Report on the Peaceful Surrender of Japanese Soldiers in Maculot, September 1945

The Fil-American Irregular Troops (FAIT) was a large guerrilla organization formed by the retired American officer Hugh Straughn. It had many units operating around Luzon, including Batangas. Among this was the Maculot Battalion which operated in the town of Cuenca, Batangas. The unit was among those that were officially recognized as elements of the Philippine Army in the service of the Armed Forces of the United States in the Western Pacific during World War II. In this document¹, Col. Pedro Pasia of the Maculot Battalion reported to one Captain Lawrence of G-2, Base “R” the peaceful surrender of Japanese stragglers in the Mt. Maculot area in September of 1945.

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1. On September 5, 1945, the Mayor of Cuenca wrote a letter to the Hon., the Provincial Governor of Batangas requesting for his intervention towards effecting the peaceful surrender of Japanese soldiers in Mt. Macolot. Our office had been furnished a copy of this letter. On Sept. 6, 1945, the Governor wrote a letter to the Commanding Officer, 11^th Airborne Division, APO 468, regarding the matter. The Mayor of Cuenca brought the letters to the Headquarters of XIV Corps, Mataasnakahoy. Said letters were transmitted to the Commanding General in Manila.

2. On September 12, 1945, a group of soldiers from the 38^th Division came to Cuenca and had a conference with the mayor. The mayor led the group to Dita, Cuenca, and there, the Commanding Officer, who is a 1^st Lieutenant, told the mayor that, in a few days, they would let loose two Japanese prisoners in the Mt. Macolot to invite the Jap remnants to surrender. In the morning of September 15, 1945, a Japanese Navy Captain, with a private, were sent to the mountain. The surrender was effected on September 19, 1945, at about 10:00 a.m.

3. A total of two hundred forty-two (242) Japanese had surrendered. The booty consisted of: 2 heavy machine guns; 4 light machine guns; 4 knee mortars; 126 rifles; and 26 pistols. This booty included 32 swords or sabers.

4. On September 19 (afternoon after the surrender) & 20, 1945, soldiers of my outfit were sent to the mountain. My men reported that the Japanese burned all their personal belongings such as flags, blankets and clothing. They found women’s dresses, female hairs sticking to the ground. These hairs give mute evidence of their taking along with them women but apparently were later killed. An artillery piece, probably 75 mm. or 81 mm. was left on the top of the mountain.

5. On the night of September 19, 1945, gun reports were heard from the mountains. Evidently, a few Japanese are still left in the mountain, they not having been notified by their comrades who had surrendered in view of the limited time and the continuous rain in those days.

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6. Authority is hereby requested for permission to letting the civilians constituting almost 75% of the population of this town to enter the Mt. Macolot area. Many of these civilians have their permanent homes on the slopes of said mountain.

7. The surrender of the Japanese in this municipality gave relief to the people because only then, this town could be said to have been liberated.

COPIES FURNISHED:

The Honorable
The Provincial Governor
Batangas, Batangas

The Municipal Mayor of Cuenca

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1^st Ind.
HEADQUARTERS BASE R, Office of the S-2, APO 73

TO: Col. Pedro Pasia, Commanding, Fil-American Guerrillas, Batangas District, Macolot Regiment

A TRUE COPY:

[Sgd.] PEDRO PASIA
Lt. Colonel
ASN-0-48337