Letter of the CO of the Hunters-ROTC to Limjoco a.k.a Joe Perez, December 1944

16 December 1944

Greetings to you, brother-in-arms!

The bearer of this communication is 1^st Lt. Alex Albert, JAS, Liaison Officer of the Hunters or ROTC Guerrillas. He has with him, besides, a self-explanatory message from Major Jay D. Vanderpool, General Staff Corps, U.S.A., GHQ, SWPA Liaison Officer, presently with us in this Headquarters.

We would like to inform you that Major Vanderpool has been assigned to coordinate guerrilla efforts in the area covering Manila, Cavite, Eastern Laguna and Batangas. Other liaison officers have been assigned to other areas of Luzon.

From what we gather after several conferences with Major Vanderpool, it is not the intention of GHQ, SWPA, nor his intention to maintain liaison and communication with small units, because this would involve an enormous amount of work and unnecessary loss of time. His intention is to furnish transmitting and receiving sets, as well as arms and other supplies, mainly to the major guerrilla organizations. The headquarters of Gen. MacArthur has no intention of forcing small units to join the bigger organizations, but he has suggested that smaller units voluntarily attach themselves to large organizations to simplify coordination problems.

We are, therefore, taking this opportunity of inviting your unit to join this organization, so that you may better serve the country and the cause, and in order that your unit may be recognized and your services duly rewarded in the near future. It is but obvious that all units should act in consonance with orders from GHQ, SWPA. Of course, as a patriotic organization, you can do anything destructive to the Japs. But there are certain things you may do which may be destructive to ulterior plans at D-Day. However, if you are with us, you can be sure that whatever your actions may be or whatever orders may come to you shall be in consonance with official orders from GHQ, SWPA. Moreover, at this particular stage of the struggle, there is an imperative necessity for the fusion of all guerrilla forces, in order that a chain of command may be formed, thus coordinating all their activities. And it is for us, Filipino guerrilla leaders, to show to the world that when the need of the hour calls for it, we can forget personal interests for a greater and more glorious cause. We assure you that after we have joined hand-in-hand, your Unit will receive a proportionally fair amount of supplies and equipment intended for us.

I am sure you will be proud to be one of us. For this organization is one of the oldest in Luzon, having existed even while fighting in Bataan was still going on. It is one of the best guerrilla units, counting upon thousands and thousands of members spread all over Rizal, Laguna, Tayabas, Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Bataan, Zambales, Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija. It is one of the most active organizations, be it in the elimination of spies and other unworthy elements of the country, in combat with the enemy, or in intelligence work for the Allied Cause. And above all, it is one of the most disciplined guerrilla organizations, officered as it is by former USAFFE officers, cadets of the Philippine Military Academy and ROTC cadets, professionals and trained civilians. Your unit would be a most worthy addition to our organization.

We hope you will not fail the cause at this particular period of our country’s history. We shall await your reply.

Meanwhile, please extend my very best regards to all your officers and men.

(SGD) TERRY MAGTANGOL
Colonel, Infantry
Commanding

I hereby certify that I have compared the foregoing instrument with the original copy in the possession of Mr. Conrado T. Limjoco and that the same is a true and correct copy thereof.

In witness hereof I signed these presents and affixed my official seal in the City of Manila, Philippines, on this 4^th day of Sept. 1945.

[Sgd.] RAF L. ARCEGA
Notary Public
Until Dec. 31, 1946