Jesus Baza Duenas

Father Jesus Baza Dueñas (1911 Hagatña-July 12, 1944 Tai, Mangilao) was a Catholic priest in Guam during the World War II.

Dueñas studied for the priesthood in Manila. He was the second Chamorro Catholic priest

During the Japanese occupation of Guam, Father Duenas knew the movements of the American fugitives and the identities of the people who assisted and harbored them. He is said to have knowledge about the plans of Japanese search teams, who were after the fugitives and their helpers.cite web
url = http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extContent/Lib/liberation7.htm
title=A man of courage and conviction
author=Tony Palomo
accessdate=2007-07-09] His friends operated secret radio receivers, and he was well informed of the progress of war.

The Japanese government sent two Catholic priests, Monsignor Fukahori and Father Peter Komatzu, to Guam as propagandists and diplomats. Fr. Duenas refused to co-operate with them.

The Japanese suspected that Duenas was harboring Americans. Duenas was informed beforehand about the Japanese plans to arrest him, but he refused to run away. Later, he was taken captive by the Japanese and questioned about the whereabouts of six American sailors, who had fled into the jungles. Father Duenas is said to have answered: "It is for me to know, and for you to find out." He maintained that he answered only to God and "the Japanese are not God." [cite web
url = http://www.guampdn.com/guampublishing/special-sections/liberation2006/history.html
title = This month in Guam history — July
publisher = Pacific Daily News
accessdate = 2007-09-15] The Japanese beheaded him and his nephew, Edward Duenas, on July 12, 1944 at Tai, Mangilao.

In early 1945, the body of Fr. Duenas was exhumed from a crude grave. When his body was buried at St. Joseph's Church in Inarajan, hundreds of people and the island's highest officials attended the ceremony. The Father Duenas Memorial High School (FDMS) was established in 1948, in his memory.

References

External links

* [http://www.medaloffreedom.com/AntonioCruzArtero.htm Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient Antonio Cruz Artero of Guam Island. ] at www.medaloffreedom.com
* "Other Significant World War II Sites on Guam: [http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/wapa/hrs/hrsf2.htm Father Duenas' Execution Site] ", National Park Service.