Japanese Occupation of the Philippines Part of the Pacific theater of World War II A Japanese soldier standing in front of an American propaganda poster during the occupation of the Philippines in 1943. Date 8 May 1942 -- 5 July 1945 Location Philippines Result 1941 -- 42: Japanese victory (show) Imperial Japan invades the Philippines (1941 -- 1942) and establishes pro-Japan Council of State (1942 -- 1943) Philippine Commonwealth government forced into exile (1942 -- 1945) General Headquarters of the Philippine Commonwealth Army stationed and moved in the province (1942 - 1945) Japanese puppet state Second Philippine Republic established (1943 -- 1945) Bureau of Constabulary and Makapili established by the Japanese Occupation and Second Republic (1942 - 1945) 1944 -- 1945: Allied victory (show) Allied forces liberate the Philippines (1944 -- 1945) Philippine Constabulary re-established under the Commonwealth regime (1944 - 1945) Second Republic is dissolved (1945) and Commonwealth returns (1945 -- 1946) The Philippines become independent from the United States (1946) Belligerents United States Commonwealth of the Philippines Hukbalahap Unaffiliated Moro Muslim insurgents Japan Second Philippine Republic Commanders and leaders GA Douglas MacArthur (26 July 1941 -- 30 June 1946) Pres. Manuel L. Quezon † (15 Nov. 1935 -- 1 Aug. 1944) Pres. Sergio Osmeña (1 Aug. 1944 -- 28 May 1946) Maj Gen. Basilio J. Valdez (1 Jan. 1939 -- 7 Nov. 1945) Chairman Luis Taruc Moro leaders (show) Datu Gumbay Piang Salipada Pendatun Sultan of Sulu Jainal Abirin Sultan of Ramain Alonto Datu Pino Datu Busran Kalaw Amer Manalao Mindalano Sultan Mohamad Ali Dimaporo Datu Lacub Datu Dimalaung Lt Gen. Masaharu Homma (3 Jan. 1942 -- 8 June 1942) Gen. Shizuichi Tanaka (8 June 1942 -- 28 May 1943) Gen. Shigenori Kuroda (28 May 1943 -- 26 Sept. 1944) Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita (26 Sept. 1944 -- 2 Sept. 1945) Pres. José P. Laurel (14 Oct. 1943 -- 17 Aug. 1945) Units involved Armed Forces Philippines (show) Philippine Commonwealth Army Philippine Constabulary (from 1944) Philippine Army Air Corps (from 1945) United States (show) United States Army United States Marine Corps United States Navy United States Army Air Force Resistance and Irregular Forces (show) Hunters ROTC Markings Filipino - American Guerrillas Other local recognized guerrilla units Hukbalahap fighters Moro Juramentados Imperial Japan (show) Imperial Japanese Army Imperial Japanese Navy Makapili Second Philippine Republic Bureau of Constabulary (until 1944)
when did the japanese surrender in the philippines
5 July 1945