Duterte declares September 3 a working holiday to commemorate Yamashita surrender

MANILA, Philippines (Updated Sept. 2, 2019, 9:03 a.m.) — President Rodrigo Duterte declared September 3 a special working public holiday throughout the country in commemoration of the surrender of Japanese military forces led by Army General Tomoyuki Yamashita at the end of World War II.

Republic Act 11216, which makes the holiday official, was one of the 20 bills signed by Duterte this month and released to the public on Tuesday. 

Yamashita surrendered at the American High Commissioner's Residence in Camp John Hay in 1945.

Republic Act No. 11120 declares September 2 a non-working holiday in Ifugao province to commemorate Yamashita's initial surrender to Filipino and American troops in Kiangan town.

He was hanged the following year in Los Baños after being sentenced by an American military tribunal.

Also signed was Republic Act 1127, declaring January 17 as James Leonard Tagle Gordon Day, a special non-working holiday in Olongapo and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Editor's Note: The headline has been updated to qualify the holiday as a special public working holiday.