Hunters ROTC
Encyclopedia
The Hunters ROTC was a Philippine
guerrilla unit active during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines
, and was the main anti-Japanese guerrilla group active in the area near the Philippine capital of Manila
. It was created upon dissolution of the Philippine Military Academy
in the beginning days of the war. Cadet Terry Adivoso, refused to simply go home as cadets were ordered to do, and began recruiting fighters willing to undertake guerrilla action against the Japanese. This force would later be instrumental, providing intelligence to the liberating forces led by General Douglas MacArthur
, and took an active role in numerous battles, such as the Raid at Los Baños
. When war broke out in the Philippines, some 300 Philippine Military Academy and ROTC cadets, unable to join the USAFFE
units because of their youth, banded together in a common desire to contribute to the war effort throughout the Bataan campaign. The "ROTC lads", as they were referred to, did their bit to protect the civilians and to assist the USAFFE forces by way of intelligence and propaganda.
After the surrender of American and Filipino forces on Bataan, and organized resistance ceased, the entire group went up the Antipolo
mountains, bringing with them arms secured from civilians and USAFFE stragglers, and began calling themselves the Hunters.
The Hunters originally conducted operations with another guerrilla group called Marking's Guerrillas, with whom they went about liquidating Japanese spies. Led by Miguel Ver, a PMA cadet, the Hunters raided the enemy-occupied Union College in Manila and seized 130 Enfield rifles.
The Hunters was one of the more effective south Luzon guerrillas, Terry's Hunters were composed primarily of military academy and ROTC cadets. They were founded in Manila in January 1942 by Miguel Ver of the Philippine Military Academy, and moved to Rizal Province in April where they came under Col. Hugh Straughn's FAIT. After the Japanese captured Straughn and Ver the executive officer, Eleuterio Adevoso (aka Terry Magtanggol), also a Philippine Military Academy cadet, took over. They were among the most aggressive guerrillas in the war and made the only guerrilla raid on a Japanese prison, Muntinglupa (New Bilibid), to free their captured members and to obtain arms. They also participated in the liberation of Los Banos prison camp during liberation. Captain Bartolomeo Cabangbang, leader of the central Luzon penetration party, said that the Hunters supplied the best intelligence data on Luzon.
During the Liberation of Manila and Southern Luzon in January to August 1945, The local recognized guerrillas of the Hunters ROTC was helping the some of stronghold joint and combined military forces of Filipino soldiers and military officers of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary and the American soldiers and military officers of the United States Army in many sending operations in Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Tayabas (now. Quezon) was fought side by side against and defeated the Imperial Japanese armed forces led by General Tomoyuki Yamashita.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
guerrilla unit active during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines
Japanese occupation of the Philippines
The Japanese occupation of the Philippines was the period in the history of the Philippines between 1942 and 1945, when the Empire of Japan occupied the previously American-controlled Philippines during World War II....
, and was the main anti-Japanese guerrilla group active in the area near the Philippine capital of Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. It was created upon dissolution of the Philippine Military Academy
Philippine Military Academy
The Philippine Military Academy or PMA, is the Philippine military school for the Armed Forces of the Philippines . PMA was established on December 21, 1936 by the virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 1 . PMA is located in Baguio, Benguet province...
in the beginning days of the war. Cadet Terry Adivoso, refused to simply go home as cadets were ordered to do, and began recruiting fighters willing to undertake guerrilla action against the Japanese. This force would later be instrumental, providing intelligence to the liberating forces led by General Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
, and took an active role in numerous battles, such as the Raid at Los Baños
Raid at Los Baños
The raid at Los Baños in the Philippines, early Friday morning on 23 February 1945, was executed by a combined U.S. Army Airborne and Filipino guerrilla task force, resulting in the liberation of 2,147 Allied civilian and military internees from an agricultural school campus turned Japanese...
. When war broke out in the Philippines, some 300 Philippine Military Academy and ROTC cadets, unable to join the USAFFE
U.S. Army Forces Far East
USAFFE included the Philippine Department, Philippine Army , and the Far East Air Force. USAFFE Headquarters was created on July 26, 1941, at No.1, Calle Victoria, Manila, Luzon, the Philippines, with Major General MacArthur as commander. The Chief of Staff was Lieutenant General Richard K...
units because of their youth, banded together in a common desire to contribute to the war effort throughout the Bataan campaign. The "ROTC lads", as they were referred to, did their bit to protect the civilians and to assist the USAFFE forces by way of intelligence and propaganda.
After the surrender of American and Filipino forces on Bataan, and organized resistance ceased, the entire group went up the Antipolo
Antipolo
Antipolo is a city in the Philippines located in the province of Rizal; about 25 kilometers east of Manila. It is the largest city in the Calabarzon Region in terms of population...
mountains, bringing with them arms secured from civilians and USAFFE stragglers, and began calling themselves the Hunters.
The Hunters originally conducted operations with another guerrilla group called Marking's Guerrillas, with whom they went about liquidating Japanese spies. Led by Miguel Ver, a PMA cadet, the Hunters raided the enemy-occupied Union College in Manila and seized 130 Enfield rifles.
The Hunters was one of the more effective south Luzon guerrillas, Terry's Hunters were composed primarily of military academy and ROTC cadets. They were founded in Manila in January 1942 by Miguel Ver of the Philippine Military Academy, and moved to Rizal Province in April where they came under Col. Hugh Straughn's FAIT. After the Japanese captured Straughn and Ver the executive officer, Eleuterio Adevoso (aka Terry Magtanggol), also a Philippine Military Academy cadet, took over. They were among the most aggressive guerrillas in the war and made the only guerrilla raid on a Japanese prison, Muntinglupa (New Bilibid), to free their captured members and to obtain arms. They also participated in the liberation of Los Banos prison camp during liberation. Captain Bartolomeo Cabangbang, leader of the central Luzon penetration party, said that the Hunters supplied the best intelligence data on Luzon.
During the Liberation of Manila and Southern Luzon in January to August 1945, The local recognized guerrillas of the Hunters ROTC was helping the some of stronghold joint and combined military forces of Filipino soldiers and military officers of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary and the American soldiers and military officers of the United States Army in many sending operations in Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Tayabas (now. Quezon) was fought side by side against and defeated the Imperial Japanese armed forces led by General Tomoyuki Yamashita.