Memo to Lobo Unit Company Commanders on Evacuees, October 1944

[TRANSCRIPTION]

The Lobo Unit, USAFFE Guerrilla was originally considered by the United States army as part of the Pandita Area, DI Combat, Free Luzon Area, 6^th Military District guerrilla outfit under the command of one Danny Flores. The mother organization was not favorably considered for recognition by the United States Army. In this page is a transcription¹ of a memorandum issued to all company commanders of the Lobo Unit on the need to be aware of the possibility of spies among the flood of evacuees pouring into the town of Lobo in October 1944.

HEADQUARTERS
USAFFE GUERRILLA LOBO UNIT MINDE AREA
UNDER LT. COL. TOMAS A. ILAGAN
SIXTH MILITARY DISTRICT
ATTACHED TO PANDITA AREA-SIXTH MILITARY DISTRICT.
UNDER COL. B.P. FLORES.

SUBJECT TO

: EVACUATIONS AND REFUGEES. : ALL COMPANY COMMANDERS.   LOBO UNIT MINDE AREA.

The Commanding Officer announces today that there’s a full swing of evacuees pouring to this municipality [Lobo] and that in these evacuees, there are spies of fifth columns which would deliver this community into the hands of the Japs, so take heed of them and proper investigation should be rendered by you and your men.

It is hereby announced that the strangers in the house of Mr. Herminigildo Alegre are the party of Mr. Juan Palacios, Municipal Treasurer of Batangas, with Colonel Jose Ruffy and family of four. He is the young brother of Maj. Ruffy of the Mindoro Guerrillas.

Give this party your utmost protection and information for the Colonel’s knowledge of the outside happenings, help them in case they need your assistance.

Make records of evacuees and refugees in your sector, their destinations, their numbers and from where they came from, and get information from them of the Jap actions towards the civilians in their towns. Give them the best information and guide them in case they need help from you for they might be raided by Jap patrols patrolling at night.

If these evacuees are families of guerrillas or Army men, tell them to stay in your camps if they wish to or seek for them the best house where they can stay for the time being and give food if they don’t have at the time they arrived and tell them where they can buy food for their subsistence.

Let this memorandum be put into action beginning today as per order of the Commanding Officer.

Copy Furnished:
Bn. Hq. ____ “A” ____ “B” ____ “C” ____ “D” ____

Notes and references:
¹ “Pandita Area, Free Luzon Intelligence Echelon, 6^th MD, [Folder 4],” online at the United States National Archives.