Additional Organizational Report by Luis Licopa, January 1946

4 January 1946

1. In addition to the data contained in our organizational report dated 20 March, 1945, we are submitting additional information on the guerrilla unit “Headquarters Glint (Licopa Unit)” recognized by the United States Army on 9 February 1945.

Sometime in 1942, on the 17^th day of January, a group of regular soldiers inducted into the USAFFE who were ordered to disperse in the mountains, don civilian clothes and secure information about the enemy to relay them to the nearest Army authorities, started infiltrating enemy lines but due to lack of proper contact with the main force at Bataan and superior enemy forces, the then 1^st and 2^nd Batangas Constabulary Companies and the Prov’l Hq Det, PC were disbanded on order of the Commanding Officer. Members of this command left for their respective homes with the instructions to report back to an [un]specified place upon instant notice. Immediately after the fall of Bataan, a notice was sent to all members of the Constabulary of the province of Batangas to report to a CP at Lemery to continue the resistance movement against the “enemy.” It was the remnants of the 1^st and 2^nd Batangas Constabulary Companies that became the nucleus of the “Headquarters Glint (Licopa Unit).” LUIS H. LICOPA, a regular member of the 2^nd Batangas Company, inducted into the USAFFE, being the most senior in point of service, he having been a regular soldier for the last eighteen years, reorganized the unit with the help of FERNANDO C. MALIWANAG, a regular member of the Provincial Headquarters Detachment, PC, also inducted into the USAFFE. Two American officers, EI Jorgensen 0-4052363 and Robert S. Kramer, 0-23729, were with the unit up to January, 1944 as advisers.

During the year 1942-43, the unit was engaged mostly in espionage work, sabotage and activities to counteract the moves made by the Japanese patrols and Japanese pacification groups. An outstanding accomplishment made in this regard was the successful raid on the Japanese arsenal at Batangas which netted this organization thirty-six rifles, cal. 30 and several hundreds of ammunition of the same caliber.

As early as the latter part of 1943 up to January 1945, this unit was closely attached to the Advance Headquarters, SWPA under the command of Major George F. Rowe USNR (Col. Nicholson) and intensively engaged in espionage work not only in covering the province of Batangas but also the neighboring provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Tayabas, Rizal and the city of Manila. It was in one of the hazardous trips to Mindoro from Batangas and return that members of this unit met an accident at sea, causing the loss of life of Master Sergeant FEDERICO BORRILLO while performing the duties assigned to him and his companions. This unit contributed

greatly to the supply of correct military information concerning the enemy by submitting its reports regularly to the said Advance Headquarters, then at Abra de Ilog, Mindoro.

Members of this unit were with the surveying party composed of Lts. Weider, Clift and Harper, CE, USA, from San Jose, Mindoro, which made an inspection of landing strips at Lemery Bay and Balayan Bay prior to the landing of the Liberation Army at Nasugbu, Batangas.

The unit officially worked for the 11^th Airborne Division on 9 February, 1945 when acting upon orders from Capt C. N. Schommers, USA Task Force, it assaulted the Japanese stronghold at Mayasang. The place was captured together with supplies and other military materials.

This unit worked for the 158^th RCT when this Combat Team was at Lemery. Espionage work, mopping up operations, and interior and rear guard duties were performed.

When the 158^th RCT left for the Bicol Regions, the unit was turned over to the administration of the Division Headquarters, 11^th Airborne Division, directly under the Guerrilla Headquarters stationed at Taal, Batangas. The unit was permanently stationed at the town of Calaca, Batangas. In conjunction with other Guerrillas stationed thereat, this unit made intensive mopping up operations, supporting American units in the area around the mountains of Batulao and the vicinity of Tagaytay Ridge.

As this unit was mostly composed of Constabulary soldiers of the Philippine Commonwealth, it settled disputes (civil), apprehended thieves and maintained peace and order in the military sector it occupied, in accordance with our Constabulary rules and regulations, embodied in the Philippine Constabulary Regulations.

We have records in this command to show financial accounts made during the months of December, 1944, January and February, 1945. We have not kept any record of all other financial transactions for the period previous to these dates.

Ex-Governor Vicente Noble voluntarily contributed to the financial support of this organization and gave the amount of ₱29,000.00 (Mickey Mouse money); Mr. Santiago Banaag, ₱20,000.00; Doroteo Palaros, ₱7,000.00; Isabelo Baleros, ₱10,000.00; and all others gave a total of ₱21,000.00, all in Japanese Military Notes. Of the total amount, ₱1,000.00 were made non-expendable upon the arrival of the Liberation Army in our district.

This unit was able to get ₱125.00 (Victory money) from the Finance Officer at Tagaytay. This amount was expended for the purchase of mess supplies and transportation of personnel while in the performance of their official duties. This unit does not owe anybody financial liabilities as the money received were purely voluntary contributions.

2. It will be noticed in our organizational report dated 20 March, 1945 submitted to the S-2, 158^th RCT at Lemery that the names of only sixty (60) officers and men were included in the roster. This could be accounted for by the fact that we were then required to submit only the names of those who actually supported the operations of the 158^th RCT and in this connection, we were then sixty (60) officers and men, consequently all the rest of the members of this unit who did not work for the 158^th RCT were not included in the organization report submitted thereto. In justice to all the rest of the members of this organization, who also helped in its activities, we are submitting herewith a roster of these officers and men, with the request that they be officially recognized and included in the official roster already recognized by the USA Army.

[Sgd.] LUIS H. LICOPA
Captain, Infantry
Commanding

Roster.