Reading the BBC article and the
abc.net.au interview, I'd say he knew damn well the war was over but didn't want to believe it because he was quite happy living a fairly trouble-free life as a bush bandit.
"Three other soldiers were with him at the end of the war. One emerged from the jungle in 1950 and the other two died, one in a 1972 clash with local troops.
The Philippine government granted him a pardon, although many in Lubang never forgave him for the 30 people he killed during his campaign on the island."
Interesting that the Japanese see his as some sort of hero.