Organization Report by Kalalo Submitted to the US Army, April 1945 - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore Organization Report by Kalalo Submitted to the US Army, April 1945 - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore

Organization Report by Kalalo Submitted to the US Army, April 1945

Batangas History
30 Dec, 2017

The San Jose Guerrilla Unit was an underground organization that opposed the Japanese in the Province of Batangas in World War II. It was commanded by one Pedro Kalalo and was officially recognized with 60 men as an element of the Philippine Army in the service of the United States Armed Forces during the liberation of the country. In this document1, Kalalo wrote an organization report for submission to one Major Schloth of the US Army’s 11th Airborne Division.

Guerrilla Files

SAN JOSE GUERRILLA UNIT
HEADQUARTERS
San Jose, Batangas

April 9, 1945
SUBJECT
TO 		: Organization Report.
: Major W. Schloth, USTF, 11th Abn., Gue. Coordinator
Hqtrs. In the Field.
1. For the information and guidance of that Headquarters, the following is hereby submitted:
(a) Specific and precise designation of the Unit; Combat Battalion, Hq., San Jose, Batangas.
(b) The strength of the unit to include only those individuals in active duty with the unit – 50 including officers and enlisted men (650 Reserves).
(c) Short history of the Unit;

This unit had its birth right after the fall of Bataan and Corregidor. This guerrilla underground movement, through the cooperation of Col. Juan Chioco, USAFFE, Maj. C. T. Lopez, QMS, USAFFE, Capt. Ernesto D. Rufino, QMS, USAFFE, Assemblyman Maximo M. Kalaw, Dr. Leonardo H. Ona, Dr. Vitaliano Luna, Don Luis Luna and other loyal citizens of San Jose, Batangas, started its active operation against the Japs on Sept. 15, 1944. From that time up to the present, it engaged in minor skirmishes with Japanese soldiers and performed sabotage work, report of which has already been submitted to proper authority. Practically this unit liberated the town of San Jose on March 9, 1945 when I hoisted the American and Philippine flags, transferred my headquarters to the heart of the poblacion.

When the Americans landed at Nasugbu, Batangas, I contacted Major Schommer, Guerrilla Coordinator, and brought to him some intelligence reports. From the 15th of February, in compliance with orders from Major Schommer, this unit daily submitted intelligence reports to the Guerrilla Hq., when the liberation army arrived at San Jose, Batangas on March 21, 1945, the town thru the efforts of this unit was practically free from Japs’ control. It was also active in constabulary work, apprehending thieves, maintaining peace and order in the military sector, San Jose area.

(SGD) P. B. KALALO
Lt-Col. Guerrilla
(2nd Lt. USAFFE)
Commanding Officer

COPY-
PBK/rmr
3Jul45

Notes and references:
1 “San Jose Guerrilla Unit,” File No. 300, online at the United States National Archives.
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