Muntinlupa commemorated the 79th anniversary of its liberation from Japanese occupation during World War II. 

Officials led by Rep. Jaime Fresnedi, Vice Mayor Artemio SImundac and councilors in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Liwasan ng mga Bayani in Barangay Alabang on Feb. 3. 

Muntinlupa Rep. Jaime Fresnedi, Vice Mayor Artemio Simundac, councilors and veterans at the 79th Liberation Day celebration on Feb. 3 (Photos from Muntinlupa PIO)

Under the theme “Kabayanihang Alay, Sandigan ng mga Muntinlupenyo Tungo sa Tagumpay (Dedicated Heroism, Foundation of Muntinlupenyo Towards Success),” the ceremony was also attended by veterans. 

In 2007, Republic Act 9378 was enacted into law “declaring the fourth day of February of every year as a special working holiday in the City of Muntinlupa to be known as ‘Araw ng Kalayaan ng Muntinlupa.’"

The Philippines was under Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945. Japan formally surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945. 

According to the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), “Following the Battle for Manila, and the successful liberation of the University of Santo Tomas and Tagaytay on 3 February 1945, Filipino guerrillas and the Allied Forces went on to liberate the city of Muntinlupa on February 4 of the same year.” 

“On the same day, more than one thousand prisoners of war (POW) were also freed from the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa which was utilized by the Japanese Kempeitai as a POW Camp, hospital, and transit center for POWs being transferred to other locations,” according to the account on the PVAO website. 

It added, “The Hunters ROTC 47th Division Kanduli Unit of Muntinlupa received a message from the General Headquarters that American units were arriving soon. They were ordered to guard the area and ring around the Japanese within their jurisdiction. Captain 12 Pares (Baldomero Viñalon) ordered his men to split up and proceed to Muntinlupa to take care of the remaining Japanese in the area. In this operation, his guerilla unit killed about 45 Japanese. By the time when the 11th Airborne arrived in Muntinlupa, everything was already under control.”

“After the fall of Bataan in 1942, the prisoners of Corregidor were taken to Manila on May 24, 1942. The Americans were brought to Paranaque and the Filipinos at Manila Harbor. They were forced to march to Old Bilibid Prison. While the 1st Cavalry Division made its drive to Manila, the 37th Division’s 148th Infantry Regiment was also making its way to Manila on the Cavalry’s right flank. During their push into the city on 5 February 1945, they came across the Old Bilibid Prison and liberated a few hundred USAFFE veterans and the internees that had been moved from Camp Holmes, Baguio just a few months before,” according to PVAO.