Japanese invasion of Parang

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During World War II, on April 29, 1942, Japanese forces under Kawaguchi Kiyotake landed at Parang in the Cotabato province as part of their invasion of Mindanao. About 3,000 Japanese troops faced the Philippine Army’s 2nd Regular Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Calixto Duque. The Filipinos fought to delay the landing, holding the beachhead for about six hours, but could not stop the Japanese after Cotabato City fell. Duque withdrew inland toward Lanao while keeping his regiment intact. The Japanese then cleared the Parang–Cotabato highway and moved north toward Malabang and Dansalan, aiming to link with other forces and secure southern Mindanao. Duque’s leadership helped preserve the core of his unit for further fighting as the Mindanao campaign continued until May 20, 1942. This battle marked a key step in Japan’s occupation of southern Mindanao.