Philippine History Report. Commonwealth Period

1. Inside the Malinta tunnel, a radio station was
established. It was called “Voice Of Freedom”.
Carlos P. Romulo, the prewar editor of the
Philippine Herald, headed this station in
broadcasting news to men in Bataan and in other
occupied areas like Manila.

3. May 6, 1942, Gen. Wainwright addressed a message to Gen. Homma through the “Voice
Of Freedom” offering his surrender with the men directly under him. At noon, the
American flag was lowered from the flagpole and replaced with the flag of surrender.
Wainwright then was taken to Cabcaben, Bataan to meet Homma. Upon learning that
Wainwright only offered to surrender the harbor forts, Homma rejected his surrender.
The American General explained that he has command only of Corregidor and its satellite
islands. He could no longer communicate with General Sharp, who took command of
Visayas & Mindanao, because he had no radio facilities.
Realizing the hopelessness of his position, at midnight of the same day, Wainright signed
the documents according to Homma’s wishes.
On May 7, Wainwright was brought to Manila to broadcast a message to Gen.Sharp and
the guerilla leaders in Luzon, saying that he was taking command and ordering them to
surrender.

4. Jonathan M.Wainwright. General Sharp

5. Gen.MacArthur himself radioed Gen.Sharp that Wainwright’s surrender
was not valid. Gen MacArthur ordered sharp to initiate guerilla operations
against the enemy forces
The POWs were brought to Capas. On August 11,1942, Gen. Wainwright
and ranking officers were shipped to Formosa(now Taiwan) and later to
Japan.
The battered Filipino and American soldiers submitted to the enemy forces.
They received orders to lay down their arms. Life in prison camp was
grueling sequel to the agony in Bataan.
 Nevertheless, the strength and will of the Filipino people did not waver after
the surrender of Bataan and Corregidor to the Japanese. Underground
guerilla movements were put into action by Filipino and American soldiers,
as well as unyielding civilians in the countryside.