Memo to Colonel Filomeno Gagalac on the Liberation of Lemery - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore

The Gagalac Guerrilla Group was one of the groups operating in Batangas that was given official recognition by the United States Army after World War II. In this February 1945 document, Battalion Commander Ireneo M. Cabrera advises Colonel Filomeno Gagalac of the state of the town of Lemery at the time of liberation. This document was used as an enclosure/attachment to the Gagalac Guerrillas’ request/appeal for recognition by the United States Army.

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EXHIBIT “N-2”


H E A D Q U A R T E R S
2d BATTALION

In the Field
12 Feb. 1945

MEMORANDUM FOR Col. Gagalac:

We read a copy of your letter addressed to all residents of District and Neighborhood Associations in Lemery requiring all civilians to evacuate the town proper. As a guerrilla unit working side by side with you, we cannot fail to understand your good motive in issuing this order. We know that you want to wipe out the enemies without in any way endangering our civilians, and we are glad of this. In this connection, however, please be informed that our unit that has its CP in the poblacion has the local situation well in hand. With the cleaning up of Mayasang and the blasting of the Taal-Lemery bridge, Lemery is practically a liberated area. At the present writing, no Japs are in town and we do not expect any number to come for they continue blasting the same bridges which they began destroying two weeks ago. We have no fear of their coming to our town, and for this reason, we do not discourage the few civilians from staying in the poblacion if they choose to. Furthermore, if some enemy detachments would cross our borders, our local guerrilla unit would do its best to liquidate them without in any way endangering the civilians who cannot find means to exist outside of their homes and have decided to stay in their dugouts in town. We have issued orders to our men regarding the liquidation of enemies here and hope that you would not think that we are sleeping in our sectors.

Please be informed further that, in the absence of the services of the Municipal Mayor, the local unit is exerting efforts to maintain peace and order at least at the town. Since you are better armed and are in the outskirts of the Municipality, we hope you would help us here by guarding our boundaries there and keeping enemies from getting into our town from your direction.

(Sgd) IRENEO M. CABRERA
Bn. Cmdr.

Distribution:

Col. Gagalac
Col. Ilagan
Brig. Gen. Robles
Capt. Schommers
Pres. of Dist. & N. Associations

CERTIFIED TRUE COPY:

[Sgd.] FILOMENO GAGALAC

Notes and references:
¹ File Number 278, United States National Archives, downloaded from page Gagalac Guerrilla Unit, Philippine Veteran Association Office.