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Marcelo Adduru (June 18, 1894 – January 30, 1972)[1] was a Filipino politician and guerrilla leader.
Marcelo Adduru | |
|---|---|
 Portrait | |
| 5th Secretary of Labor | |
| In office July 12, 1945 – May 28, 1946 | |
| President | Sergio Osmeña |
| Preceded by | Mariano Eraña |
| Succeeded by | Pedro Magsalin |
| Governor of Cagayan | |
| In office 1941–1945 | |
| Preceded by | Servando Liban |
| Succeeded by | Baldomero Perez |
| In office 1955–1959 | |
| Preceded by | Jose Carag |
| Succeeded by | Felipe Garduque |
| Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Cagayan's 1st district | |
| In office June 2, 1931 – June 2, 1934 | |
| Preceded by | Vicente Formoso |
| Succeeded by | Nicanor Carag |
| In office September 16, 1935 – December 30, 1938 | |
| Preceded by | Nicanor Carag |
| Succeeded by | Conrado Singson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 18, 1894 Tuguegarao, Cagayan, Captaincy General of the Philippines |
| Died | January 30, 1972 (aged 77) |
| Political party | Nacionalista |
| Alma mater | University of the Philippines |
| Occupation | Politician |
Early life and education
editAdduru was born in Tuguegarao, Cagayan on June 18, 1894. He graduated from the University of the Philippines, where he studied forestry, liberal arts, and law. Before entering politics, he worked as a botanist.[1]
Pre-war politics
editIn 1931, Adduru was elected to the House of Representatives of the Philippines representing the 1st District of Cagayan. He served until 1934 and after a hiatus, was elected to the same seat from 1938 to 1941,[2] when he was elected governor of Cagayan as a candidate of the Nacionalista Party.[1]
Wartime governor
editAt the outbreak of the Pacific War in 1941, Adduru organized the Cagayan Force, a local defense force composed of teachers, reservists and units of the Philippine Constabulary to fight the Japanese. On January 13, 1942, he along with Captain Ralph Praeger of the Provisional Apayao Force led an attack on Tuguegarao that left 200 Japanese dead in what became the first major success by the US Army following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He then led another attack on Aparri while he and his guerrilla forces operated in Cagayan and Apayao. On June 6, 1942, he was commissioned with the rank of Major in the US Army's Cagayan-Apayao Force,[1] which was formed from the merger of Adduru's Cagayan Force, the 14th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Army and Praeger's 26th Cavalry, Troop C under the Philippine Scouts.[3] Adduru worked with Praeger in establishing a functioning government that had its own judicial and monetary system.[4]
At the same time, Adduru established a rebel government in Cagayan based in Tuao[5]: 112–113 [6]: 299–302 which opposed the Japanese-installed governor, Nicanor Carag.[7] Adduru worked with Praeger in establishing a functioning government that had its own judicial and monetary system.[8]
In December 1942, he was subjected to an attempt by Emilio Aguinaldo to convince him and another renegade governor, Roque Ablan of Ilocos Norte, to surrender to the Japanese.[9] Adduru was captured by the Japanese twice in two separate occasions in 1943 and 1944 but managed to escape both times and participated in the liberation of northern Luzon in March 1945.[1]
Post-war politics
editAfter the war ended, Adduru was appointed in 1945 as Secretary of Labor, serving until 1946.[10] In 1949, he was appointed as chairman of the Cagayan Currency Board, which sought to redeem emergency circulating notes that were issued during the war.[11] He was then elected governor of Cagayan from 1955 to 1959.[1]
Death and legacy
editAdduru died on January 30, 1972. The regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police in Cagayan Valley is named after him.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "Marcelo Adduru:Bayani ng Hilagang Luzon sa ilalim ng Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig". Bombo Radyo. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
- ^ "ROSTER of Philippine Legislators (from 1907 to 2019)" (PDF). House of Representatives of the Philippines. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ "Past Governors". Province of Cagayan. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ^ Hyland, George III. "War in the Pacific: A Chronology January 1, 1941 through September 30, 1945". University of North Texas Libraries. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
- ^ Guardia, M., 2011, Shadow Commander, Philadelphia & Newbury
- ^ Harkins, P., 1956, Blackburn's Headhunters, London: Cassell & Co. LTD
- ^ "Past Governors". Province of Cagayan. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ^ Praeger, Ralph Jr. "Ralph Praeger". Eisenhower Foundation. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
- ^ Ara, Satoshi. "Emilio Aguinaldo under American and Japanese Rule: Submission for Independence?". Philippine Studies: Historical and Ethnographic Viewpoints. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
- ^ "DOLE SECRETARIES: PAST AND PRESENT". Department of Labor and Employment. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
- ^ "[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 369, June 10, 1949 ] AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE REDEMPTION OF EMERGENCY AND GUERRILLA CURRENCY NOTES REGISTERED AND DEPOSITED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED TWENTY-TWO, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES". Supreme Court of the Philippines. Retrieved 25 August 2025.