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| Location Lat 13° 10′ 13″ N Long 123° 39′ 55″ E The Quituinan Hills (Cituinan Hills) are a hill mass are located in in Albay Province in the Bicol Region (Region V) of Luzon in the Philippines. Also spelled Kitwinan. During World War II, the U.S. Army referred to this location as the Cituinan Hills or Cituinan Hill Mass. To the northwest is Camalig and to the north is Mount Mayon (Mayon Volcano) to the east is Malabog. Wartime History The jungle covered Cituinan Hills had a commanding view of the entire area including Legaspi. In anticipation of an attack, the Japanese created a second line of defenses in the Cituinan Hills defended by a the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) 35th Naval Guard Unit. The Cituinan Hills were beyond the range naval bombardment from warships in Albay Gulf. The Japanese dug multiple tunnel shafts into the hillside. On April 1, 1945 the U.S. Army 158th Regimental Combat Team (158th RCT) landed in Legaspi and advanced to Daraga. After a week defending the Daraga area, the Japanese in the Quituinan Hills prepared for the arrival of the Americans. On April 11, 1945 in the afternoon, one column of RCT 158 marched into Camalig which was undefended but commanding Brigadier General Hanford MacNider felt the Cituinan Hills must be neutralized before advancing beyond Camalig and orders the 1st Battalion and 3d Battalion to assault the hill mass from Camalig to the north and Tagaytay to the south. On April 12, 1945 the 1st Battalion and 3d Battalion from 158th RCT begin a two-pronged assault against the Cituinan Hills but encountered difficult terrain, thick jungle vegetation and stubborn Japanese defenses. For the next week, progress was painfully slow as they assaulted from the north and south and nightly were harassed by the Japanese. On April 18, 1945 the two battalions are roughly 2,000 yards apart but unable to break the Japanese defenses. That same day, the 2nd Battalion that moves into position near Malabog and prepares to attack from the east. On April 19, 1945 the entire 158th RCT attacks the Cituinan Hills from three directions and for the next week, progresses slowly but methodically with aid of aircraft and artillery. On April 22, 1945 attacks to clear the hills continue slowly. On April 27, 1945 the 1st Battalion and 3d Battalion make contact on main ridge of Cituinan Hill. On April 28, 1945 Japanese resistance in the Cituinan Hill mass collapses ending the battle. On April 29, 1945 the 158th leaves the 3d Battalion to mop up stragglers in area then advances northward. In total, the 158th RCT suffered 40 killed and 235 wounded. The Japanese lost approximately 700 dead defending the area. The siege of the Cituinan Hills was the last large scale Japanese defensive position on the Bicol Peninsula. Japanese Tunnels In January 2024, the Camalig Municipal Tourism & Cultural Heritage Office conducted an extensive mapping of the Japanese tunnels that were known to exist on private land and undertook repairs to open the tunnel entrances. To facilitate tourism, Camalig built pathways and conducted a test of tunnel tours for visitors. At the location, a visitor center was built with a historical gallery and display with artifacts found in the hills and tunnels. The display inclides fragments of a 1,000 pound bomb found in Camalig and safely detonated in 2026 are displayed at the gallery. The Japanese Tunnels are open to the public and free of charge for visitors. References U.S.Army in World War II Triumph in the Philippines Chapter XXIII Securing the Visayan Passages pages 442 Facebook "Camalig’s world war II Japanese tunnels to welcome tourists following extensive restoration" January 6, 2024 (photos) Facebook "PH WWII Memorial Foundation, LGU-Camalig partner to establish 'Siege of Quituinan' historical gallery" October 3, 2026 (photos) Thanks to Camalig Municipal Tourism & Cultural Heritage Office Mr. Jed Villanueva and Philippine World War II Memorial Foundation (PhilWar) Contribute Information Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated October 11, 2026 |
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