Certifications Submitted by the 6th Inf McKinley Div to the US Army with Its Application for Recognition - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore Certifications Submitted by the 6th Inf McKinley Div to the US Army with Its Application for Recognition - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore

Certifications Submitted by the 6th Inf McKinley Div to the US Army with Its Application for Recognition

[TRANSCRIPTIONS]

The Fil-American Irregular Troops or FAIT was a large guerrilla organization founded by the retired United States Army Colonel Hugh Straughn and had many affiliate units in Southern Luzon, including Batangas. The 6th Infantry Regiment, McKinley Division, which operated in the town of Lemery, was one of these. In this page are transcription1 of a few of the certifications and affidavits submitted by the 6th Infantry Regiment, McKinley Division, to the Guerrilla Affairs Branch of the United States Army in the Philippines along with its application to obtain official recognition.

Guerrilla Files

[p. 1]

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
MUNICIPALITY OF CUENCA
PROVINCE OF BATANGAS

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

AFFIDAVIT

I, PEDRO PASIA, Filipino citizen, 58 years of age, married, residing at Cuenca, Batangas, Lt. Colonel and Commanding Officer of the 5th Bn. 1st Infantry Regiment, Folsom’s Fil-American Irregular Troops, after being duly sworn according to law depose and say:

That I personally know DOMINADOR ENCARNADO as one of the organizers of the 6th Infantry Straughn Fil-American Irregular Troops stationed in Lemery, Batangas with the rank Major;

That subject Major Encarnado and his men fought side by side with the 158th R.C.T.; the 11th A.B. Division and with my own men in the liberation of the Maculot Mt. area and adjacent locality where Japanese concentrations were found from 10 March 1945 to August 1945;

That I also know of the courage and heroism displayed by his unit in the mopping up operations for the complete liberation of the locality above-mentioned from the hands of the enemy.

FURTHER AFFIANT SAYETH NONE.

[Sgd.] PEDRO PASIA, Lt. Col
ASN 0-48337

WITNESSES

[Sgd.] Bibiano Holgado [Sgd.] Justino Pasia
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 20th day of October 1946 at Cuenca, Batangas. Affiant exhibited to me his ASN 0-48337 in lieu of his Residence Certificate.
[Sgd.] LUIS LIMBO
Acting Mayor

[p. 2]

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
MUNICIPALITY OF LEMERY
PROVINCE OF BATANGAS

I, Iluminada Hernandez, of legal age, single and a medical practitioner of Lemery, Batangas, after being duly sworn according to law, depose and say:

1. That I know Demetrio Villanueva;

2. That on 5 June 1943, he killed two Japanese guards at the Lemery-Taal Bridge with bayonet thrusts of the Japanese’s rifle which he wrested from one of the Japanese guards;

3. That on 7 June 1943, he was captured by a Japanese posse which was sent to capture him in barrio Boboy, San Luis, Batangas;

4. That because he was captured by the Japanese, he was never taken to any hospitals for treatment of bodily harm inflicted upon him by the Japanese immediately after capture;

5. That on 7 June 1943, he was taken by the Japanese to Batangas, Batangas and apparently executed, as he was never seen again;

6. That I know him to have been a guerrilla of the Fil-American Irregular Troops (Straughn) McKinley Brigade, operating in Lemery, Batangas at the time he was killed by the Japanese;

7. That I am not related to Demetrio Villanueva nor am I interested in the claim.

In witness hereof, I hereby set my hand this 18th day of July 1946 at Lemery, Batangas.
[Sgd.] DR. ILUMINADA HERNANDEZ
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 21st day of July 1946 at Lemery, Batangas. Affiant exhibited to me her Residence Certificate No. A1006153, issued at Lemery, Batangas on July 16, 1946.
[Sgd.] MARTIN A. BISCOCHO
Notary Public
Until Dec. 31, 1946

Doc. No. 254
Page. No. 66
Book No. I
Series of 1946

[p. 3]

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
MUNICIPALITY OF LEMERY
PROVINCE OF BATANGAS

A F F I D A V I T

I, Leon Sangalang, of legal age, married and resident of Lemery, Batangas, after being duly sworn according to law, depose and say:

1. That I know Demetrio Villanueva;

2. That on 5 June 1943, he killed two Japanese guards with bayonet thrusts of the rifle which he wrested from one of the Japanese guards stationed at the Lemery Bridge;

3. That, as a consequence of the act, he was captured by a Japanese posse on 6 June 1943 in barrio Boboy, San Luis and brought to Lemery;

4. That on 7 June 1943, he was taken to Batangas, Batangas and apparently executed as he was never seen again;

5. That, according to information furnished me by Rosario Villanueva, elder sister of Demetrio Villanueva, he was a member of the Fil-American Irregular Troops (Straughn) 6th Infantry McKinley Brigade operating in Lemery when he was killed by the Japanese;

6. That I am not related to Demetrio Villanueva nor am I interested in the claim.

In witness whereof, I hereby set my hand this 19th day of July 1946 at Lemery, Batangas.
[Sgd.] LEON SANGALANG
MUNICIPAL MAYOR
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 24th day of July 1946. Affiant exhibited to me his Residence Certificate No. A-982600, issued at Lemery, Batangas on Feb. 14, 1946.
[Sgd.] MARTIN A. BISCOCHO
NOTARY PUBLIC
until Dec. 31, 1946

Doc. No. 253
Book No. I
Page No. 66
Series of 1946

[p. 4]

Lemery, Batangas
10 September 1946
SUBJECT
TO
: CERTIFICATION.
: WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.

I certify that the guerrillas who participated in the 158th Division, U.S. Army in the liberation of the town of Mabini, Batangas on March 7, 1946, which lasted for a week, were guerrillas from the 6th Infantry, McKinley Division FAIT, in Lemery, Batangas. They had fought side by side with the Blue Eagle in the liberation of the town of Mabini.

That the 6th Infantry, McKinley Brigade, FAIT, was duly organized since 1942, and has operated intensively from the time of its organization up to the landing of the American Liberating Forces. That they maintained sufficient numbers of men in the field, harassing the Japanese day and night; and their saboteurs, intelligence and propaganda activities contributed materially to the eventual defeat of the enemy in the Province of Batangas.

That I have the full knowledge of the activities of this unit for I was a former member of the Fil-American Irregular Troops, under Colonel Hugh Straughn, U. S. Army Retired Officer.

[Sgd.] PERPETUO L. VENTURANZA
0-47701, Captain, Infantry, PA
Capt. Kanluran (Malakas)
Combat Unit of Co. “I” of the
Blue Eagle
Notes and references:
1 “6th Infantry Regt, McKinley Division, FAIT,” File No. 275-13, online at the United States National Archives.
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