[TRANSCRIPTION]
The Hunters-ROTC was one of the large guerrilla organizations that operated in southern Luzon during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines on to the liberation period. It had many units operating in the area, including the Province of Batangas. A composite roster submitted by the overall command of the Hunters-ROTC was recognized by the United States Army as elements of the Philippine Army in the service of the Armed Forces of the United States during the liberation period. In this page is a transcription1 of field orders issued by Hunters-ROTC Guerrillas Commanding Officer Eleuterio Adevoso, a.k.a. Terry Magtangol, to all units of his command.
UNITED STATES PHILIPPINE ISLANDS FORCES
THE HUNTERS or ROTC GUERRILLAS
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS
11 January 1945
FIELD ORDERS No. 5
MAPS: Use detailed maps of towns.
1. The Allied forces have landed in Northern Luzon. Anytime now, they may land on our sector.
2. This organization and all affiliated guerrilla units in the provinces of RIZAL, BATANGAS, LAGUNA, CAVITE, TAYABAS, and MANILA will be in readiness to assist the Allied landing forces when they arrive within the territorial boundaries as shown in the maps.
3. (1) (a) Intensify its combat intelligence work more. It shall speed transmission of intelligence reports.
(b) It shall render daily reports on targets it cannot handle, and on damage and destruction made on enemy targets so that the enemy cannot use them again.
(2) Employ combat and sabotage troops to:
(a) Harass the enemy as they withdraw from the towns.
(b) Sabotage enemy military installations.
(c) Destroy small enemy detachments which it can destroy.
(d) Capture enemy material, stores and supplies, if the enemy abandons them. Any captured enemy materials and supplies shall be guarded.
(e) Turn over captured materials, stores and supplies to the Allied Counter-Intelligence units as they arrive.
(f) Guide Allied forces to enemy positions within their sector if requested to do so.
(g) Commandeer all means of transportation in hands of civilians which might fall into Japanese hands. These vehicles will be kept and protected, to be returned to their owners when so ordered. In case commandeered vehicles are in danger of being forcibly taken by the enemy, they may be destroyed.
(3) Employ town unit to:
(a) Take over the towns as soon as the enemy withdraws. In case the Town Mayor is decidedly pro-American, he shall be made to continue in office under the supervision of the Town Commander. If the Mayor is decidedly a traitor to the cause, the Town Commander will assume the position of Mayor.
(b) Run the Town Government for the specific purpose of protecting civilian lives and properties. Whenever necessary for their protection, civilians may be evacuated to points of safety.
(c) Turn over the Town Government to the Allied Counter-Intelligence units as soon as they arrive in the town.
(d) Guide the Allied Forces to the next destinations, if so requested by the Allied Commander in the town.
(e) Have all physicians and nurses ready to assist in the protection of civilians and the treatment of the wounded.
All units will:
(1) Act only within their zone of action so as to avoid overlapping of operations and confusion within the ranks. (Note carefully your zone of action.)
(2) Avoid heavy Japanese troop concentrations. Civilians will be made to avoid them, too, as the civilians may be mistaken by Allied forces for Japanese or Japanese screen.
(3) In taking over Town Governments, avoid harming any person. If anyone is harmed, proper reports of the incident shall be made to this Headquarters.
(4) Adm. Order (omitted).
(5) Aixs of signal communication: As usual.
TERRY MAGTANGOL
Colonel, Inf. Guer.
Notes and references:
1 “C & G Co, 2
nd Bn, 49
th Regt, 47
th Div, Hunters-ROTC,” file number 307-41, online at the United States National Archives.
