Taguba Has Filipinos Lauding The Rise of Their Native Son

"Fil-Am general: Do what is 'morally right,' " said another.

To hear about a high-ranking Filipino receiving kudos from senior senators was inspiring, people here said. "It's very, very seldom that you hear news about a Filipino American general," said Wilfredo Barillo, 42, a property consultant in Bulacan, a province just north of Manila.

The Taguba relatives voiced concern for their cousin. "We are proud, but he is also in a delicate position," said Lucia, expressing fears that he could face retaliation by people displeased with what he is reporting.

But in Honolulu, Antonio Taguba's second cousin, Lawrence Taguba, 47, expressed only pride. "There's a lot of buzz about it," he said in a telephone interview. "I go to the drugstore and people ask, 'Are you related to Major General Taguba?' It feels a little strange, but it's been all positive."

Tomas Taguba was watching his son on television, his wife Maria said in a brief phone interview from Honolulu. It was early in the morning, Hawaii time. "I felt proud," Maria said.

Lawrence said that his father, Eutiqiano Taguba, who died in 1997, was also a Scout who survived the POW camp and death march and later joined the Army.

For years, neither Eutiqiano nor Tomas received recognition for their sacrifices, Lawrence said. But Antonio gathered the documentation necessary so that in 1999, the Army awarded both men the Bronze Star and Prisoner of War Medal.

"When he first started testifying, he mentioned following his conscience," Lawrence Taguba said. "He did his family proud. He did his uniform proud, even under the horrible circumstances. He came through."

Staff researcher Robert E. Thomason in Washington contributed to this report.