Wenceslao Cornejo's Request for Separate Consideration of the Malvar Guerrillas, March 1947

The President Quezon’s Own Guerrillas (PQOG) was a guerrilla organization that operated in Luzon, including Batangas, during the Japanese occupation. The organization had many units in Batangas Province, including the Municipality of Malvar. In this municipality, the unit was formed and commanded by one Wenceslao Cornejo. In this document¹, Cornejo wrote to one Thomas Brown of the Philippines-Ryukyus Command to request a separate consideration of the guerrilla unit he formed from the larger PQOG organization.

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Office of the City Fiscal
Manila

GSCPU 091 PI/913

May 15, 1947

HEADQUARTERS
PHILIPPINES-RYUKYUS COMMAND
OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL
APO 707

Attention THOMAS J. BROWN
CWO, USA
ASST. ADJ. GEN.

Sir:

May I have the honor to request the recognition of the “Malvar Guerrilla Forces” as an independent unit, distinct and separate from the “PQOG?” It was really formed and created by the undersigned as a unit, independent and distinct from any other, and in fact, it existed until demobilized, in such a category. Its attachment with the PQOG was just a matter of form an expediency, but as a matter of fact, it never had any dealings with any other guerrilla unit, except insofar as it had to curb or stop any untoward acts of lawlessness and banditry within its territory of operation in the Municipality of Malvar, of some units which sought cover in the guise of guerrillas. I have done my best to present evidences of our guerrilla activities, as well as just the facts of our military operations, and now I am only seeking justice in the light of circumstances which I squarely presented.

As intimated in yours of April 28, 1947, it is further requested that appropriate forms for casualty recognition be also furnished.

Very respectfully yours,

[Sgd.] WENCESLAO L. CORNEJO

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MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD:

Col. G. F. Lillard:

Basic, ltr fr Wenceslao L. Cornejo to CG, PHILRYCOM, dtd 31 March 47, requesting consideration of the “Malvar Guerrilla Forces, PQOG.”

[Sgd.] 1^st Lt George E. Kemper

Concur: [Sgd.] Lt Col S J Palos, Chief, Unit Branch

Notes and references:

¹ “Malvar Grla Forces, I Corps, PQOG,” File No. 271-27, downloaded from PVAO.