Report on the Highlanders United Guerrillas

2. ALLEGED HISTORY: (See attached Unit History.)

3. FINDINGS:

The following persons were interviewed and their statements are reflected in the findings:

Alfredo Silva Artemio M Lobrin Gelasio Ocampo Calixto Luna Santiago Luna Elpidio Matanguihan Mateo Aguila Gregorio Templo Maximo Viaje Sesinando Lescano Cayetano Inciong Andres Silva Ceferino Capochino Nicolas Templo Claro Silva Lauro Lobrin Dalmacio Tibayan Jose Templo Maximino Lojo Sixto Matanguihan Sixto Biscocho Juan Silva Marciano Silva Bernardo Vergara Soriano Lobis Victor Inciong Feliza Inciong Dominga de Vizconde Juanita Inciong Eugenia Landicho Leonila Landicho Felino Templo Pedro Inciong Concepcion Luistro Eden Bautista Maria de Recinto

Commanding Officer Executive Officer Battalion Commander Member Member and Mayor of Mataas-na-Kahoy Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member Member

A. Record of service of the unit was not substantiated by sufficient acceptable evidence.

1. This unit cannot produce records, commission papers, appointments, orders, memorandums, original rosters, or communications issued or received by the unit.

2. The commanding officer stated that he had never issued orders relative to guerrilla organization or administration because he did not have any knowledge of military procedure.

B. The activities of the unit did not contribute materially to the eventual defeat of the enemy.

1. Members of this unit engaged in helping the civilians evacuate the town when allied bombing and strafing grew heavy prior to liberation. This, they claim, was their greatest contribution to the country.

2. This unit never actively engaged the enemy during the occupation because they were afraid of Jap reprisals but guarded the town against Jap informers and spies.

3. The commanding officer stated that the unit laid low during the Jap occupation because of insufficient arms.

4. Members of the unit admitted that they spread Allied broadcast news among the civilians to bolster morale.

5. Members of the unit were unable to cite any important incident of sabotage, although they claimed such activity.

6. Their claim of intelligence activity cannot be proven because other guerrilla units in Batangas claimed the same missions in and around the airfield of Lipa, Batangas.

C. Members of the unit did not devote their entire effort to military activities in the field to the exclusion of normal civilian occupation and family obligations.

1. Members of this unit were engaged in food production and in selling and buying food stuffs for family subsistence.

2. Members of the unit lived at home and received orders monthly when called upon to patrol or do guard duty. This is indicative of spare time activity.

D. The unit was not maintained satisfactorily in the field in opposition to the enemy.

1. The participation of the unit in the mopping-up operations of the American Forces in that town was not substantiated by documentary evidence or reliable oral statements from disinterested parties.

2. Members of the unit were used by American Forces as labor battalions and were paid for their services.

E. A definite organization was not established or maintained.

1. Interrogation of the members of MG Section, Anti-Tank, Weapons, and Headquarters Platoons revealed that they were ignorant of their respective duties and missions. It is obvious that these components did not exist during the Jap occupation because of lack of arms and technical knowledge to maintain such sections and platoons. The Commanding Officer admitted that he had no knowledge of organization and tactics. This clearly indicates that a reorganization was made to conform with the US Army T/O in 1945 and not in 1942 as alleged.

2. There was lack of agreement among the members as to the activities of the unit during the occupation.

3. Several members were given high ranks in the unit merely because of financial and material aid or help. This was their sole contribution.

4. Several members did not know their respective company commanders and most of them did not know their battalions nor the battalion commanders.

F. No useful purpose will be accomplished by further investigation of this unit.

G. No members of this unit are worthy of recognition.

4. RECOMMENDATIONS: It is recommended that the “Highlanders United Guerrillas” be not favorably considered for recognition.

[Sgd.] CESAR G FERNANDO
Captain, Inf