordered to proceed to Davao where he and his men valiantly fought the Japanese
Imperial army. By virtue of his rank in the guerrilla movement, Kangleon was tasked to make
advisories to Allied troops of the goings on in the province. And no less than General MacArthur
trusted his opinion.
That was why, when Kangleon suggested that the General land in Leyte instead of
another place in the country, MacArthur listened. Kangleon gave him his guarantee that the
united and well-organized guerrilla force in the province would be competent enough to secure
the arrival of the American forces. Convinced, Gen. MacArthur landed in Leyte on Oct. 20, 1944,
just like he promised several years before. From then on, Leyteños believed that Philippine
liberation from Japanese domination would not have been complete without Gen. Kangleon.
Kangleon’s image was, however, smeared when he surrendered to the Japanese. He was
following the orders of his American superior, a certain Colonel Christaine. This made the once
united Leyte guerrilla forces to become ragtag and disgruntled units that constantly and violently
fought against each other for supremacy.
Nevertheless, some people still kept their belief in Kangleon. Amid the anarchy, one
man stood to protect Kangleon and said that he was the rallying figure that can unite the various
guerrilla units because Kangleon was the highest-ranking military officer in Leyte. That man of
faith was Graciano Kapili. Kapili, or Grasing to those close to him, was from Himatagon (now the
town of St. Bernard). He took it upon himself to undergo the dangerous task of rescuing
Kangleon who was then locked up in a Japanese military prison in Butuan. Filled with this dream
of a united guerrilla movement, Grasing boarded a sailboat (kaba-kaba) and plowed to Butuan.
Armed only with his antics, Grasing caught the amusement of the Japanese prison guards and
was able to talk to Kangleon. Grasing convinced Kangleon that escape was the only way out of
the Japanese-guarded prison.
Kangleon and Grasing, therefore, made their dash to freedom and boarded the kabakaba and sailed to freedom without detection by the Japanese. They sailed to Leyte and arrived
safely at barrio San Roque, Macrohon, the hometown of Gen. Kangleon, on Dec. 26, 1942.
ON THE ROAD TO FREEDOM
Adopting Tigulang (Visayan for old man) as his nom de guerre, Kangleon proceeded to
re-unite the guerrilla forces in Leyte. Guerrilla leaders, including Captains Atilano Cinco (who
later became Congressman) and Alejandro Balderan in the waray-waray areas, and even
Americans — Capt. Gordon Lang who was a US Navy officer and Orville Babcock, former Leyte
Division superintendent of schools — submitted themselves to his leadership. But one leader
didn’t. Lt. Blas Miranda, a mere second lieutenant of the Philippine Constabulary (PC) before
World War II that dubiously carried the rank of Brigadier General in a certain Camp Heaven in
the mountains near Ormoc City, refused to recognize Kangleon’s leadership. Miranda took
Kangleon’s surrender to the Japanese as an issue.
The antagonism between Kangleon and Miranda reached a bloody climax when they
met in armed combat in Baybay, Leyte. None of the two strong-willed guerrillas died, however.
But later on, Miranda vanished for good after he narrowly escaped an unexpected Japanese raid
on his camp. His men, leaderless, later found their way to the Kangleon camp.
Since then, the guerrillas of the whole province of Leyte were united behind Kangleon.
His hold and control over the Leyte guerrillas became easier because everybody knew Kangleon
had the recognition and support of Gen. MacArthur. It was said that MacArthur had been in
touch with Kangleon since January 1943 while MacArthur was still in his headquarters in
Australia. In effect, MacArthur designated Kangleon as the military and civil governor of Free
Leyte. From his headquarters in Australia, MacArthur gave instructions to Kangleon on the
conduct of his military operations against the enemy and relations with the civilians. One such
instruction was to avoid open armed engagements with the enemy to prevent Japanese
reinforcements from going to Leyte and bloody confrontation that could harm civilians.
Meanwhile, Gen. Kangleon maintained military liaison with Col. Wendel Fertig, the
American guerrilla leader of Mindanao. Both guerrilla leaders were Gen. MacArthur’s contact
persons in the Philippines. Fretig’s platoon of American guerrilla men bristling with their garand
rifles, carbines and tommy guns from Australia, landed in Leyte. Wearing varied costumes from
dark short pants to the traditional khaki uniforms, they marched in snappy military formation
heading to the guerrilla headquarters situated in the central elementary school buildings in Bato,
Leyte, to confer or exchange notes with their local comrades in arms, on the enemy movement
in the area. Knowing that Allied forces neared Philippine shores, Japanese forces came and
placed garrisons in every town of southwestern Leyte. The Japanese staged military forays that
brought them to the mountains to flush out any armed resistance from the guerrillas. They even
hunted down Gen. Kangleon, but to no avail since the civilians refused to cooperate.
A FATHER'S SACRIFICE
Provoked by the Japanese offensive, Kangleon and his men engaged in a hit-and-run
attack against the Japanese in February 1944. The Japanese, in turn, launched search-anddestroy operations against Kangleon in the mountains. Failing to capture the man himself, the
Japanese went after Kangleon’s four children and brought them to the mountains of Southern
Leyte. They were held hostage there, in order to force the surrender of their father on the threat
that they would be killed if Kangleon would not capitulate.
Gen. Kangleon was locked in the horns of a painful dilemma: to surrender or not,
knowing that his children’s lives were at stake. However, after some serious soul-searching, he
decided not to surrender and offered his children as a sacrifice on the altar of his country’s
cause, despite the pain in his heart. For his noble feat of patriotism, the late first bishop of
Maasin, Most Rev. Vicente T. Ataviado, compared Kangleon to the Spanish General Moscardo
whose soldier-son was captured by the enemy during the Spanish Civil War. Given the same
choice, General Moscardo opted to sacrifice his son rather than surrender. While in captivity,
Kangleon’s children kept praying the rosary. Their prayers were answered, since a Japanese
officer named Captain Itzumi, befriended them and shared his Buddhist beads with them. The
beads were given as a gift from Itzumi’s stepmother for his safety. He became their guardian
angel and made their ordeal bearable.
Meanwhile, Kangleon continued his service to the country despite the danger that has
befallen his own flesh and blood. In the hope of instilling some inspiration and hope in the hearts
of his men, and probably his own, he composed a song in Cebuano titled “Bantay Boluntaryo”
(Watch Out, Volunteer Guards), setting it to the music of an old Philippine martial tune. Shortly
before the Allied liberation forces landed in Leyte on Oct. 20,1944, the Japanese pulled out their
garrisons. As one faintly recalled, the Japanese left Macrohon in July 1944, less than a year from
their arrival in Nov. 1943. It was, however, speculated that the Japanese were merely regrouping with other Japanese forces in preparation for the expected American invasion.
Meanwhile, in recognition of his spectacular achievements in the guerrilla movement, Kangleon
was promoted to full colonel by Gen. MacArthur on Oct. 1,1944. True to his promise, MacArthur,
accompanied by the Allied liberation forces, landed in Leyte on Oct. 20,1944. Beginning the long
road to the liberation of the Philippines, MacArthur’s forces rescued Gen. Kangleon’s children in
Tacloban City.
Three days following the Allied landing, on Oct. 23,1944, Kangleon was appointed
military governor of Leyte. Gen. MacArthur personally pinned on Kangleon the Distinguished
Service Cross of the United States of America, a decoration awarded for extraordinary heroism in
combat witnessed by Philippine Commonwealth president Sergio Osmeña as well as commanders
of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and even US Armed Forces at the Leyte provincial capitol
building.
IN POLITICS
Kangleon became Leyte’s civil governor upon the re-establishment of the Philippine
Commonwealth under President Osmeña. On May 28,1946, he was appointed Secretary of
National Defense by Pres. Manuel Roxas, the first of the Commonwealth and the Republic of the
Philippines, in the same way that Kangleon was the Defense Secretary during the closing
American colonial rule in our country and held the position upon the declaration of independence
on July 4,1946. But due to policy differences with the next president, Pres. Elpidio Quirino on the
leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Kangleon resigned as Defense Secretary on
Aug. 31, 1950. Kangleon was trying to ask President Quirino to remove the generals whom he
considered deadwood to which the President disagreed.
Kangleon’s resignation from the Cabinet paved the way for his entry into the political
arena, an all too familiar field for his siblings. His brother, Ciriaco, was an Assemblyman
(diputado) in the old Philippine Assembly, while the other brother, Tereso, was mayor of
Macrohon, his native town. Kangleon ran for Senate even without the endorsement of the
incumbent President Quirino. He became senator and was appointed chairman of the Senate
Committee on Veterans and Military Pensions and vice chairman of the Committee on National
Defense and Security. He championed the cause of the Filipino veterans by filing bills and
resolutions for their welfare and advancement. However, even before he could finish his six-year
term in the Senate, Sen. Kangleon succumbed to myocardial infraction on Feb. 27,1958, exactly
a month away from his 68th birthday. The Filipino nation led by Pres. Carlos P. Garcia mourned
his untimely death.
THE NUMBER ONE LEYTEÑO
At Kangleon’s funeral, former senator Lorenzo Sumulong extolled Kangleon’s virtues
of patriotism and honesty. He described Kangleon as a “tried and tested patriot who braved a
thousand deaths in the defense of his country” and a man of “honesty who was always beyond
suspicion.” The solon also recalled that as over-all guerrilla chief of Leyte, Kangleon was
authorized by Gen. MacArthur to issue war notes for the total amount of P2 million, a fortune
during that time. If Gen. Kangleon had no moral qualms, he could have made it appear that the
whole amount was spent and lined his pockets with wads of money, which he never did.
Soon after the landing of the American liberation forces, Kangleon submitted an
accounting showing that only one-fourth of the authorized P2 million was spent. In another
instance, Kangleon returned an unexpected intelligence fund in the sum of P49,350 to the United
States government with a corresponding receipt issued by the US Armed Forces, Pacific on June
26,1945. For his highly meritorious and distinguished services in the military, Sen. Kangleon was
awarded 17 medals and campaign ribbons. Topping them was the Distinguished Services Cross
of the United States of America, the one pinned on him by Gen. MacArthur.
In memory of Southern Leyte’s outstanding son, a life-sized statue of Kangleon now
stands on the campus of Saint Joseph College in Maasin City. Paradoxically, it took a nonLeyteño by birth, in the person of the late bishop Ataviado, to place in concrete the honor and
recognition due the number one Leyteño. On the 50th anniversary celebration of the Leyte
landing by the Allied liberation forces at Palo Leyte on Oct. 20, 1994, Gen. Kangleon was
posthumously promoted to brigadier general after half a century and 36 years after his death.
Probably, in deference to his wish which he must have expressed during his lifetime,
Gen. Kangleon’s remains were transferred to his place of birth on Feb. 27,1994 from the Manila
South Cemetery where he was buried with fitting honors on March 4,1958.
In a world that is presently wanting for heroes, stories such as these are rare. But
simply remembering or leafing through the pages of our past — such as the memories and
legacies left behind by heroes and noble men such as the number one Leyteño, General
Kangleon — is enough for us to have hope even in the darkest of times.