WW2 Memoirs of Ifugao Dep. Governor Luis I. Pawid
(24th series) Guerilla activities intensified in Ifugao
THE Deputy Governor on-leave extolled the formal organization of existing guerilla units into regular contingents in the Philippine and U.S. military. He also lauded the appointment of deserving young officers who are knowledgeable of the mountainous and rough terrains of the sub-province. In his memoirs, my father noted: “… I am glad that our own people are actually detailed to protect us and to defend our homes from the enemy which has now become desperate by destroying everything of value as they occupy our villages, forests and caves of our native land.” “About the end of December 1944, the four companies of the First Battalion, 11th Infantry, under the command of Captain Alfredo Bunol was completed. It was detailed to operate in Ifugao subprovince. “It is manned by Ifugao native recruits. The officers are all young men, some of whom actually fought and defended Bataan. They were recognized by Cols. Russell Volkman and Donald Blackburn and, for limited and lack of any better choice, promoted them appropriate military ranks. “The First Battalion, despite lack of arms and ammunitions, actually began their operations and assaults against the enemy on December 15 at Banawe and December 20 at Kiangan. These two maneuvers were baptisms of fire for most of the new recruits who, for the first time in their lives, held rifles and fired them against fellow human beings, the enemy. “The events herein for the first six months of 1945, speak for Captain Bunol and his men, for his superior and in the name of the United States Army in Northern Luzon, Philippines. “On New Year’s Day, January 1, 1945, at the new Battalion HQ at Burnay, there was singing and dancing. At the same time, the Ladies Auxiliary Service was in the process of organization. Medical supplies from Hapao arrived. “Lt. Alberto Puguon was relieved as commander of B Company and designated as S-4 at the regimental HQ. He was also ordered to the Benguet area to get newly arrived arms and ammunitions from Maj. Bado Dangwa. Enemy marching into Ifugao
The first week of the year saw Japanese soldiers marching in droves into Ifugao from all fronts: north, east, south and west. Almost daily as enemy aero planes were flying low over the supprovince, my father noted. “On January 3, at 2 o’clock a.m. a runner came from Banawe to inform that Lt. Balanban engaged the enemy at Awan- Iguid Camp, 10 kilometers towards Bontoc. The enemy was estimated at 150 to 200 soldiers with about 100 Bontoc natives as cargadores. “The number of casualties on the Japanese sides could not be estimated due to thick fog and darkness. But a spearman on our side was shot by enemy bullets as he attempted to pick a backpack of a dead Japanese. “Lt. Balanban followed up his report at 6:45 p.m. that he had to order a retreat due to the superiority in number of the advancing enemy. This gave way for the enemy succeeding their march to Banawe. He added that two Japanese platoons proceeded towards Kiangan but reportedly camped at barrio O-ong as perimeter outpost for their Banawe garrison. “Lt. Balanban further reported that they captured some 80 cargadores who were returning back
to Bontoc. I immediately wrote a letter to Lt. Balanban to refrain from harming or killing any of the cargadores explaining that it will cause tribal feuds between Bontocs and Ifugaos in the future. “The prisoners, nonetheless, provided information that Maj Karita had six officers with some 450 soldiers, armed with six trench mortar throwers, four machine guns, four Garand and one Enfield rifles. The rest were armed with their own individual rifles. “Lt. Balajo and his men were recalled from the Kiangan sector and ordered to proceed to Piwong to stand guard against the enemy marching from Banawe. Lt. Salvador took over the siege of the Kiangan stone garrison. “Meanwhile, the Battalion Commander left Hapao and was on his way to Burnay. Upon his orders, preparations for his coming were under way. A number of pigs, chicken, two carabaos were butchered by civilians of Burnay for feasting and rations of men in foxholes around the regimental HQ. “On January 4, rush reports revealed that another two battalions of Japanese arrived at Banawe. Those posted at O-ong joined the new arrivals from Bontoc. Lt. Balanban informed that the Banawe barracks was well fortified. “Along the Nayun-Lamut road, four Japs on horseback, probably on reconnaissance, was halted by a volley of bullets by the men of Lt. Puguon. They escaped back to Lamut where an enemy battalion held camp. Fiesta in the midst of war “January 5. Captain Bunol has not yet arrived at Burnay while he reportedly left Hapao the day before yesterday. “Information filtering the camp disclosed that he went to the border of Ifugao and Benguet where he indulged, for two continuous days and nights, in a bountiful feast on food and drinks coupled with dancing and singing among hundreds of spearmen and women. He arrived back in Hapao where the same kind of feasting went on to entertain the Lepanto headmen who came along. “At about 5 o’clock p.m. a messenger from Mayaoyao arrived reporting that some 500 Japanese soldiers and 200 (Japanese) constabulary men held a meeting in Santiago, Isabela and were preparing to advance toward Obao. Over a hundred civilians were also recruited as cargadores to accompany the expedition of the enemy. “About the same time, Lt. Guinid from the Kiangan sector reported that the enemy was repairing the bridge between Nayun and Lamut. “That night, Mr. Mariano and I became very anxious about our status. We have been waiting for about a week doing nothing except to supervise and help the civilians construct more living quarters for the soldiers. “On January 6, Lt. Guinid was ordered by Lt.