Report on the Batangas Guerrilla Headquarters

1. Between the period of 15 August – 23 August 1947, Lt Raul Diaz de Rivera investigated the records and other pertinent papers of Mr. Quintin Gellidon, recognized as a colonel with the Batangas Guerrilla Headquarters on 31 January 1945, and contacted former guerrilla leaders to determine whether or not Mr. Quintin Gellidon should be granted a revision of his present recognition date.

2. HISTORY: (See inclosure No. 1).

3. FINDINGS:

a. The following named persons were contacted and their statements are reflected in the findings:

Mr. Justiniano Estrella, CO, III AC FAIT
Mr. Eleuterio Adevoso, CO, Hunters Guerrillas
Lt. Jaime Manzano, AUS.

b. The 201 file of Mr. Quintin Gellidon was consulted and the information contained therein reflected in the findings.

c. Claims and Discussions:

(1) Mr. Quintin Gellidon claims the following units as falling under the overall command of the Batangas Guerrilla Headquarters: (See inclosure 2)

(a) Straughn Division, FAIT (FC’d Rev 15 Jul 46)
(b) Erni Regiment (NFC’d Rev 14 Jun 47)
(c) Nasugbu Fil-Americans
(d) Beredo Co, Batangas Town Unit, FAIT
(e) Guerra Co, Batangas Guerrillas, Ibaan Regt
(f) Rosario Unit, Luansing Batangas Fil-Americans
(g) Indang Hospital
(h) Gagalac Unit
(i) Licopa Unit
(j) Golden Bn
(k) Lipa Guerrilla Hq Combat Teams, Rillo-Neri
(l) 1^st Prov Bn, Straughn FAIT
(m) Co E 1^st Inf, McKinley Brigade, FAIT

None of the abovementioned recognized units can be considered as part of the overall command of the Batangas Guerrilla Headquarters under Mr. Gellidon. The Batangas Guerrilla Headquarters was organized by Major Jay D. Vanderpool as his headquarters for all guerrilla units attached to the 11^th AIRBORNE DIVISION during the Mike Six operation. Mr. Gellidon was designated as Executive Officer

Although it appears that Mr. Gellidon could possibly have commanded the above units, evidence of witnesses clearly points to the fact that Mr. Gellidon had these units only for coordination purposes during the liberation. Mr. Adevoso, CO of the Hunters ROTC Guerrillas, and one time Chief of Staff of Maj J D Vanderpool, states that Mr. Gellidon was Maj Vanderpool’s “good man Friday.” The fact is that the Batangas Guerrilla Headquarters was non-existent prior to the liberation and, therefore, Mr. Gellidon’s claim to the command of these units is without foundation.

(2) Mr. Gellidon claims to be one of the FAIT organizers with Col Hugh Straughn in the early part of 1942 and was responsible for the early expansion of the Fil-Americans.

The undersigned does not question Mr. Gellidon’s claim as an organizer of the Fil-Americans under Col Straughn, but would clarify certain points in Mr. Gellidon’s guerrilla activities not listed in his history:

Mr. Gellidon joined Col Straughn in Barrio Malaya, Pililla, Rizal on 9 April 1942, and was subsequently assigned as Special Liaison Officer and Intelligence operative in Manila.

Mr. Justiniano Estrella, CO, III Army Corps, MFA, and formerly with Col Straughn’s headquarters in 1942 states that Mr. Gellidon was assigned such because of his constant harping on the “old man” for such an assignment so that Mr. Gellidon could go to Manila. Mr. Gellidon’s reason was that he had a family to support and that he found it difficult to stay in the mountains, coupled with insufficiency of food.

(3) In Mr. Gellidon’s chronological list of guerrilla activities, he claims that he was sent to cover the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Cavite and Rizal with the end in view of consolidating all guerrilla units in the area under an American officer.

Mr. Gellidon stayed in Manila in most of the time and in mid 1943 joined a Japanese firm engaged in building bridges in Bulacan province. Mr. Estrella further stated that Col Straughn lost confidence in Gellidon, after Gellidon took this job. It was on this job that Gellidon was arrested by the Kempetai and incarcerated for the period 8 August 1943 to 25 August 1944.

(4) After Mr. Gellidon’s escape from the Muntinglupa Prison, he rejoined Marking and was appointed Chief Liaison Officer of the Marking’s Fil-Americans. In October 1944, Gellidon contact Maj Anderson in Infanta and escorted Joseph Ickard, an escaped American prisoner, to the submarine “Nautilius.”

d. Futher discussions:

(1) Mr. Gellidon, after his escape from prison, has been active in carrying out important missions culminating on 17 November 1944 when Capt George Miller, Liaison Officer, GHQ, SWPA with Marking’s Headquarters instructed Mr. Gellidon to contact and assist Maj Jay D Vanderpool in the coordination of guerrilla activities in Cavite, Western Laguna and Batangas.

(2) It was thru Mr. Gellidon’s efforts that a workable organization out of many guerrilla factions has been formed. Mr. Gellidon further estalished liaison between different guerrilla organizations, with unusual tact and diplomacy, which led to the coordinated action during the liberation, of all these warring guerrillas.

(3) Under instructions from Maj Vanderpool, Mr. Gellidon established and maintained the inter guerrilla courier system in Cavite, Batangas and extending up to the Sierra Madre in Rizal Province in December 1944.

(4) It is clearly established that, although Mr. Gellidon did not have any command function during the occupation, since he was a liaison officer, he, during the months prior to and after the liberation, was responsible for the establishment of a guerrilla headquarters which facilitated the success of the operations in Batangas and Cavite provinces during the liberation.

4. POLITICAL ASPECTS: Mr. Gellidon on 16 March 1945 requested for appointment as Director of the Bureau of Forestry under the Osmeña administration. (See inclosure 3)

5. RECOMMENDATIONS: It is recommended that Mr. Quintin Gellidon’s present recognition date be revised to 1 September 1944 in his recognized rank (Colonel). Mr. Gellidon was recognized on 31 January 1945 with the Batangas Guerrilla Headquarters. This recommendation covers only Mr. Gellidon and does not take into consideration the other members of the Batangas Guerrilla Headquarters.

[Sgd.] RAUL DIAZ DE RIVERA

Notes and references: