Yamashita's treasure

Episode on October 9, 2008 Thursday night after Saksi The tale of the Yamashita Treasure has both fascinated and intrigued the Filipino people for more than five decades. Allegedly buried by Japanese soldiers after World War II, does the legendary treasure trove really exist? Who really is General Yamashita and how did he become the face behind the elusive gold? This Thursday, Kara David reopens the case of Yamashita’s hidden wealth and brings back the questions that hounded the story since it’s discovery on Case Unclosed. In 1971, Roger Roxas’ unearthing of a Golden Buddha filled with gold bars and diamonds in Baguio City caused quite a stir among treasure hunters because of reports that it was part of the Yamashita treasure. The Buddha’s discovery allegedly caught even the interest of former President Ferdinand Marcos, but instead of bringing prosperity to Roger Roxas, the Golden Buddha became his bane. Treachery and betrayal ensued in his family right after, resulting to Roger’s own death. Case Unclosed retraces these events and finds out why a Hawaii Judicial Court ordered the Marcoses to pay the Roxas family millions of dollars for the purported embezzlement of the treasure. Some historians argue that the Yamashita treasure is a hoax, but treasure hunter Pastor Yosores disagrees. Yosores believes that up to this day, there are still undiscovered portions of the treasure scattered all over the country. He has been digging in the province of Cebu for the past 15 years in search of Yamashita’s elusive gold. Is the Yamashita treasure a real deal, or plainly just a legend? Under the direction of acclaimed independent filmmaker Tara Illenberger, re-examine unsolved cases and find answers to longstanding questions in “Case Unclosed:Yamashita’s Treasure" with Kara David, airing this Thursday after the late night newscast Saksi.

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Mahigit limang dekada na ang lumipas, pero hanggang ngayon, buhay pa rin ang kuwento ng Yamashita Treasure. May katotohanan ba o kathang-isip lang ang gintong ibinaon diumano ng mga Hapon bago matapos ang World War II? Ngayong Huwebes, muling balikan ang mga tanong ng nakaraan sa pagbubukas ni Kara David sa kaso ng Yamashita Treasure sa Case Unclosed. Kung may pruweba na totoo ang Yamashita Treasure, nahanap daw ni Roger Roxas ang ilang bahagi nito sa Baguio noong 1971. Isang Golden Buddha, ilang piraso ng gold bars at diyamante ang kanyang natagpuan, pero ang yamang nadiskubre rin niya ang maghahatid ng kamalasan sa kanyang buhay. Ilang makapangyarihang tao ang gustong mangamkam nito… pati diumano ang dating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos. Nagsampa ng kaso si Roger Roxas sa Hawaii laban sa dating Pangulong Marcos. Pinagbabayad ng korte ang pamilya Marcos ng milyon-milyong dolyar dahil sa Golden Buddha, pero ni isang kusing daw, wala pang sumasayad sa kamay ng pamilya ni Roger Roxas. Ano na ang nangyari sa Golden Buddha ngayon? Ginto nga ba o natanso lang si Roger Roxas sa kayamanang kanyang nadiskubre? Naniniwala ang treasure hunter na si Pastor Yosores na mahahanap niya ang mailap na Yamashita treasure sa probinsya ng Cebu, at umaasa siyang makukuha niya ang gintong iniwan ng Japanese general dito. Pero sino nga ba si Gen. Yamashita? Kilalanin ang tinaguriang “Tiger of Malaya" at alamin kung bakit siya ang tinuturong nagtago ng ginto sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng Pilipinas. Alamat lang ba o may katotohanan ang Yamashita Treasure? Sa direksyon ni independent filmmaker Tara Illenberger, tatalakayin ni Kara David ang “Case Unclosed: Yaman ni Yamashita" ngayong Huwebes ng hatinggabi, pagkatapos ng Saksi.