THE town of Bokod in Benguet will mark its liberation from Japanese occupation forces during World War II.

A local ordinance declares July 17 as Liberation Day.

The town council passed the law in response to the request of the Sons and Daughters Association Inc. of World War II Veterans

Bokod officials said the municipality was the host of the induction and organization of the 12th Infantry which later merged into the 66th Infantry.

Prominent officers of the unit were the late Major Dennis Molintas, Captain Eugene Badival, Lieutenant Donato Ignacio, Lieutenant Baroy Bestre, Lieutenant Ticong Dario, all hailing from Botod.

The ordinance stated that through interviews with surviving elders of the town and the written testimonies of the late Lieutenant Alisandro Marquez, it was established that Botod was freed from Japanese occupation on July 17, 1945.

On that day Marquez and thousands of civilians and his officers crossed the Agno River to link up with the 37th Division of US Army on Kilometer 52, now the Halsema Highway.

"Then and there, civilians were evacuated to Baguio City and La Trinidad for medical treatment and food supplies, according to oral accounts of some surviving elders, other civilian evacuees who choose to return to their respective homes in Bokod as there were still overripe palay to be harvested," the ordinance noted.