Letter from Govenor Requesting Maculot Battalion not to Disband, June 1945

The Fil-American Irregular Troops (FAIT) was a large guerrilla organization formed by the retired American officer Hugh Straughn. It had many units operating around Luzon, including Batangas. Among this was the Maculot Battalion which operated in the town of Cuenca, Batangas. The unit was among those that were officially recognized as elements of the Philippine Army in the service of the Armed Forces of the United States in the Western Pacific during World War II. In this document¹, acting Batangas Governor Fortunato Borbon, as a way of responding to the Mayor of Cuenca’s request for a garrison of U.S. Army soldiers, wrote to Col. Pedro Pasia of the Maculot Battalion to request him not to disband the guerrilla outfit.

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES
PROVINCE OF BATANGAS
BATANGAS
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

29 June 1945

Col. Pedro Pasia
Guerrilla Commander, Fil-Americans
Cuenca, Batangas

Dear Colonel Pasia:

The Municipal Mayor of Cuenca presented to the undersigned a resolution requesting that your municipality be given ample military protection for the safety of the people and properties of Cuenca. Besides, the said resolution that your unit is about to be disbanded thereby leaving the town and barrios totally unprotected from the Japanese menace that is continually plundering the countryside.

In view of this precarious situation, may I request that you continue your guerrilla activities as you have efficiently and patriotically done in the past. In fact, I have mentioned you and your men among the loyal Filipinos who have shown our country their patriotism. I would also request you to please furnish me [a] copy of your application for the OFFICIAL RECOGNITION of your unit. I would like to take up the contents of the resolution in question with the CG of the 11^th Airborne but I think to have the necessary information or date to be presented to the Army Authorities before I discuss the subject matter with them.

Thanking you in advance for your cooperation and wishing to hear from you at the earliest possible time. I am,

Very faithfully yours,

(SGD) FORTUNATO BORBON,
Acting Provincial Governor

A TRUE COPY:

[Sgd.] PEDRO PASIA
Lt. Colonel
ASN-0-48337

Notes and references:
¹ MACULOT BATTALION FAIT, File No. 110-67, downloaded from PVAO.