The outstanding service of Brigadier General Mateo Capinpin

Brigadier General Mateo Capinpin was born on April 22, 1887. His place of birth was Laguna Province. From a young age, Mateo wanted to join the well-respected Philippine Scouts. The Philippine Scouts were a significant component of the United States Army in the Philippines.

Brigadier General Mateo Capinpin was born on April 22, 1887. Image: Wikipedia

After Capinpin enlisted in the Philippine Scouts, he became one of the youngest First Sergeant in the Scouts. His dedicated and superior service in the Scouts earned him an officer commission. With his stellar performance, he continued to rise in rank. He was also selected in 1920 to attend an infantry training school at Fort Benning, Georgia.

During the Philippine Commonwealth period, Mateo Capinpin resigned his commission in the Philippine Scouts to join the newly formed Philippine Commonwealth Army. The Philippine Army was in dire need of experienced Filipino officers. Mateo provided much leadership and military knowledge to the Philippine Army.

In 1941, the United States Army finally took seriously the aggressive and reprehensible actions by the Imperial Japanese Army in Asia and Southeast Asia. The Americans created the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). The Philippine Commonwealth Army was merged into the USAFFE. Colonel Capinpin was placed in charge of the 21st Division of the USAFFE and was promoted to Brigadier General.

The 21st Division received praise for its service in delaying the Japanese advance from Lingayen to Bataan. General Jonathan Wainwright continued to assign critical missions to the 21st because Wainwright knew that he could count on Brigadier General Capinpin and the 21st.

Unfortunately, Capinpin and his soldiers were ordered to surrender to the Japanese on April 9, 1942. Like the other Filipino and American soldiers and officers, Capinpin had to endure the hellish conditions of The Bataan Death March. Like most Filipino prisoners of war, he was paroled in late 1942 by the Japanese.

After his release from a prisoner of war camp, Capinpin accepted a position as the head of the Philippine Constabulary in the President Jose Laurel puppet government. Several sources, including General Douglas MacArthur, have declared that Capinpin was covertly providing intelligence to the Philippine guerillas and directly to Mac Arthur’s headquarters in Australia.

When World War II ended, Capinpin was promoted to Adjutant General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. After his retirement from the army, he continued to serve his country as the Superintendent of the Far East Military Academy.