Affidavits in Support of the Highlanders United Guerrillas
The Highland United Guerrillas was guerrilla outfit that operated in the Province of Batangas out of the Municipality of Mataasnakahoy in World War II. It was under the command of one Alfredo Silva. In this page are documents1 submitted by this guerrilla unit in support of its application for official recognition by the United States Army.
[p. 1]
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES S. S.
CITY OF MANILA
I, the undersigned, EXEQUIEL L. KALAW, hereby depose and say after having been duly sworn in accordance with law:
1. That for several months after the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, I had been bringing food, clothing, money, cigarettes, newspapers, and other necessities to four American officers who were stranded in a forest in Malvar, Batangas, and whose names were as follows: Lt. James J. Kraus, Lt. Robert P. Preipart, Lt. Edmond E. Jennings, and Lt. Joe E. Smith.
2. That these articles were from my own self, and from guerrilleros in Manila, and in the province, like the HIGHLANDERS UNITED GUERRILLAS organized in Mataasnakahoy, Batangas.
3. That the aid from the HIGHLANDERS UNITED GUERRILLAS were delivered by me to the four American officers at nighttime to avoid detection by the Japanese.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature this 26th day of February, 1946, at Manila.
[Sgd.] EXEQUIEL L. KALAW
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 26th day of February 1946, at Manila, the affiant exhibiting to me his residence certificate No. A-2228781 issued at Manila on Feb 26/46.
[Sgd.] UBALDO TABING
NOTARY PUBLIC
Until December 31, 1947
Until December 31, 1947
Doc. No. 125
Page No. 27
Book No. I
Series of 1946
[p. 2]
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES S. S.
CITY OF MANILA
I, the undersigned, HERMENEGILDO L. LOPEZ, after first having been duly sworn in accordance with law, hereby depose and say:
1. That I have had contact with the Intelligence Unit of the HIGHLANDERS UNITED GUERRILLAS, organized in Mataasnakahoy, Batangas, under the command of Colonel Alfredo Silva; and from the said unit, I had received military information and secrets, for instance, graphs and maps of the relative positions of enemy airplane hangars, gasoline deposits, and other equipment of the Japanese in the Lipa airfield, which information and secrets were entrusted to me at Pagulingin where my Headquarters were then located, for transmission thru our transmitter, Radio Station CUP.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature this 22nd day of February, 1946, at Manila.
[Sgd.] HERMENEGILDO L. LOPEZ
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 22nd day of February, 1946, at Manila, the affiant exhibiting to me his residence certificate No. A-709148 issued at Manila on Jan. 30, 1946.
[Sgd.] Egmedio T. Pascua
NOTARY PUBLIC
Until December 31, 1946
Until December 31, 1946
Doc. No. 38
Book No. I
Page 73
Series of 1946.
[p. 3]
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES S. S.
CITY OF MANILA
I, the undersigned, PEDRO L. PASIA, after first having been duly sworn in accordance with law, hereby depose and say;
1. That I am a Lieut. Colonel and Commanding Officer of the 5th Bn, 1st Infantry Regiment, Irregular Troops (recognized January 31, 1945) Folsom’s Fil-American Guerrillas under the command of Lt. Colonel Charles W. Folsom of the United States Army;
2. That I know personally that a guerrilla unit was organized in Mataasnakahoy, Batangas, enlisting members from other neighboring municipalities, way back in 1942, with ALFREDO SILVA as Commanding Officer;
3. That during the Japanese occupation, as well as during the hostilities for the liberation of the Philippines in general, and of the province of Batangas, in particular, said unit has shown meritorious activities; many of its men are also known to me, and they had fought side by side with my own men in some encounters with the Japanese in Alitagtag and Cuenca, Batangas, and other places.
4. I also know that after the liberation of Mataasnakahoy and neighboring towns, when Japanese were still stranded in the Macolot Mountain area, the said unit has done well to mop up Japanese snipers coming down to Mataasnakahoy.
In witness thereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature, this 22nd day of February, 1946, in Manila.
[Sgd.] PEDRO L. PASIA
Lt. Col.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 22nd day of February, 1946, in Manila, the affiant exhibiting to me his residence certificate on account of being exempt under the law.
[Sgd.] Egmedio T. Pascua
NOTARY PUBLIC
My commission expires on Dec. 31, 1946
My commission expires on Dec. 31, 1946
Doc. No. 39
Book No. I
Page 73
Series of 1946.
Notes and references:
1 “Highlanders United Guerrillas,” File No. 161, online at the United States National Archives.