De la Peña's Request for Reconsideration, March 1947

The Fil-American Irregular Troops or FAIT was organized by the retired US Army officer Hugh Straughn after the surrender of American forces to the Japanese in 1942. The FAIT would become a large organization with various units operating in many parts of Luzon, including Batangas. The 1^st Batangas Regiment was one of these, supposedly founded by one Major Gutierrez in 1943. Upon the major’s capture by the Japanese, command of the unit was assumed by one Maximo Bool of Pallocan in the then-town of Batangas. In this document¹, Florentino de la Peña wrote to the Philippines-Ryukyus Command to seek reconsideration of an earlier decision issued by the latter of non-recognition of the 1^st Batangas Regiment.

[p. 1]

HEADQUARTERS
PHILIPPINES-RYUKYUS COMMAND
OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL

GSCPU 091 PI

APO 707
12 MAR 1947

Mr. Florentino de la Peña
Pallocan, Batangas, Batangas
Philippines

Dear Mr. De la Peña:

This will acknowledge receipt of your letter, dated 27 January 1947, in which you request reconsideration of the unfavorable decision rendered by this headquarters on 12 June 1946, with regard to the recognition of the 1^st Batangas Regiment, Batangas Unit, Fil-American Irregular Troops.

It is the desire of this headquarters to avoid all appearance of arbitrary decisions in the case of claimant guerrilla units. Your request for reconsideration is, therefore, accepted. It must be emphasized, however, that it will be extremely helpful if you were to forward as quickly as possible such additional pertinent documentary evidence as has not been submitted previously and which, you feel, reflects favorably upon your claim. These additional data should be original documents, or true copies of the original documents, certified to by United States Army officers of field grade on duty with the Guerrilla Affairs Division, G-3 Section of this headquarters.

Your request for reconsideration will be placed on file in this headquarters to await appropriate action at the earliest practicable time. You must appreciate that hundreds of claimant guerrilla units are now being investigated initially and that review of rejected units must necessarily follow them.

Sincerely,

R. E. CANTRELL
Captain, AGD
Asst Adj Gen

Col Gerald F Lillard:

Basic, ltr fr Florentino R de la Peña to CG, PHILRYCOM, dtd 27 Jan 47, subj: “Request Reinvestigation of Status of 1^st Batangas Regt, Batangas Unit, Fil-American Irregular Troops.

1^st Lt George E Kemper

Concur: Maj C H Wentzell
Actg Chief, Unit Branch

[p. 2]

24 March 1947

CERTIFIED TRUE COPY:

[Sgd.] PROTACIO CABIAO
1^st Lt. Inf. AUS
Chief, Records Section

Notes and references:
¹ “First Batangas Regt, FAIT,” File No. 110-60, online at the United States National Archives.