Sogod, Southern Leyte
The name of the municipality originated from the Cebuano word, "sogod", meaning ""to start."" Founded as a Catholic mission station by the Society of Jesus in 1601, Sogod became a regular municipality on June 10, 1853.
Sogod, Southern Leyte
Due to their persuasion, Labata fully cooperated with the Japanese and performed his duties to their favor to pacify the townspeople. After the war, Central Intelligence Command (CIC) investigations pointed out in their interview with Geronimo Ruiz, a municipal councilor of Sogod, that Labata was indeed a rascal who only finished third or fourth grade education. Being an unschooled man, he was seen to be an abusive official even during the time when he was appointed as chief of police but was eventually discharged due to bribery. Example of his evildoing during the Japanese occupation was the assassination of Mayor Mercado who made contact with the guerillas. CIC documents stated that Labata killed the mayor by the order of the Japanese in Sogod. Labata gained again the post of mayor but he had numerous enemies in Sogod who attempted to kill him due to his cruelty such as ordering the public execution of Volunteer Guards in June 1944. He also confiscated the fishes of residents and sold these to the Japanese so that they will not be able to aid the guerillas.