Sgt. Manuel Bakud a.k.a. ‘Col. Rockfield’

Cebu has always been the birthplace of heroes. Here is the story of a Cebuano whose birth was made when the American forces based in Cebu surrendered to the Japanese Imperial Army on April 10, 1942.

Gen. Bradford Cheynoweth, commanding general of the Visayas Force, USAFFE, surrendered after the Fall of Bataan. This was followed by those of Brigade Commander of Camp X, Col. Scrudder and Capt. William D. Miner.

While the American officers surrendered, a Cebuano patriot baptized himself with a new name to carry the flag of freedom and defiance against foreign rule. His name was Sgt. Manuel Bacud, who then gave birth to a name that brought fear to the Japanese: “Col. Rockfield.”

It was in Camp X (Camp 7, Cebu) that Sgt. Bacud met the love of his life, Manuela “Liling” Rivera. It was Sgt. Bacud who saved David Rivera, a miner who sold a large stock of gasoline from Naga to the Japanese garrison at Toledo. This caused jealousy among the Japanese. David was subjected to unusual brutality as his ears were nearly cut off and his upper lip torn and he was crucified against electric post in Tuyan, Naga.

Sgt. Bacud was with Canuto “Valentong” Rivera, younger brother of David and cousin of Liling Rivera, who was a professional electricalmechanical engineer. After the rescue, the duo of Sgt. Bacud and Canuto organized the resistance movement. The eight original band of brothers were David Rivera, Sgt. Bacud, Hermino “Mening” Cerna, Doroteo Madrid, Lt. Constancio Tabad, a certain Torio and Teban, Andres Villarin (who was 17 years old then), Felipe “Aping” Borromeo, Juan Canada, Ariston Taran, Enrique de Leon and Miguel Dieparine.

Sgt. Bacud a.k.a. “Col Rockfield” was the commanding officer. He had two advisers, Major Felipe Borromeo and Lt. David Rivera. In order to maintain the secrecy of his identity, Bacud assumed command of Company A using the name Lt. Manuel Martinez while Company B was under Lt. Ubaldo Gonzales. Company C was under Lt. Leoncio Jaca while Company D was under Lt. Antonio Canedo. It was Lt. Eusabio Habacon who facilitated the joining of forces of the Cebu Area Command based in Tabunan under Col James Cushing.

The exploits of Sgt. Bacud and many other Cebuano patriots are recorded in the book “Tabunan,” written by the Cebuano war hero Col. Manuel Segura.