Makapili was a militant group formed in the Philippines

Philippines

The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

 during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 to give military aid to Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. Organised by Benigno Ramos

Benigno Ramos

Benigno Ramos was an advocate for the independence of the Philippines from the United States who collaborated with Japan.Educated in Bulacan, he went to work there as a teacher. Later, whilst based in Manila, he entered the civil service and by 1928 had risen to a high position with the Senate Staff...

 and Artemio Ricarte

Artemio Ricarte

Artemio Ricarte y Garcia was a Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War. He is considered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines as the "Father of the Philippine Army"...

, they were born out of José P. Laurel

Jose P. Laurel

José Paciano Laurel y García was the president of the Republic of the Philippines, a Japanese-sponsored administration during World War II, from 1943 to 1945...

's refusal to conscript Filipinos for Japan. The Japanese decreed that the group should be founded in November 1944 when they brought together many of the supporters of the defunct Ganap Party

Ganap Party

The Ganap Party was a Filipino political party that grew from the Sakdalista movement. Benigno Ramos, who served as its leader, was also the founder of the Sakdalista movement...

. Like Ganap its main area of support was Metro Manila

Metro Manila

Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...

, although Makapili established chapters across the islands, attracting some support. Makapili members are best remembered by turning in Filipinos to the Japanese through pointing at insurgents with their heads covered with a bayong (Filipino basket).

After the war the group was vilified for its involvement in some Japanese outrages on the islands and individual members faced trials for treason

Treason

In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...

 as a result.

A 1951 film of the same name was made starring Justina David

Justina David

Justina David, sometimes credited as Justiniana David, was a mid 20th century Filipino film actress, often appearing as a martyred wife, a peasant, or a hopeless mother...

.