On April 16, 1942, the Japanese occupied the city of Iloilo, and with that began a period fear. Due to the fact that Bishop McCloskey was sick and hospitalized in Manila, the Rector, after having obtained permission from the Japanese, took the ten ordinands to Bacolod for their priestly ordination on June 29. From that date the Seminary was, more than anything else, a center of refugees. Life in it was a dread because of the many incursions made by the Japanese soldiers. To avoid dangerous situations, Fr. Auzmendi authorized the Fathers to disperse to safer places. Accordingly, the Fathers Victorino Gonzalez, Jacinto Iroz, and Pedro Pampliega made their residence at the Asilo de Molo, Colegio de San Jose and Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus respectively. They served as Chaplains in these institutions. Of the nine who decided to stay in the Seminary, they died soon as a result of tension and fear. The first victim was Fr. Lucio Ortega, he died on April 12, 1942. He had been associated with the Seminary since 1935. Beside his Seminary work, he gave a tremendous attention to the Apostleship of Prayer and to the catechetic of the Diocese. He was called "the Master of Ceremonies." Next to fall was Fr. Luis Egeda, professor since 1942. He was humble, jolly and very learned; qualities, which made him win a lot of friends. He died in Manila in 1945, a victim of the Japanese bayonet. The third victim was Fr. Auzmendi, Rector. He had been in Jaro as Rector since 1932. He died on November 16, 1942.