Investigatory Report on the 2nd Regiment Nasugbu FAIT

1. On 16 February 1947, Capt C G Fernando and 1^st Lt Leaon J Sonders proceeded to Nasugbu, Batangas and investigated the 2^nd Regt, Nasugbu Fil-Americans under the command of Marcelino Enriquez.

2. ALLEGED HISTORY:

A written statement (See incl#1) signed by Lt Col Joseph M. Pensack, CO, CWS, 11^th Airborne Division was presented by Marcelino Enriquez, when interviewed. This certificate purports to show that the men of the Nasugbu Fil-Americans were used as labor crews in the unloading of the supplies of the 11^th Airborne troops. The men, according to the unit commander, were carried as laborers in the payroll of the American using unit, however, some of the men did not get their pay while others got theirs. The unit commander got his pay but he gave it to a widow of a soldier.

The unit commander could not produce any orders, directives or memorandums issued, or received by the unit. The CO claimed that their records were burned because they were afraid the Japanese might discover their organization. Records presented (See incls # 6 to 16 inclusive) by the unit commander were copies of orders from the Guerrilla Coordinator, Maj Jay Vanderpool, dated January to April 1945. This indicates that adequate records or no records at all were maintained during the period of alleged existence from 1942 to the end of 1944. Moreover, these records presented were identical with those submitted by the Nasugbu Fil-Americans under the commands of

When Miguel David, an organizer of the Nasugbu Fil-Americans, was interviewed, he stated that the Nasugbu Fil-Americans composed of only one regiment and he did not know the existence of a second Nasugbu Fil-American regiment. He also said that Marcelino Enriquez is a medical officer of his unit. Due to [a] lack of medical officers, he said, Marcelino Enriquez was carried as battalion surgeon in the recognized battalion of his regiment with the rank of captain. Miguel David denied that Marcelino Enriquez was or acted as a military adviser to the regiment.

Examination of the unit’s roster and the NFC file of the Nasugbu Fil-Americans showed that the men listed under the command of M. Enriquez and roster of troops of the Nasugbu Fil-Americans under David were identical except for a few which, according to M. David, were recruited by M. Enriquez in 1945 [among] sugar planters in Nasugbu. On 18 December ’45, a battalion roster (See incl #17) was submitted by M. Enriquez for recognition in which he was the Commanding Officer with the rank of Lt. Col. On 27 Jan ’46, M. Enriquez again submitted for recognition a regiment (See incl #4). This time, he assumed command of the regiment with the rank of a full Colonel. This is without authority. The alleged promotion (see incl #5) of 867 men and the increase of personnel clearly indicate that an effort was made to fill up a T/C for a regiment. In the NFC file of the Nasugbu Fil-Americans, M. Enriquez submitted a roster of a company belonging to Blocky Division, Western Batangas Forces, Fil-Americans. He signed himself at that time the Division Adjutant. All these assumed designations of M. Enriquez were all denied by M. David, Col T Magtangoland Col Q. Gellidon. They all testified separately that M. Enriquez was never in command of a battalion or a regiment and there was never a Division in the Nasugbu Fil-American command.

During the period of attachment with the 11^th Airborne, this unit was a labor rather than a combat organization. Alleged participation in the mopping up operations were unsubstantiated by written documents or reliable statements of disinterested persons. According to Col Quintin Gellidon, all the combat forces of the Nasugbu Fil-Americans were accorded recognition by the 6^th Army thru the recommendations of the 11^th Airborne. He further stated that the battalion that was given recognition constituted adequate and just acknowledgement of their activities and participation in the resistance movement and in the liberation.

The denial of M. David, Col T Magtangoland Col Q. Gellidon about the existence of the 2^nd Regt, Nasugbu Fil-Americans and the anomalies in the rosters of M. Enriquez’s command, apparently show that the 2^nd Regt Nasugbu Fil-Americans never had existed or practically a non-existent organization.

f. No useful purpose will be accomplished by further investigation of this unit. No members are worthy of recognition and a casualty roster has been submitted.

This decision on the proposed unit roster does not preclude submission for individual and casualty recognition by those individuals who are qualified and feel justified in entering such claims. Upon request by interested individuals, appropriate forms will be forwarded.