Dad lauds NHCP for approving installation of marker to honor WWII hero

CITY Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy referred to the committee on tourism chaired by Councilor Jay R. Pascual for appropriate action the proposed resolution commending and thanking the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) through its chairman Dr. Rene R. Escalante for approving the installation of a historical marker in Cagayan de Oro City.

As proposed by Councilor Jocelyn B. Rodriguez, the marker shall be installed to honor the bravery, courage, and heroism of World War II patriot Antonio Julian Montalvan.

Dr. Montalvan’s heroism is invaluably exemplary being a member of an espionage team who reported directly to Gen. Douglas MacArthur. He was a medical doctor at the Misamis Provincial Hospital (now the Northern Mindanao Medical Center), the personal medic of Col. Wendell W. Fertig, head of the organized guerilla resistance in Mindanao under the 10th Military District, United States Forces in the Philippines, she said.

Dr. Montalvan also established coastal radio relay stations in Mindanao, Visayas and Southern Luzon then he became part of a Manila spy network that first served as a courier between Manila and Mindanao and got in touch with the Manila spy network (Spyron).

He was tortured at Fort Santiago and at the Bilibid Prison in Manila. Executed by decapitation with the group of Senator Jose Ozamiz and the Elizalde Group of Manila which included the writer Rafael Roces and Blanche Walker Jurika, the mother-in-law of guerilla leader Charles “Chick” Parsons. The execution took place at the Manila Chinese Cemetery, The Gavel learned.

Rodriguez said the resolution will also remind Kagayanons of the words of BGen Restituto L. Aguilar (ret.), NHCP Executive Director, who stressed that “Every veteran who fought for our country’s freedom are heroes that we must treasure. We are the beneficiaries of their sacrifices for fighting for the freedom we enjoy today.”

“Their investment was their blood, sweat, and tears. It is time for us to rediscover the unsung and unknown heroes in our family and we will be surprised to know that we have the blood of heroes in our veins. It is our duty in this generation to honor our heroes,” Councilor Rodriguez further pointed out.