He was appointed by President Manuel Quezon to replaced Brigadier General Vicente Lim as Deputy Chief of Staff in 1941 who resigned to choose to command in the field during World War II.

He was released from POW camp in August 1942 after US-Filipino forces surrendered in Bataan.

He served again in the Japanese backed Government but still continued to support guerilla movement.

After his unit reached Bataan, 1st PC Brigade was dissolved and its subordinate units were absorbed by 2nd Infantry Division under Major General Guillermo Francisco, the chief of Philippine Constabulary[2].

General De Jesus College in San Isidro, Nueva Ecija was opened and named after him 1946.