Commander’s Report on Strength and Composition of Hunters-ROTC, Dec 44 - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore Commander’s Report on Strength and Composition of Hunters-ROTC, Dec 44 - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore

Commander’s Report on Strength and Composition of Hunters-ROTC, Dec 44

Batangas History
6 Jan, 2018

The Hunters/ROTC was a guerrilla group formed in 1942. Initially operating in Rizal Province, the group would also have a sizable presence in Batangas and would be instrumental in providing intelligence to the United States forces leading to the assault landing at Nasugbu on 31 January 1945.

More information about the group is available in this article → “Operations of the Hunters/ROTC Guerillas in Batangas Prior to the 1945 Nasugbu Landing in WWII.”

Guerrilla Files

In this December 1944 document1 Hunters-ROTC Guerrillas Commander Eleuterio Adevoso provides a snapshot on the strength and composition of his group by way of a commander’s report. The document is edited her and there for grammar and spelling.

[p. 1]

COMMANDER’S REPORT

1. Name of Organization: THE HUNTERS or ROTC GUERRILLAS

2. Name of Commanding Officer: ELEUTERIO LAVENGCO ADEVOSO; TERRY MAGTANGOL (Military Name).

3. Strength of Command: (As of 20 Nov 1944 Staff Reports):

a. 44th DIVISION (Composed of Rizal, Laguna and Tayabas Troops).
(1) 44th Infantry Regiment (Rizal Province):
(a) Combat troops: 500 men under arms.
(b) Home Guards: Approx. 7,500 able-bodied men; Approx. 40,000 supporters not able-bodied.
(c) Miscellaneous, such as special intelligence, liaison, etc.: Approx. 100.
(2) 45th Infantry Regiment (Laguna Province):
(a) Combat: 80 men under arms.
(b) Home Guards: Approx. 5,000 able-bodied; Approx. 20,000 supporters not able-bodied.
(c) Miscellaneous: 100.
(3) 46th Infantry Regiment (Tayabas Province):
(a) Combat: 120 men under arms.
(b) Home Guards: Approx. 2,000 able-bodied; Approx. 2,000 supporters, not able-bodied.
b. 47th DIVISION (Composed of Manila, Cavite and Batangas Troops).
(1) 47th Regiment (Manila City and bottleneck towns of Rizal south of Manila):
(a) Combat: 200 men under arms.
(b) Home Guards: Approx. 4,000 able-bodied men; Approx. 10,000 supporters, not able-bodied.
(c) Miscellaneous: 100.
(2) 48th Infantry Regiment (Cavite Province):
(a) Combat: 600 men under arms, many partially trained.
(b) Home Guards: Approx. 3,000 able-bodied; Approx. 10,000 supporters.
(c) Miscellaneous: 200.
(3) 49th Infantry Regiment (Batangas Province):
(a) Combat: 300 men under arms, many partially trained.
(b) Home Guards: Approx. 4,500 able-bodied; Approx. 10,000 supporters.

[p. 2]

(c) Miscellaneous: 250.
c. Bataan Units:
(1) Combat: 200 men under arms, some USAFFE men.
(2) Home Guards: Approx. 500.
(3) Miscellaneous: 30.
d. Zambales Units:
(1) Combat: 300 men under arms, most of them staying in towns as Home Guards.
(2) Home Guards: Approx. 1,000 able-bodied men.
e. Pangasinan Units:
(1) Combat: Approx. 50 men.
(2) Home Guards: Approx. 1,000 able-bodied men.
(3) Miscellaneous: 80.

4. Composition of Command: Citizens, many of whom had not had military training before, officered by USAFFE officers, cadets of the Philippine Military Academy, ROTC cadets, and newly-commissioned professionals and civilians. Table of organization and partial roster are herewith enclosed.

5. Health and physical condition of officers and men: About forty per cent of the mountain troops, both officers and men, are malaria cases. Most of them are underfed. The health and physical condition of officers and men on duty in the plains is fair.

6. Provinces command is located: Rizal, Manila, Laguna, Tayabas, Cavite, Batangas, Bataan, Zambales, Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija. The Nueva Ecija units have not been in contact with this CP for some time already.

7. Number of men in each province: (Please refer to No. 3 – Strength of Command.)

8. Number of men trained for combat duty:
a. Rizal: 3,000
b. Manila: 2,000
c. Laguna: 500
d. Tayabas: 500
e. Cavite: 500
f. Batangas: 500
g. Bataan: 200
h. Zambales: 200
i. Pangasinan: 200
9. Number of men partially trained for combat duty:
Cannot be determined. Training continues in the battalion, regimental and Division CP’s in the mountains.

[p. 3]

10. Number of serviceable weapons on hand:
a. Rifles: Approx. 2,500.
b. Pistols: Approx. 500.
c. Shotguns: Approx. 300.
11. Rounds of ammunition on hand:
a. .30 cal.: About 20 rounds per rifle. It is doubted whether many of them will fire.
b. All other calibers, negligible.
12. Trained men that can be assembled:
(a) In 24 hours:
(1) Rizal: By regiments, around 1,000 at Reg CP.
(2) Manila: By regiments, around 400 at Regt CP.
(3) Laguna: By regiments, around 200 at Reg CP.
(4) Tayabas: By regiments, around 200 at Reg CP.
(5) Cavite: By regiments, around 200 at Reg CP.
(6) Batangas: By regiments, around 200 at Reg CP.
(7) Bataan: Around 100 at Reg CP.
(8) Zambales: Around 100 at Reg CP.
(9) Pangasinan: Around 100 at Reg CP.
(b) In three days: About 80% of the trained men.
(c) In ten days: All the trained men.
13. Able-bodied men that can be assembled:
(a) In 24 Hours:
(1) Around 30%.
(b) In three days: Around 70%.
(c) In ten days: All enlisted able-bodied men.
14. Number of medical officers, doctors and nurses:
(a) 44th Division area:
(1) Medical officers and doctors: Around 40, all practicing physicians or surgeons.
(2) Nurses: Around 100, mostly without professional training.
In this area, about 150 medical officers can be assembled in three days.
(b) 47th Division area:
About 50 medical officers and 100 nurses can be assembled in 24 hours. As many as 150 medical officers may be gathered in three days.
15. a. Operators:
(1) 10 now under this command.
(2) 10 more available within 24 hours.
b. Technicians:
(1) 3 now under this command.
(2) 5 available within 24 hours.
c. Demolition men:
(1) 3 available in 24 hours.
d. Weathermen:
(1) 2 under this command.

[p. 4]

(2) 3 available in three days.
16. Status of supply under observation:
There is a general dearth of supply, particularly in Manila. In the barrios, there are still some supplies, but the Japanese Army is commandeering them. Rice harvests are, however, expected this month in Rizal, Laguna, Tayabas, Cavite and Batangas.
17. Status of medical supplies:
There are practically no more commercially manufactured medicines.
18. Suitable sites for dropping supplies by plane:
a. Barrio Looc, Nasugbu, Batangas: 14°95' N – 120°375' E
b. Magallanes Town, Cavite: 14°113' N - 120°455' E
c. Barrio Bangkal, Silang-Carmona, Cavite: 14°160' N - 121°05' E
d. Bosoboso Valley, Antipolo Mts., Rizal: 14°39' N - 121°14' E
19. Training given to men under this Command:
Infantry training. Schedule of training is herewith enclosed.
20. Means of communication being employed between this GHQ and lower units:
Messenger.
21. Expectations of this year’s rice crop in our area:
Harvests will take place this month (December) and next month. [The] Rice crop this year is very good, but in all probability, the Japs would commander most of the harvests.
22. Supplies most urgently needed:
a. Signal equipment
b. Funds
c. Ordnance and Demolition
(1) Light infantry rifles
(2) Anti-tank guns
d. Clothing articles
e. Food.
s/ Terry Magtangol
t/ TERRY MAGTANGOL
(ELEUTERIO LAVENGCO ADEVOSO)
Commanding
December 1, 1944

A TRUE COPY: VLS/yr

Notes and references:
1 Box 246, Entry 1087, Philippine Archive Collection, Record Group 407, (US) National Archives. Online at the Philippine Veterans Association Office.
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