Local World War II Account: Pelagio Galsim Ferrer Sr.
According to his son Joey Ferrer, "Pelagio Ferrer was the municipal chief of police appointed by the then mayor, Leopoldo Aquino from 1941 to 1944. He was also a guerilla leader with Co. Edwin Ramsey’s underground movement headquartered in Bayambang."
According to his daughter, Clarita Ferrer-Tagab, "So many stories had been passed from mouth to mouth about his patriotic activities during his term as Chief of Police during the Japanese occupation. I wasn’t born yet then, but as I grew up, I heard these stories. I really can’t imagine how a guerilla and at the same time a chief of police worked. But sad to note that seemingly these stories were buried to his grave. But to his family, these memories are the best souvenirs."
Continued Joey Ferrer:
"He had not spoken a lot about the guerilla activities. Tio [Inocencio] ‘Insyong’ Junio, a distant relative of the Martinez-Ferrer clan, himself proudly related how Pelagio Ferrer had saved his life. Junio was among three people apprehended by the Kempetai (military police of the Imperial Japanese Army from 1881 to 1945) and set for beheading. When his turn came, Pelagio Ferrer just passed by. Recognizing him, Tio Insyong yelled out, "Kuya Pelagio!" Unexpectedly, the Japanese in-charge signaled him to go and disappear. I heard this story from his mouth and also from [my mother, his wife,] Sofia Martinez Ferrer. In our then conversational Pangasinan, he joked, 'Batik ak binotey ebet.' His parting words most of the time worth remembering were, “Anggan naogip ak no patawag to ak nen Kuya Pelagio, bangon mo ak.” (Even if I am asleep, wake me up if it's Kuya Pelagio who asks for me.)"
"Sofia Martinez Ferrer, had recollected somewhat hazily and mentioned about the assassination of the mayor of Alcala in the Bayambang Public Market. Immediately after, a Japanese platoon cordoned off the area. About 5 or 6 guerrilla men clandestinely handed off their firearms to Pelagio, and he identified some firearm-bearing guerrilla men as members of his force. A few hours after the killing, the Japanese would demand a public meeting in the municipal kiosk and in his short talk would assert that there were no guerrillas existing in or around Bayambang."
"Hipolito Bato, also from Roxas St. (the same street as ours), recalled that a Visayan and a good shot with .45 was assigned to do the job. I am not certain though if Hipolito was a member of the movement."
"Two people from another guerrilla outfit came to town with a letter purportedly written by Gen. Lapham indicating his desire to personally meet Lt. Ramsey. According to two guys, they had to give the note to the chief of police as he was the one who knew of Ramsey’s existence and whereabouts in Bayambang. He held the two men for a night until some guerrilla guerilla officers had been convinced of the veracity of the Lapham’s note. Lapham came to Bayambang and they embarked on further recruitment and induction of new guerrilla operatives up to Aguilar and Lingayen."
"A group of guerrillas raided the municipal police headquarters of firearms and ammunition. Months before liberation forces had landed in Lingayen, Pelagio Ferrer feigned an asthma and feet eczema attack and stayed home. Zoilo Mamaradlo, the policeman officer of the day, before leaving headquarters, had all padlocks unlocked for easy access. The raid was led by Paulino Martinez, Pelagio’s brother-in-law. One municipal employee, Santiago Gozum, had encountered them in the process and Paulino had to threaten him with a .45 in the ribs."
"Every time one was incarcerated for any offense, even petty ones, would end up under investigation of being a guerrilla member or guerrilla sympathizer. One Valentin Caragan, a guerrilla officer, got incarcerated in the municipal jail for some petty offense. Mr. Caragan would recall, 'Ay si Tatay yo, no siber-siber lamay opisyal na Hapon, ay maingal, sipa tan pangol so onsabid siac. Balet no kasipot to, paitdan to ak na danom tan no arom Coca-Cola." (Oh, your father, whenever the Japanese officer is around, he gets noisy and hits me here and there. But once he leaves, your father asks someone to give me water and sometimes Coca-Cola.) Nen anggapo'y napiga da so inbulos da lamlamang. (When they could no longer extract anything, they set him free.) They called each other 'bayaw' and 'aring.' We found out later that the Caragans and the Martinezes are relatives. I first heard of this story in Grade V from Crisanto and Warlito, both sons of Mr. Caragan. From 1945 to 1946, the two had been together in the Northern Luzon area, Caragan as captain and Pelagio, as 1st Lieutenant. They both were honorably discharged in the late '46 or early '47 one rank higher."
"He was a constant patroller around town. One time, he and his group encountered some group of guerrillas in the boundary of Bayambang and Urbiztondo. Hinuli raw sila at pinag-iinom sila ng tubig na may darak. (They were caught and made to drink water with rice bran.) Only when Pelagio and group had identified themselves as municipal policemen and Pelagio was recognized as the municipal police chief and one of Ramsey’s men were they set free. On the bright side of this regiment, he had met a lot of new relatives of Sofia Ferrer, the Mabanglos, the Tamondongs, and the Perezes, among others."
"Sofia had talked about the clandestine departure of Lt. Ramsey to Manila, and the possible and safe but risky means was through a rail train boxcar. Pelagio was a member of the group that made the voyage possible. [Major Claro J.] Camacho (Ramsey's Aide-de-Camp) led the group up to Manila."
"There were two other people who had been incarcerated besides Valentine Caragan, and what is worst, their imprisonment lasted a month in the Kempetai Headquarters in Dagupan in different occasions."
"Pelagio had been placed under Kempetai custody upon
complaint by some women merchants who took shelter in the Municipio. They
alleged that they had been molested by the municipal policemen. (By command
responsibility, Pelagio had to shoulder the blame.) It was later found out that
the allegations were untrue. At the intervention of the then mayor, Leopoldo
Aquino, Pelagio was released and assumed the command of the police force."
"According to Sofia M. Ferrer, Lt. Ramsey brought out the idea of plucking Pelagio out of jail. (Maybe it was said in jest.)"
"Paulino Martinez was the other one. He was presented by the chief of police and the mayor to replace his wife and young baby who had been detained in place of the wife’s brother. The brother was the leader of the group called 'Texas' during the period. According to some source, hawak nila ang [ferrocaril] (they were in charge of the train) from Bamban, Tarlac to San Fernando, La Union. Maslak ya pangipelagan da na sako-sakon masamit diman ed Nalsian. (Most of the sacks of sugar were unloaded at Nalsian.) This was affirmed by Inocencio Junio. He was a member of the group. Pelagio Ferrer and Mayor Aquino, after a month, were abl to obtain Paulino’s release."
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"During his stint as municipal police chief, Pelagio and the family stayed at the Brillantes’ house in Roxas St. Ito ang lugar na nababalita diyan sa bayan na namimintana si Ramsey habang nanonood ng okasyon diyan sa dating amphitheater. (This is the spot from where, it was said, Ramsey watched occasions being held at the town amphitheater.)"
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"Pelagio was an enlisted constable in the mid-1920s in the Province of Lanao, Southern Philippines."
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"He retired as Chief Security Officer of the Philippine Veteran Administration Office (PVAO). As a WWII veteran, he was recognized as a Philippine Veteran pensioner as service-connected disability and was also a recipient of WWII US Veteran Pension as service-connected disability in October 1998 which was awarded to his spouse, Sofia M. Ferrer, a US citizen and resident of California, USA."
"Pelagio passed away in 1971."
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