The Ibaan Regiment was one of many units of the Fil-American Irregular Troops (FAIT), a large guerrilla group founded by the former US Army officer Hugh Straughn, that was operating in Batangas during the Japanese Occupation. It was commanded by one Sixto Guerra. In this document1 are contained early organization and guidelines for FAIT in the province of Batangas, written by one Luis Luna.
FIL-AMERICAN IRREGULAR TROOPS
COL. HUGH STRAUGHN, USA, [UNREADABLE] COMDR.
SOUTH CENTRAL LUZON
BATANGAS, PHILIPPINES
JULY 1, 1943
TO: ALL SECTOR COMMANDERS: (V, II, III & IV RESTRICTED)
I. MISSION AND AIMS OF THIS ORGANIZATION: (MILITARY ORGANIZATION
1. Before total emergency: THE TRAINING OF ALL UNITS AND HAVE A SUFFICIENT FORCE TO COUNTER BALANCE OR PREVENT TOWN OFFICIALS AND ANYBODY EMPLOYED BY THE JAPANESE MILITARY ADMINISTRATION FROM ABUSING THE PUBLIC.
2. Total Emergency: TO REPORT FOR DUTY TO THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE INCOMING AMERICAN ARMED FORCES.
(NOTE: This may be changed according to situations that may arise.)
II. OBJECTIVES AND ORGANIZATION:
1. One complete INFANTRY BN (U.S. ARMY ORGANIZATION) to be organized in each sector by the respective SECTOR COMMANDER. (Attached is a Table of Organization.)
III. DIVISION OF SECTORS AND SECTOR COMMANDERS:
1. SECTOR NO. I: BAWAN TO MATOCO PT. (COAST), Catalino Gutierrez Comdg.
2. SECTOR # II: BATANGAS, DUMANTAY, TALUMPOK TO M. DAHILIG, Francisco Medrano, Comdg.
3. SECTOR # III: BATANGAS TO SAN JOSE & EAST OF BAWAN, Juan Aguila, Comdg.
4. SECTOR # IV: SAN JOSE TO IBAAN TO ROSARIO, Sixto Guerra, Comdg.
5. SECTOR # V: ROSARIO TO OLD ROSARIO TO SN JUAN, Loreto Abaya, Comdg.
6. SECTOR # VI: TAYSAN TO BILOGO AND DAGATAN, Montano Viril, Comdg.
7. SECTOR # VII: LOBO TO APAR [unsure, blurred] AND COAST, Luis Aguirre, Comdg.
8. SECTOR # VIII: SAN JUAN TO LAIYA [FOLLOWED BY UNREADABLE TEXT]
9. SECTOR # IX: TROADIO MEDALLA, Comdg.
10. SECTOR # X: MALVAR TO TANAUAN, Antonio Robles, Comdg.
11. SECTOR # XI: TALISAY & AREA WEST OF TAAL LAKE
12. SECTOR # XII: BAWAN TO MABINI
IV. ASSEMBLY AREAS (TOTAL EMERGENCY) FOR DIFFERENT SECTORS:
1. SECTOR # I: Vicinity of Bilibid.
2. SECTOR # II: Golod and vicinity.
3. SECTOR # III: East of Batangas Road.
4. SECTOR # IV: South of Ibaan.
5. SECTOR # V: South of Rosario.
6. SECTOR # VI: Taysan.
7. SECTOR # VII: Tayuman
8. SECTOR # VIII: Buhay na Sapa.
9. SECTOR # IX: San Bartolome.
10. SECTOR # X: East of Tanauan to Malvar.
11. SECTOR # XI: BAÑADERO.
12. SECTOR # XII: Vicinity of Mainaga Pier.
(NOTE: Sector HQ before total emergency must be at the above specified places.)
V. COMPOSITION OF ORGANIZATION BEFORE TOTAL EMERGENCY:
1. Active Group: A combat group of 16 to 20 men armed under the Company Commander, utilized to accomplish mission (#I). Emphasize on Messenger Training for the purpose of [unreadable].
2. Passive Group: Help any way they can for the good of the organization and report for training if called.
VI. DUTIES OF DETACHMENT COMMANDERS:
1. Training and Discipline.
2. Police duties – Elimination of Banditry and Robbery.
3. Elimination of undesirables, if possible without any trace. Eliminate persons only after a rigid investigation.
4. Round up all arms and ammunition in his sector.
5. Try to prevent surplus palay from falling into the hands of middlemen and merchants.
6. Enforce sanitation in his sector. Doctors to be assigned.
7, Keep regular contact with the central H. Q.
8. Last but not least – Security of his band. Band must be mobile. Band patrol and guard duty performed for security and training.
VII. REGULATIONS TO BE ENFORCED BY ALL SECTOR COMMANDERS AMONG HIS OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN:
1. No officer or enlisted man would be allowed to loiter around with arms, unless ordered by the Sector Commander in the performance of duty.
2. That enlisted men should not be allowed to carry arms, unless there is a mission to fulfill. In this connection, all arms should be kept in an armory and should be issued by the officers concerned only when necessary.
3. All sector commander shall inspect at least once a week all arms in his custody, and see to it that they are properly cleaned and in good working condition.
4. Sector Commanders shall order meetings of his officers at least twice a month for instructions and spiritual rehabilitation to bolster their morale.
5. Discipline must be strictly enforced among his officers and enlisted men. For this purpose, the following must be observed strictly:
a. Absolute Secrecy: They must not talk, either in public or in private, about the activities of the organization, nor give information as to the identities of their comrades in a [unreadable] or as to the strength of the organization.
b. [unreadable words] their superiors and obey orders implicitly.
c. Officers and enlisted men who are in line of duty should not, under any circumstances, divulge or discuss with anybody the object of their mission.
VIOLATION OF THE ABOVE SET OF RULES SHALL BE PUNISHABLE UNDER MARTIAL LAW.
6. Sector commanders must see to it that their officers and enlisted men receive proper instruction regarding use of arms, particularly on tactical regulations, if possible.
(SGD) LUIS LUNA
2nd in Comd. Batangas Forces
(SGD) JORGE ESPINA
COMDG.
DIST.
File.
All sector commanders.
A TRUE COPY.
Notes and references:
1 “Ibaan Rgt Fil-Amer Batangas Guerrillas FAIT,” File No. 110-6, downloaded from PVAO.
