Communications Between Simeon Maitim of the Sto. Tomas Unit and the US Army
The Santo Tomas Guerrilla Unit was an outfit formed and operated out of northern Batangas, with its headquarters located on a hill in Mount Makiling near the town of Santo Tomas. The outfit was commanded by one former Captain in the USAFFE named Lorenzo Talatala and would later become affiliated with the President Quezon’s Own Guerrillas (PQOG), one of the large guerrilla organizations operating in Luzon. In this page1 are communications between one Simeon Maitim, purported member of the Santo Tomas Guerrilla Unit, and the United States Army on the subject of the unit’s request for the revision of its recognition dates.
[p. 1]
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
PHILIPPINE CHARITY SWEEPSTAKES OFFICE
MANILA
The Commanding Officer
Guerrilla Affairs Division
G-3, PHILRYCOM
APO 707
S i r :
The undersigned is a member of the SANTO TOMAS UNIT (PQOG) guerrillas, with the rank of captain, under the command of Lieut Colonel LORENZO N. TALATALA, recognized by the U. S. Army, 1 March 1945.
I have the honor to request information as to the status of the above unit with regards to claims in arrears in pay.
Thanking you in anticipation of giving this request your preferential attention, I am
[p. 2]
HEADQUARTERS
PHILIPPINES-RYUKYUS COMMAND
| GSCPU 091 PI |
APO 707 13 APR 1948 |
Mr. Simeon G. Maitim
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office
Manila, Philippines
Dear Mr. Maitim:
This will acknowledge receipt of your letter, dated 30 March 1948, requesting information concerning the revision of dates of the Santo Tomas Unit, President Quezon’s Own Guerrillas.
Pursuant to the policy of this headquarters to review the records of all recognized guerrilla units for possible revision of recognition dates, the records of the Santo Tomas Unit, President Quezon’s Own Guerrillas, was restudied. A thorough and detailed examination of all supporting papers submitted by the organization and an exhaustive study of the history of the organization, together with a careful analysis of all other available information of the military activities of the organization from its inception, scrutinized in relation to the overall resistance movement, failed to reveal any material which could justify the establishment of dates of recognition other than those presently published. As a result, the Santo Tomas Unit, President Quezon’s Own Guerrillas, was not favorably considered for revision of recognition dates on 29 August 1947. A letter to this effect was sent to Captain Lorenzo N. Talatala, Headquarters, Military Police Command, Army of the Philippines, BBB Manila North Road, Polo, Bulacan, Philippines, which constituted the final determination of and action upon the claim for recognition of the Santo Tomas Unit President Quezon’s Own Guerrillas.
Capt. AGD
Asst Adj Gen
Lt Col Wallace M Hanes:
1st Lt George E. Kemper