MacArthur had ordered  the 1st Cavalry to seize three objectives: Santo Tomás University, where U.S. and Allied internees were held by the Japanese; Malacanan Palace, the presidential residence; and the Legislative Building.  The division’s flying columns moved easily to capture the first two of these, but heavy Japanese resistance kept it from reaching the Legislative Building which lay south of the Pasig River. The Japanese set up strong points throughout it, and it was not until 28 February that the 148th Infantry secured it after two days of fighting.