In the 1950s, the Philippines were a primary asset to the U.S. during the Cold War, and with a growing communist influence spreading through out the country, the CIA sent one of their most effective officers to stop it: Edward Lansdale
Lansdale was an expert in psychological warfare and believed that the best psychological warfare methods must be based on the socio-cultural beliefs of the chosen target.
When he learned that the local communist fighters were superstitious and believed in a shapeshifting vampire known as the "asuang," he came up with a plan.
First, he had friendly locals spread a rumor that an asuang was living in the hills. Then, the Americans and their allies set up an ambush in the hills, waited for the last man in a patrol to pass them, and abducted him. They poked two holes in his neck, hung him upside down, drained him of his blood, and put his body back on the trail.
The very next day, the frightened rebels fled their hilltop position, losing one of their greatest advantages.
In May 1954, the rest of the rebels surrendered and the rebellion was over, and Edward Lansdale is largely credited with putting an end to it.
Later on, he went on to run clandestine operations in Vietnam, Laos and Cuba.
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