Report on the Pioneer Calaca Town Unit, January 1947

22 January 1947

1. Lt. Grant S. Wilcox and M/Sgt Sebastian G. Songsong proceeded to Calaca, Batangas, on 30 September 1946, to investigate the Pioneer Calaca Town Guerrillas, FAIT.

2. ALLEGED HISTORY: (See attached Unit file.)

3. FINDINGS:

The following persons were interviewed and their statements are reflected in the findings:

Col Terry Adevoso - CO, Hunters, ROTC
Col Vicente S. Umali - CO, PQOG
Col Quintin Gellidon - FAIT, Overall Grla Coordinator, 11-AB
Lt Col Edwin P. Ramsey - CO, ECLGA
Lt Col Emmanuel Ocampo - Hunters, ROTC
Maj Ramon Ruffy - Mindoro Guerrillas
Lt Comdr George F. Rowe - SWPA Outpost, Mindoro
1^st Lt Jose de Leon - Ex O of subject unit
1^st Lt Delfin de Leon - Member of subject unit
Sgt Jose S. de Leon - Member of subject unit
Cpl Ricardo Hernandez - Member of subject unit
Cpl Pedro Dimaunahan - Member of subject unit
Pvt Buenaventura Marasigan - Member of subject unit
Pvt Mariano Zata - Member of the subject unit
Pvt Modesto Vidal - Member of the subject unit
Pvt Pio Marcardo - Member of the subject unit
Pvt Segundo Buhay - Member of the subject unit
Pvt Juan Pisigan - Member of the subject unit
Pvt Aquilino Palo - Member of the subject unit
Pvt Ceferino Pilapil - Member of the subject unit
Pvt Julian Vergara - Member of the subject unit
Pvt Antonio Benedicto - Member of the subject unit

b. Record of service was not substantiated by sufficient acceptable evidence. Neither this unit nor the Pioneer Balayan Town Guerrillas, Bahia-Deguito Unit, FAIT, to which this unit claims affiliation, can present any evidence of having ever existed other than on paper.

c. This unit was not maintained satisfactorily in the field in opposition to the enemy. The unit never functioned as a combat unit either before or after the arrival of the Americans. The unit claims to have 30 arms, all homemade. The unit has no certificate of attachment with US Army units.

d. A definite organization was not established by this unit. With few exceptions, all the officers and non-commissioned officers in the unit are members of two families, de Joya and de Leon. The unit never kept rosters or any other records. Although this is a small unit, 117 men, the leaders did

e. Performance of the unit did not indicate adequate control by its commanding officer. The unit engaged only in minor activities, such as telling the local peasants to waste fertilizer and not turn over the proper amount of their cotton crop to Japanese authorities. The unit claims to have engaged to have engaged in covering up some Japanese foxholes and to have cut some barbed wire entanglements; no substantiation to these claims could be found. The leaders admit that the largest number of the unit ever assembled together consisted of the officers and the non-commissioned officers who belong to two families that reside nearly next door to one another.

f. Unit did not show satisfactory continuity of activity and organization. The leaders of the unit admit that they followed the lay-low policy. The Mayor of Calaca, who is a recognized member of the Blue Eagle Command, stated that he knew of the unit, but knew nothing of its activities. Col Adevoso Col Umali, Lt Col Ocampo, and Major Ruffy were questioned as to this unit; each stated that he had never heard of it. Lt Comdr Rowe who supports the Pioneer Balayan Town Guerrillas, Bahia-Deguito Unit, to which this unit claims affiliation, stated that he did not know there was such a unit.

g. No useful purpose will be served by any further investigation ot this unit as there are no worthy members and the unit suffered no casualties. unit.

4. POLITICAL ASPECTS:

This unit does not appear to have any political affiliations nor aspirations.

5. RECOMMENDATIONS:

It is recommended that the Pioneer Calaca Town Guerrillas, FAIT, be not favorably considered for recognition.

[Sgd.] SEBASTIAN G. SONGSONG M/Sgt, Infantry (PA)

[Sgd.] GRANT S. WILCOX 2nd Lt. Infantry

Notes and references: