The HukBaLaHap fought alongside

the Filipinos to defeat the Japanese in

World War two, but quickly became a
challenge for the new Filipino government
as they sought to infiltrate communism
into the Philippines
• December 1941-the peasants unions of
Central Luzon saw the need to engage
combat against the Japanese for their own
survival
• 29 March 1942- During the Japanese
invasion, peasant leaders met at the
junction of Tarlac, Pampanga, and Nueva
Ecija to form a united organization which
they named “Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa
Mga Hapon.”
• After the Fall of Bataan to the Japanese in
1942, the Huks carried on the fight for the
remainder of the occupation period.

• The organization proved highly successful as

a guerrilla group killing many Japanese
troops as well as wealthy Filipinos who
collaborated with the Japanese.

• They established a regional government,

collected taxes, and administered their own
laws.
• February 1945- Massacre of Squadron 77 (Local
police, military police, and even "civilian guards"
intimidated, arrested, and even killed Huk veterans and
PKM supporters.)
• Philippine landlordism worsen (they agreed to a 60%
share of harvests for the tenants, from the usual 50–50. But
when harvest came, the promises were not kept)
• The landed elites, who collaborated with the Japanese
during the war, now pledged their allegiance to America.
• Tension between the Huks and the Philippine
government arose over the issue of surrender of
arms
.
• Huks formally allied with the PKP (Pambansang
Kaisahan ng Magbubukid ), which later became
the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

• When the Philippines was finally granted

independence, an election was held in 1946
and the HUKBALAHAP participated.

• The organization's leader, Luis Taruc, as well

as other Huk candidates, won a seat in
Congress but was unseated by the Liberal
Party.
Luis Taruc,
Hukbalahap leader

The Huk soldiers and leader

• Between 1946 and 1949 the indiscriminate
counterinsurgency measures by President
Roxas ("mailed fist" policies) strengthened
Huk appeal.

• 1948- Huk leaders adopt a new name, the

'Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan' or the
'People's Liberation Army' .
• June 1948- President Quirino granted Huk
Amnesty

• June 1950- President Truman approved special

military assistance that included military advice,
sale at cost of military equipment to the Philippines
and financial aid under the Joint United States
Military Advisory Group (JUSMAG).

• September 1950- former USAFFE guerilla, Ramon

Magsaysay was appointed as Minister of National
Defense on American advice.
President Manuel Roxas

President Ramon Magsaysay

(Former Defense Secretary under
President ElpidioQuirino)
• 1954- With the all out anti-dissidence
campaigns against the Huks, they
numbered less than 2,000 and without the
protection and support of local supporters,
active Huk resistance no longer presented
a serious threat to Philippine security.

• February to mid-September 1954, the

largest anti-Huk operation, "Operation
Thunder-Lightning" was conducted that
resulted to the surrender of Luis Taruc on
May 17
• 1960- The HBM was again resurrected as
Bagong Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan ,
but the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas shifted
from the use of armed struggle to
parliamentary struggle.

• Guerrilla warfare against the government

continued until its surrender along with the
Party during Martial Law.

• The Agreement between the Partido

Komunista ng Pilipinas and the government
lead to the recognition of the Huk Veterans
with a share of war reparations and benefits.
• From an article on "The New York
Times" September 6, 1951 :

"....Equipped mainly with American

and Japanese-made weapons, the
Huks fight from 'their mountain
abases under a red flag bearing the
Communist hammer and sickle ..."