Letter to Emilio Macabuag on Reconsideration of the Major Philips Unit, July 1947 - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore

The Major Phillips Unit was a guerrilla unit that was founded and operated in or around western Batangas town of Calatagan. It was commanded by one Emilio Macabuag and took its name from a United States Army intelligence officer from whom the guerrilla outfit took directions until the latter was caught and killed by the Japanese. In this July 1947 document¹, one Thomas Brown of the United States Army’s Philippines Ryukyus Command wrote to Macabuag in reply to an earlier letter from the latter requesting information on the outfit’s request for reconsideration.

[p. 1]

HEADQUARTERS
PHILIPPINES-RYUKYUS COMMAND
OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL

GSCPU 091 PI

APO 707 4 SEP 1947

Mr. Emilio Macabuag
Calatagan, Batangas
Philippines

Dear Mr. Macabuag:

This will acknowledge receipt of your letter, dated 29 July 1947, requesting information regarding the reconsideration of the Major Phillips Unit and further requesting information of our closing date for the submission of individual reports for non-casualty guerrilla recognition for the benefit of members of that unit.

As you were distinctly informed in our letter of 21 July 1947, the Major Phillips Unit was reconsidered at your request on 2 July 1947. However, as a result of this reconsideration, it was again determined that the unit failed to reveal sufficient material to satisfy the requirements for recognition as an element of the Philippine Army in the service of the Armed Forces of the United States. The Major Phillips Unit was, therefore, not favorably reconsidered for recognition. This decision constituted final determination of and action upon the request for recognition of this unit.

During the reconsideration of this unit, the evidence submitted was thoroughly scrutinized to determine whether or not the record of service of any individual members of the organization warranted separate consideration for individual recognition, thus precluding the admissibility of individual requests for recognition.

We therefore regret to inform you that further reconsideration of the unit as a whole or of the individual members thereof is not justified, and that our decision of non-recognition of 2 July 1947 remains final.

Sincerely,

THOMAS J BROWN
CWO, USA
ASST ADJ GEN

Lt Col Wallace M Hanes:

Basic, ltr fr Emilio Macabuag to CO, PHILRYCOM, dtd 2 July 47, requesting extension of time for members of the Major Phillips Unit to file individual requests for recognition.

2^nd Lt W. D. MacMillan Concur: Major C. H. Wentzell (Chief Unit Branch)

Notes and references:
¹ “MAJOR PHILLIPS UNIT,” File No. 83, downloaded from PVAO.