Vicente T. Cubero (September 28, 1911 – October 22, 1942) also known as Captain Francisco Salazar was a Filipino guerrilla 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]
Francisco Salazar | |
|---|---|
| Born | Vicente T. Cubero September 28, 1911 |
| Died | October 22, 1942 (aged 31) |
| Cause of death | Being shot by Japanese forces. |
| Burial place | Tubigon, Loon (transferred) |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Height | 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in) |
| Parents |
|
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Philippines United States |
| Service | Regular Army |
| Unit | USAFFE |
| Battles / wars | Japanese occupation of the Philippines |
Early life
editCubero was born on September 28, 1911, at Barrio Carmen, Lanuza, Surigao, his parents were full-bloodied 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]
Fr. Pete Cubero Arguillas, becoming the first priest from Siargao Island, son of Cubero's sister Juliana Cubero.[3]
World War II
editBefore 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.[4] 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.[5] 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
editAt 7:30 am on September 27, 1942. Salazar was the commanding guerrilla following ambuscade.[6][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 ordered his men to fire. Some of the armory of the Japanese forces were appropriated and used by Salazar's men.[7][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 the ambuscade, the Japanese forces were immobilized. They attempted to fight back and hid in different spots to defeat Salazar's forces.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Capt. Francisco Salazar- Bohol-Philippines.com". www.bohol-philippines.com. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "FR PEDRO ARGUILLAS MSC, PHILIPPINES PROVINCE".
- ^ a b "Remembering our forgotten Boholano heroes". The Bohol Chronicle. Bohol Chronicle Radio Corporation. April 8, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "The Moalong & Ubujan Ambushcades". nitmart.tripod.com. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
- ^ "The Moalong Ambuscade- Bohol-Philippines.com". www.bohol-philippines.com. Retrieved October 3, 2022.