Proclamation of the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Japanese Forces in the Philippines on Acts Punishable by Death

by Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Japanese Forces in the Philippines

ACTS PUNISHABLE BY DEATH

PROCLAMATION

January 3, 1942

Any person who commits acts mentioned below will be put to death or otherwise severely punished according to the provisions of Martial Law. However, if the person who has committed such acts presents himself to the authorities and confesses his guilt, he may be pardoned.

(1) Any person who rebels against the Japanese Forces.

(2) Any person who intentionally or falsely guides the Japanese Forces, warships or transports.

(3) Any person who commits an act of espionage, collects or betrays vital military secrets to the enemy, or who gives out such information to the public.

(4) Any person who states false information or spreads wild rumors of military importance.

(5) Any person who inflicts damage or destroys roads, waterways, bridges, railroads, railway signs, apparatus for telegraph or telephone, ships or the objects for the facilities of mail or who disturbs traffic or communication in any other way.

(6) Any person who inflicts damage, destroys or burns houses, warehouses, buildings, trains, automobiles, vehicles of any kind, ships, arms, ammunition, provisions, clothing and any other objects of military usage.

(7) Any person who damages or destroys or in any other way makes useless all kinds of signs and notices necessary to the military authorities.

(8) Any person who destroys, damages or conceals clothing, provisions, fuels, and vehicles; harms, kills, or conceals livestock or any other objects of military importance in order to avoid commandeering by the authorities.

(9) Any person who steals arms, ammunition, provisions, clothing or any other objects of military importance which are under the care of the military authorities.

(10) Any person who, taking advantage of the war, commits looting, robbery, murder, arson, sedition, or disturbs in any way the peace and order of the land.

(11) Any person who pollutes drinking water by poison or in any other way.

(12) Any person who kills or inflicts injuries upon any Imperial Japanese soldier, civilian employee of the Army and Navy, or who hinders the execution of the duties of the above-mentioned persons.

(13) Any person who counterfeits military notes; refuses to accept them or in any way hinders the free circulation of military notes by slanderous or seditious utterances.

(14) Any person who snatches away, hides or helps to escape from the authorities a person who has violated any provisions of Martial Law.

(15) Any person who refuses to obey any orders of military necessity issued by the Japanese Forces.

(16) Any person who commits acts other than the above-mentioned against the interests of the Japanese Forces.

(17) Any person who plans, suggests or assists in committing any of the above-mentioned acts.

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
IMPERIAL JAPANESE FORCES IN THE
PHILIPPINES

Source: Official Gazette. Manila, Philippines. Vol. 1. Bureau of Printing. 1942. p. 751.