MacArthur had been so unprepared for the fanatical nature of the defense,  he was in anguish. He had become fixated with retaking Manila, and had ordered repeated attempts to be negotiate a peaceable surrender by the device of an Open City.  When these attempts were rebuffed, he became further distraught.  With tactics in the hands of his field commanders, he had little to do, and instead turned his attention to the POW's and Civilian internees.  (Manchester.) Bilibid Prison is the cart-wheel shaped series of buildings (bottom left).