[TRANSCRIPTION]
The President Quezon’s Own Guerrillas or PQOG was one of the large guerrilla organizations that operated in Southern Luzon during the Japanese occupation and into the liberation of Batangas. It had many affiliated outfits in Batangas, many of which filed for official recognition by the United States Army that they were elements of the Philippine Army in the service of the U.S. Armed forces during the liberation. Among these were Companies A, B, C and D of the 38th Regiment, 35th Division, I Corps of the PQOG. In this page is a transcription1 the recommendation submitted by one Lt. Victor Smolen to one Major Douglas C. Murray of the United States Army regarding Aludio Reyes’ request for reconsideration of the outfits under his command.
HEADQUARTERS
UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES WESTERN PACIFIC
G-3 GUERRILLA AFFAIRS BRANCH
APO 707
SUBJECT
TO
FROM
|
: Recommendation on Claim for Reconsideration of "Co A, B, C
& D, 38th Regt, 35th Div, PQOG."
: Major Murray
: Lt V. Smolen
|
FINDINGS:
Having investigated the subject unit, my findings remain the same and are as follows in answer to the letter dated 17 September 1946 received from the CO of the subject unit, Aludio Reyes.
1. In the letter requesting reconsideration, the unit claims to have had 80% of the members of the unit on a full-time basis. But from the investigation, it was learned that approximately 80% of the members of the unit remained in the hills most of the time during the Japanese occupation because the Japanese employed drastic retaliations for the activities of the guerrillas in the area around Lipa, Batangas, the area in which this subject unit claims to have operated. This brings out the fact that the subject unit did follow the “lay-low” policy. It was also learned, on interviewing the CO of the 35th Div PQOG, that an order was given to follow the “lay low” policy until the arrival of the liberating forces. This policy was practiced until members of the unit came out of hiding to help the evacuation of the civilians to Volcano Island off the shore of Balete, Batangas.
2. The unit does not deny that they did not have sufficient weapons, which brings out that the unit could not have “maintained opposition to the enemy prior to the liberation.”
3. The unit did not have any supporting documents, nor did they submit any upon their claim for reconsideration.
RECOMMENDATION:
Based upon the findings mentioned above and those presented in the report of the unit, it is still the recommendation of the undersigned that “Co A, B, C and D, 38th Regt, 35th Div, PQOG” be not considered for recognition.
[Sgd.] VICTOR SMOLEN
2nd Lt., Inf.
Notes and references:
1 “Co’s A, B, C, D, 38
th Inf Regt, 35
th Div, I Corps, PQOG,” File No. 271-14, online at the United States National Archives.
