Two Sons

Quiet, greying President Sergio Osmena went back to his liberated homeland with a burden of personal sorrow--war had brought death to three of his eight sons.* Last week, in Washington, he publicly acknowledged an even deeper personal tragedy. Two of his sons are in Manila's Bilibid Prison, charged with collaborating with the Japanese.

Both had been behind bars since the week U.S. troops entered the wrecked capital. Nic, a 42-year-old playboy, who once escorted Actress Anna May Wong to Hollywood nightclubs, had been allowed to live exceedingly well in a Manila penthouse during the Japanese occupation. Sergio Jr., regarded as the most brilliant of the sons, had operated a commercial firm, amassed a small fortune during the wartime months when many other Filipinos starved.

Osmena, whose Government has sworn to weed out men who collaborated with the enemy, made it plain that his sons would be treated "as others suspected of such dealings." He was asked by reporters if he believed his sons were innocent. Sadly, Father Osmena replied, "I do not know."

* Dr. Emilio Osmena served with U.S. forces, was captured and executed by the Japanese. Teodoro Osmena was killed leading a guerrilla band. Jose Osmena sought the surrender of U.S. forces in the Far East, was shot by guerrillas on the island of Negros.

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