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Regarding
Harry
On
September 1, 1943, death came to one of the most controversial figures
in local history.
Chicago-born
Harry Fenton (whose real name, it is said, was Aaron Feinstein) came to
the Philippines in the early thirties, and started out by eking out a
living as a vaudeville comedian in Manila. He later established a name
for himself as a radio showman and station manager, working for KZRM and
KZRH in Manila, and then with KZRC (now DYRC) in Cebu.
When the
Japanese occupied Cebu, he emerged as co-leader (with mining engineer
James Cushing) of the resistance forces in Cebu. As a guerilla leader,
hiding in the hills of central Cebu, Fenton degenerated into paranoia. A
feared figure, Fenton was accused of abusing women and ordering the
execution not only of suspected Japanese collaborators but fellow
guerillas. Fenton’s own diary (covering the period from April to
December 1942) laconically refers to the execution during this period of
63 spies and suspected collaborators (including Teodoro Osmeña, son of
Don Sergio).
His
misdeeds caught up with him when he was summarily tried for violation of
the Articles of War and executed by his fellow guerillas.
His body
was buried in an unmarked grave somewhere in Tabo-an.
-
Ybarra
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