Affidavits in Support of the Batangueño Unit, MFAT - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore Affidavits in Support of the Batangueño Unit, MFAT - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore

Affidavits in Support of the Batangueño Unit, MFAT

Batangas History
30 Dec, 2017
The 1st Battalion, “B” Company, Batangueño Unit was a guerrilla organization affiliated with the MFA or Marking’s Fil-Americans. The latter was a larger organization operating in Luzon commanded by one Marcos Agustin, hence the nickname “Marking.” This organization absorbed elements of Hugh Straughn’s Fil-American Irregular Troops (FAIT) after the American commander was captured and executed by the Japanese Army. Hence, the name “Marking’s Fil-Americans.” The Batangueño Unit was commanded by one Captain Paulino Galicia (guerrilla rank) and operated out of Pantay, Tanauan. In this page1 are various affidavits submitted by the unit in support of its request for revision of its recognition dates by the United States Army.

[p. 1]

Guerrilla Files jpeg
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
MUNICIPALITY OF CALAMBA
PROVINCE OF LAGUNA

A F F I D A V I T

I, AMANDO LAUREL, of legal age, married, Filipino citizen and now residing in Talisay, Batangas, after having been duly sworn according to law depose and say:

That I was the Commanding Officer of the 46th Regt, 45th Div, PQOG with rank of Major recognized by PHILRYCOM on 19 August 1943 and had operated with the 11th Airborne Division in the provinces of Cavite and Batangas.

That I know personally Captain PAULINO GALICIA, Commanding Officer and organizer of the 1st Bn, “B” Co, Batangueño Unit, Marking’s Fil-American Irregular Troops.

That above-named unit was organized by Captain PAULINO GALICIA on 1 September 1942 at Pantay, Tanauan, Batangas for the purpose of helping the allied countries in the prosecution of the war against the enemy.

That since the formal organization of the above-mentioned unit, Captain PAULINO GALICIA and his men engaged the enemy thru sabotage, espionage, ambuscade intelligence and also operated in combat operation with the 11th Airborne Division and 1st Cavalry Division, US Army, in the provinces of Laguna, Quezon and Batangas.

That I have knowledge of the above-mentioned facts because I was present during the formal organization and after then, we had worked in close coordination as guerrilla commanders.

AFFIANT FURTHER SAYETH NOT.

[Sgd.] AMANDO LAUREL
Major, Inf
(Inactive Status)

SUBSCRIBED and SWORN to before me this 30th day of January 1948, at Calamba, Laguna.

[Sgd.] Pablo T. Mendoza
1st Lt. Inf. 0-42096
Proc. Off. 4th MD, RPD

[p. 2]

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
MUNICIPALITY OF CALAMBA
PROVINCE OF LAGUNA

A F F I D A V I T

I, AMADOR SUAREZ, of legal age, married, Filipino Citizen, residing in Ambulong, Tanauan, Batangas, after having been duly sworn according to law depose and say:

That I was the Commanding Officer of the Hq, Co. 6th Bn. 2nd Regt. PQOG with the rank of Captain and recognized by PHILRYCOM on 16 May 1943.

That I know personally one Paulino Galicia, organizer and Commanding Officer of the 1st Bn. “B” Co, Marking’s Fil-American Irregular Troops, organized on 1 September 1942 at Pantay, Tanauan, Batangas.

That in the organization of the above-mentioned unit, Paulino Galicia was inducted Captain and since then operated against the enemy thru sabotage, intelligence work, ambuscade, and counter-propaganda and also engaged in combat operation with the 11th Airborne Division then later with the 1st Cavalry Division of the US Army in the provinces of Batangas, Laguna and Quezon.

That I have full knowledge of the above-mentioned facts because I was one of those present during the formal organization and since then my unit and that of Capt Paulino Galicia had worked in close collaboration especially in gathering intelligence reports, espionage, sabotage and also in combat operations during the attachment of our unit.

That I believe the unit of Captain Paulino Galicia deserves the recognition that was given to other units for the splendid contributions of Captain Paulino Galicia and his men in helping America in the prosecution of the war.

AFFIANT FURTHER SAYETH NOT.

[Sgd.] AMADOR SUAREZ
Capt, Inf
(Inactive Status)

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 2nd day of February, 1948, at Canlubang, Laguna.

[Sgd.] Julio K. Hawaq [not sure, illegible]
Capt, Inf
Ex-Officio Delegate JAGS

[p. 3]

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
PROVINCE OF LAGUNA
MUNICIPALITY OF CALAMBA

A F F I D A V I T

I, TEODULFO BELARMINO, of legal age, married, Filipino citizen, residing in Calamba, Laguna, having been duly sworn according to law, depose and say:

That I was the Commanding Officer of the Umali’s Unit Marking’s Guerrillas of Calamba, Laguna since 1 March 1943, a guerrilla organization recognized by PHILRYCOM on 1 March 1943 and which organization operated in the provinces of Laguna, Batangas and Quezon;

That I know personally one PAULINO GALICIA, organizer and Commanding Officer of the 1st Bn, “B” Co, Marking’s Fil-American Irregular Troops, since 1 September 1942, when the above-named unit was organized by PAULINO GALICIA, who was made captain by unanimous approval of all those composing his unit;

That since the organization of the said unit on 1st September 1942, Captain PAULINO GALICIA and his men engaged the enemy thru sabotage, intelligence work, ambuscade, counter-propaganda until finally he and his men operated with the 11th Airborne Division and 1st Cavalry Division US Army;

That the unit of Captain PAULINO GALICIA, like other units, deserve revision [of the] date of its original recognition because of the activities demonstrated by his unit.

AFFIANT FURTHER SAYETH NOT.

[Sgd.] TEODULFO BELARMINO
Capt Inf Asn 0-48226
(Inactive Status)

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 2nd day of February 1948, at Canlubang, Laguna.

[Sgd.] Julio K. Hawaq [unsure]
Capt, Inf.
Ex-Officio Delegate, JAGS

[p. 4]

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
MUNICIPALITY OF CALAMBA
PROVINCE OF LAGUNA

A F F I D A V I T

I, JULIO R. NARVAEZ, of legal age, married, Filipino citizen, a commissioned officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines with the rank of Captain, presently assigned at the 4th Military District, Canlubang, Laguna, after having been duly sworn according to law depose and say:

That I was a guerrilla Major of the Ambulong Unit PQOG recognized by PHILRYCOM on 25 Feb 44 and had operated with the 11th Airborne Division in the provinces of Batangas and Cavite.

That I know personally one PAULINO GALICIA, organizer and Commanding Officer of the 1st Bn, “B” Co, Batangueño Unit, Marking’s Fil-American Irregular Troops.

That PAULINO GALICIA organized his unit on 1 Sept 42 at Pantay, Tanauan, Batangas with the rank of Captain and a company of men.

That Capt PAULINO GALICIA and his men since the date the unit was organized engaged the enemy thru sabotage, espionage, counter-propaganda, ambuscade and joined the 11th Airborne Division US Army in combat operation since 25 February 1945 then with the 1st Cavalry Division US Army on 15 March 1945.

That during the attachment of Captain PAULINO GALICIA and his men with the 1st Cavalry Division US Army, they gave considerable aid in the liberation of the following towns: Tanauan, Malvar and Lipa, all in Batangas province, Alaminos, San Pablo, Rizal, Nagcarlan, Sta Maria, Pagsanjan and Sta Cruz, all in Laguna province, and Dolores, Tiaong, Candelaria, Lucena and Sariaya, all in the province of Quezon.

That in my honest and fair belief, I believe the services of Captain PAULINO GALICIA and his men since its formal organization in the prosecution of the war cannot be doubted.

AFFIANT FURTHER SAYETH NOT.

[Sgd.] JULIO R. NARVAEZ
Capt, Inf, 0-25775

SUBSCRIBED and SWORN to before me this 6th day of February 1948, at Canlubang, Laguna.

[Sgd.] Pablo T. Mendoza
1st Lt., Inf 0-42046
Proc. Off. 4th MD, RPD

[p. 5]

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
MUNICIPALITY OF CALAMBA
PROVINCE OF LAGUNA

A F F I D A V I T

I, PEDRO PEREZ, of legal age, married, Filipino citizen, residing in Alaminos, Laguna, after having been duly sworn according to law depose and say:

That I was the Commanding Officer of the 6th Regt, PQOG and was recognized by PHILRYCOM on 1 Aug ’42 and had operated with the 11th Airborne Division in the provinces of Laguna, Quezon and Batangas.

That I know personally one PAULINO GALICIA, organizer of the 1st Bn, “B” Co, Marking’s Fil-American Irregular Troops and had organized said unit on or about 1 Sept 1942 with his rank of Captain.

That among the activities of Captain PAULINO GALICIA and his men since his unit was organized were sabotaging the enemy, counter-propaganda, gathering intelligence work, and when the American Liberation Forces came, his unit attached with the 11th Airborne Division and 1st Cavalry Division and participated in the liberation of many towns in the provinces of Laguna, Batangas and Quezon.

That I have knowledge of the above-mentioned facts because Capt PAULINO GALICIA had worked in close collaboration with my unit since he had organized his unit in Sept 1943.

AFFIANT FURTHER SAYETH NOT.

[Sgd.] PEDRO PEREZ
Major Inf, ASN 048209
(Inactive Status)

SUBSCRIBED and SWORN to before me this 6th day of February 1948, at Canlubang, Laguna.

[Sgd.] PABLO T. MENDOZA
1st Lieut, Inf, 0-42096
Proc Officer, RPD, 4MD (AFP)

[p. 6]

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
PROVINCE OF LAGUNA
MUNICIPALITY OF CALAMBA

A F F I D A V I T

I, RUFINO DE CHAVEZ, of legal age, married, Filipino citizen, residing in Calamba, Laguna after having been duly sworn according to law, depose and say:

That I was a recognized officer of the 28th Regt, 25th Red Lion Division with the rank of 1st Lt., recognized by PHILRYCOM on 1st August 1944;

That I know personally one PAULINO GALICIA, organizer and Commanding Officer of the 1st Bn, “B” Co, Marking’s Fil-American Irregular Troops organized on 1st September 1942 at Pantay, Tanauan, Batangas;

That PAULINO GALICIA was made Captain by a unanimous approval of all his men and other guerrilla leaders present during the formal organization of the said unit;

That since the organization of the unit of Captain PAULINO GALICIA, he engaged the enemy thru sabotage, intelligence work, counter-propaganda and when the American Liberation Forces came, he attached his unit to the 11th Airborne Division and 1st Cavalry Division US Army and participated in the liberation of many towns in the provinces of Laguna, Batangas and Quezon;

That I have full knowledge of the above-mentioned facts because, during our guerrilla days, I had frequent contact with the unit of Captain PAULINO GALICIA and had collaborated with his men in the operation against the enemy;

AFFIANT FURTHER SAYETH NOT.

[Sgd.] RUFINO De CHAVEZ
1st Lieut., Inf. 0-48229
(Inactive Status)

SUBSCRIBED and SWORN to before me this 6th day of February 1948, at Canlubang, Laguna.

[Sgd.] Pablo T. Mendoza
1st Lt., Inf. 0-42096
Proc. Off. 4th MD, RPD


Notes and references:
1 “Batangueño Unit, MFA,” File No. 109-13, online at the United States National Archives.
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