US Army's Reply to Talatala's Request for Reconsideration on Recognition Dates, January 1948
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 document1, R. E. Cantrell of the United States Army’s Philippines-Ryukyus Command replied to Talatala’s request for reconsideration of the US Army’s decision on his unit’s recognition dates.
HEADQUARTERS
PHILIPPINES-RYUKYUS COMMAND
OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL
| GSCPU 091 PI / 123 |
APO 707 29 JAN 1948 |
Captain Lorenzo N. Talatala
Headquarters, MPC AFP
BBB Manila North Road
Dear Captain Talatala:
This will acknowledge receipt of your letter, dated 2 December 1947, requesting reconsideration of the unfavorable decision rendered by this headquarters on 29 August 1947 with regard to the revision of the recognition dates of the Santo Tomas Unit, President Quezon’s Own Guerrillas.
It is desired to inform you that pursuant to a similar request for reconsideration made by Mr. Prisciliano Modelo on 1 October 1947, this headquarters re-examined all the supporting papers submitted by your unit and reviewed its history. This study, encompassing a careful examination of additional evidence submitted to this headquarters by Mr. Pablo T. Mendoza in his letter of 12 October 1947, failed to reveal any material which would warrant modification of the unfavorable decision of 29 August 1947.
Inasmuch as it is considered that the Santo Tomas Unit, PQOG, has received all the consideration that is warranted with regard to the revision of recognition dates, no further consideration being justified, it is necessary to inform you that our letter of 29 August 1947 constitutes the final determination of an action upon the period of official recognition of the unit.
CAPT, AGD
Asst Adj Gen
Lt Col Wallace M. Hanes:
1st Lt George E Kemper