PQOG Guerrilla Intel Reports on Batangas Town with Sketch Maps, December 44
The President Quezon’s Own Guerrillas or PQOG was one of the guerrilla organizations operating in southern Luzon, and it had a sizable presence in the Province of Batangas. Included among the files1 of the PQOG’s composite 2nd Regiment is a summary of intelligence reports on the Japanese Army’s military activities, movements and positions in the then-town of Batangas, presently the city of Batangas. The entire summary is transcribed below.
ARF-PQOG
OFFICE OF THE G-2
In the Field
SUMMARY OF INTELLIGENCE REPORTS AS OF
DECEMBER 1, 1944
Sketch Map of Soro-Soro
Sketch Map of Tinga-Labac Area
Sketch Map of Tabangao-Wawa Area
Notes and references:
1 From the files of the Composite 2nd Regiment, I Corps, President Quezon’s Own Guerrillas, online at the United States National Archives.
Also included in this page are guerrilla sketches of what presumably were Japanese positions marked in red in the poblacion of Batangas Town, the vicinity of Sorosoro Hill, the Tinga-Labac area and the Tabanga-Wawa area. A legend is included at the bottom of this page.
Generally, sketch maps created by guerrilla outfits operating in Batangas aimed at pointing out to American military planners the positions of the Japanese Imperial Army insofar as these were concerned: troop quarters/positions; gasoline and supply dumps; military headquarters and buildings; artillery and anti-aircraft guns; general defenses like barbed wire enclosures and foxhole concentrations; and airfields and other hubs or locations of military transport.
 |
| American troops move into Batangas Town in 1945. Image credit: US National Archives. |
Transcription of Intelligence Report on Batangas Town
OFFICE OF THE G-2
In the Field
SUMMARY OF INTELLIGENCE REPORTS AS OF
DECEMBER 1, 1944
Batangas, Batangas
A. Raids – Destruction & Casualties
1. Nov. 14, 1944 – 1:30 p.m.
a. High School, Aplaya, Elementary School, Tinga Labac, Tinga Itaas.
b. Many casualties.
b. Many casualties.
2. Nov. 16, 1944 –
a. 2 transports between Matoco & Verde Islands.
b. Many dead and wounded.
b. Many dead and wounded.
B. Installations
1. Air raid shelters
a. Tunnels at Barrio Kumintang, the Chinese Cemetery, and Barrio Soro-Soro; embankment of the falls near the Tinga Bridge; dugouts under bamboo groves about 50 meters due east of the dormitory of the Provincial Hospital.
2. Ammunition dumps and depots.
a. Old Bilibid in the barrio of Cuta.
b. Building occupied by Jap Navy in barrio Sta. Clara.
c. Tunnel in Tabañgao.
d. Lime bodega 100 meters south of the wireless station.
e. Batangas Elementary School 100 meters from the lime bodega.
f. Red house, 50 meters west of the Roman Catholic Church.
g. Tunnel between Roman Catholic and Chinese Cemeteries west of the wireless station.
h. Alangilan Barrio School, 3 kilometers north of the town along the Manila South Road.
i. Big house, 100 meters NE of the Provincial Capitol.
j. Tinga-Labac and Tinga-Itaas.
k. Caves of the Chinese Cemetery.
l. Hills of Soro-Soro.
b. Building occupied by Jap Navy in barrio Sta. Clara.
c. Tunnel in Tabañgao.
d. Lime bodega 100 meters south of the wireless station.
e. Batangas Elementary School 100 meters from the lime bodega.
f. Red house, 50 meters west of the Roman Catholic Church.
g. Tunnel between Roman Catholic and Chinese Cemeteries west of the wireless station.
h. Alangilan Barrio School, 3 kilometers north of the town along the Manila South Road.
i. Big house, 100 meters NE of the Provincial Capitol.
j. Tinga-Labac and Tinga-Itaas.
k. Caves of the Chinese Cemetery.
l. Hills of Soro-Soro.
C. Troops
1. 500 men at barrio Soro-Soro.
2. 600 men at barrio Tinga-Labac.
3. 1,000 men on the hills of Soro-Soro.
4. Provincial Capitol.
5. 100 men at Alangilan School, 3 kms. North of the town along Manila South Road; houses around the school.
6. Manila Mt. northern side facing Taysan.
7. Malalim, Mahabang Dahilig.
8. Nipa houses (small) in Tabangao and Matoco.
9. 3 big houses, south of road crossing in barrio Gulod.
10. Houses in barrio Bihito, Tinga.
2. 600 men at barrio Tinga-Labac.
3. 1,000 men on the hills of Soro-Soro.
4. Provincial Capitol.
5. 100 men at Alangilan School, 3 kms. North of the town along Manila South Road; houses around the school.
6. Manila Mt. northern side facing Taysan.
7. Malalim, Mahabang Dahilig.
8. Nipa houses (small) in Tabangao and Matoco.
9. 3 big houses, south of road crossing in barrio Gulod.
10. Houses in barrio Bihito, Tinga.
D. Gasoline & other fuels.
1. Tunnel near the Chinese Cemetery.
2. Tinga-Labac and Tinga-Itaas.
3. 2 tunnels east of the wireless station near the Calumpang River ferry.
2. Tinga-Labac and Tinga-Itaas.
3. 2 tunnels east of the wireless station near the Calumpang River ferry.
E. Artillery
1. 35 cannons at Tabangao between Malalim and Mahabang Dahilig.
2. Mango trees east of the Batangas Elementary School. (small)
3. Tinga-Labac and Tinga Itaas.
2. Mango trees east of the Batangas Elementary School. (small)
3. Tinga-Labac and Tinga Itaas.
F. Tanks & Anti-aircraft Guns
1. Tanks on hills of Soro-Soro.
2. AA guns near water tower at Sta. Clara.
2. AA guns near water tower at Sta. Clara.
G. Food and Other Supplies.
1. Malalim, Mahabang Dahilig.
2. Mountains of Soro-Soro.
3. Old Provincial Jail in barrio Cuta.
2. Mountains of Soro-Soro.
3. Old Provincial Jail in barrio Cuta.
H. Telephone & Wireless, etc.
1. Telephone system thru Tinga Itaas, Malalim, Soro-Soro, Pinagbayanan, Bauan, Polo, Mabini.
2. Old wireless station.
3. Q-boats from Matoco and Tabangao arrive at night and leave early in the morning.
2. Old wireless station.
3. Q-boats from Matoco and Tabangao arrive at night and leave early in the morning.
I. Miscellaneous.
1. Many dummy planes on landing field.
2. Old Sabang-Ibaan Road under construction.
3. Food collection campaign by Japs with promise to pay at their own price giving each town a certain quota. Cases of confiscation without pay.
4. Civilians in Libjo required to raise white flag in their houses.
5. Some soldiers in isolated garrisons raise their own poultry and pigs.
6. Japa military commander for Batangas Prov. Staying in the municipal building of Tanauan, Batangas.
2. Old Sabang-Ibaan Road under construction.
3. Food collection campaign by Japs with promise to pay at their own price giving each town a certain quota. Cases of confiscation without pay.
4. Civilians in Libjo required to raise white flag in their houses.
5. Some soldiers in isolated garrisons raise their own poultry and pigs.
6. Japa military commander for Batangas Prov. Staying in the municipal building of Tanauan, Batangas.
Guerrilla Sketch Maps
Sketch Map of Poblacion Batangas Town
 |
| Image credit: Composite 2nd Regiment, I Corps PQOG. |
 |
| Image credit: Composite 2nd Regiment, I Corps PQOG. |
 |
| Image credit: Composite 2nd Regiment, I Corps PQOG. |
Guerrilla Sketch Map Legend
 |
| PQOG Guerrilla Map Legend. |
Notes and references:
1 From the files of the Composite 2nd Regiment, I Corps, President Quezon’s Own Guerrillas, online at the United States National Archives.