Letter from Sixto Guerra Requesting for Reconsideration, March 1947
The Ibaan Regiment was one of many units of the Fil-American Irregular Troops, 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 March 1947 document document1 Guerra wrote to the Commanding General of the Philippines-Ryukyus Command, through channels, requesting for reconsideration of an earlier non-favorable decision on the unit’s request for recognition.
March 31, 1947
The Commanding General,
Philippines-Ryukyus Command,
APO 707,
S i r:-
I have the honor to request for reconsideration of our case in view of newly discovered evidence material to our claim for recognition.
For your information and reference, this claim is sought in behalf of the 400 members of the “Fil-American Irregular Troops, Ibaan Regt,” whose names were not included in the original and supplementary rosters. By and large, these men were the nucleus of the resistance movement here in Ibaan, Batangas. In March, 1945, the several units at the barrios of Sabang, Talaibon Tulay, Calamias, Pangao, Matala, San Agustin, Munting-tubig, and Lucsuhin, all within the territorial jurisdiction of Ibaan, Batangas were recruited, mobilized, and trained for guerrilla warfare under the late Cols. Hugh Straughn and Jorge D. Espina. Like any other unit, they fought and suffered, but unlike others, they paid a high premium with the loss of more than 30 of its members, bore the brunt of Japanese cruelty and barbarism, and lost almost all their homes. In fine [time?], they had served continuously, courageously, and honorably until the liberation of this town by the USA Armed Forces and had done no less than what the other units did. But what is poignant and bitter is that these men were not included in the original and supplementary rosters simply because proofs of their guerrilla papers were unavailable at that time.
It was only recently or, to be precise, on February 15, 1947, when the enclosed original organization chart was discovered by Mr. Graciano Espina at Tinga, Batangas, Batangas. (Refer to the Affidavit of Mr. Espina setting forth the circumstances surrounding the discovery of this chart which is also annexed. See affidavits of Mr. Loreto Abaya and mine regarding the authenticity of the document which are also appended hereto.)
Foregoing premises considered and in view of this newly discovered evidence material to our claim which was not found and produced at the time the rosters were submitted, even with the exercise of reasonable diligence, we earnestly plead for a reconsideration of our cause and if found upon examination of all the evidence adduced that it is deserving merit, to be appraised of the legal formalities towards its early recognition.
ASN-042030