THE PHILIPPINES: End of a Puppet

As puppet president of Japan's Republic of the Philippines, squat, bespectacled Jose P. Laurel lived in uneasy luxury. Peasant-born and Yale-educated, he occupied Manila's ornate Malacanan Palace, once the home of Manuel Quezon. He smoked special cigars with his name printed on the band. After guerrillas wounded him while he was golfing at the Wack Wack Country Club, he was provided with an armed guard of 600 men. In return for this, José Laurel—who had been a respected Manila attorney and a member of the Philippine Supreme Court —did the bidding of the conquerors.

When U.S. tropps advanced in northern...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!