Letter of Emilio Macabuag to Lt. Col. Stuart Palos, June 1947
The Major Phillips Unit was a guerrilla unit that was founded and operated in or around western Batangas town of Calatagan. It was commanded by one Emilio Macabuag and took its name from a United States Army intelligence officer from whom the guerrilla outfit took directions until the latter was caught and killed by the Japanese. In this June 1947 document1, Major Phillips Unit Commanding Officer Emilio Macabuag wrote to Lt. Col. Stuart Palos of the Philippines-Ryukyus Command to send certifications and other documents in aid of the guerrilla outfit’s search for official recognition by the United States Army.
[p. 1]
30 June 1947
Lt. Col. Stuart J. Palos
G-3, Guerrilla Affairs Section
Philippines-Ryukyus Command
S i r :
I enclose herewith a certification given by Major Ramon Ruffy, formerly Island Commander of Mindoro during the resistance movement. This is to support the claim of [the] Major Phillips Unit.
I sent also a certified copy of the certification of M/Sgt. Benjamin Harder, one of the operators of the radio station at Cape Santiago, Calatagan, Batangas, and an operative of the AIB under the late Major Philips. The original of this certification was written in long hand and was attached to a roster submitted through the Secretary of National Defense under the Osmeña administration. That roster could no longer be found. I included his picture and a letter addressed to me which I believe will at least help establish my claim.
By way of check up, I would like to remind your honor that I had submitted in support of my claim the following communications:
Certification by Lt. Commander George F. Rowe
Affidavit by Col. Mariano H. Cabarrubia
Certification by Major Ruffy
Certified copy of Sgt. Harder’s certification, a letter and picture.
Commanding Officer
Major Phillips Unit