Yamashita’s Treasure

The story of the Yamashita treasure has captivated the minds of thousands of
amateur historians and treasure hunters. Lack of information about the treasure has made
it an urban legend that up until now it still remains a mystery. Until now, many people
believed that this treasure truly exists and still uncovered from the place where it was
hidden. Treasure hunters around the globe are still tracking footsteps of the Japanese
armies.

Also known as Yamashita’s gold, Yamashita treasure is said to have been named
to the alleged war loot stolen in Southeast Asia by Imperial Japanese forces during World
War II and hidden in caves, underground tunnels in the Philippines. Experts dismissed its
existence though is still have lured hunters all over the world for over 50 years. The
rumored treasure was the subject of a complex lawsuit that was filed in a Hawaiian state
court in 1988 involving a Filipino treasure hunter, Rogelio Roxas, and the former
Philippine president, Ferdinand Marcos.

The story behind the theft – it was organized by gangsters in the highest level of
Japanese society, and the Emperor was said to be involved. The looting was done in
Singapore and the valuables were transported somewhere in the Philippines and hid it
there in an enclosed area. According to sources, they claimed that the American military
intelligence operatives found much of the loot and secretly cooperated with the Emperor
and some high-ranking Japanese figures, concealing the existence of the treasure.

Many individual persons and groups, both from the Philippines and other foreign
countries, continued locating for treasure sites. A number of accidental deaths, injuries,
financial losses incurred by the treasure hunters have been reported but one man
successfully found it, Rogelio Roxas. It was said the Rogelio found the treasure with the
help of a son of a former Japanese Army in Baguio City. They found a golden Buddha
and one box of twenty-four (24) gold bars. Rogelio sought potential buyers of the found
treasure and had it examined and tested and were found genuine – a solid 20-carat gold.
A very unfortunate event happened when the President at that time, Ferdinand Marcos,
learned about the discovery of the treasure by Rogelio. He ordered him arrested and
beaten. After a year of imprisonment, Rogelio puts claims against Marcos since the latter
already lost presidency at that time. He filed a lawsuit in the state of Hawaiian court
seeking damages for the theft and human rights violation committed against him. But
before his trial, Rogelio died. Before his death he already left a deposition testimony that
could be used as evidence. In 1996, Rogelio Roxas and the Buddha Corp. received $22
billion with interest increased to $40.5 billion. This lawsuit concluded that Roxas found
the treasure.

We really couldn’t tell what happened to the remaining crates that still lie in the
chambers, whether or not they were unearthed by the Marcoses or still in there?