16 July 1943
The source of water supply for Misamis and Labo was the Malibangcao spring in Clarin, Misamis Occidental. When the guerrillas cut the pipe line from Malibangcao, the Japs in the town of Misamis (present day Ozamiz City) sent a patrol of one hundred men to this place in the night of 15 Jul 1943 to investigate the condition of the reservoir.
Capt LUCAS NARANJO, after having been informed of this movement, prepared for an ambush.
The guerrilla force consisted of Capt NARANJO, lst Lt. FROILAN F. RAMIRO, T-3rd Lt EPIFANIO MOLASCO and thirty-four riflemen of “A” Co, 106th Infantry Regimentt. The plan was to strike the enemy patrol on its return from Malibangao.
NARANJO, with Sgts POTENCIANO SATURPE and ERIBERTO BALINDRES, armed with machine rifles and two riflemen: Pfc TEOFILO EZARAN and Pvt MAGDALENO NARANJO, marched ahead of the party and waited at a storehouse by the roadside.
About 11:00 AM, 16 Jul 1943, they observed the approach of three enemy scouts so hid inside the storehouse. The guerrilla main body following hastily deployed in a line fifty yards from the road.
Two of the three Japs sat in front of the storehouse where NARANJO and his men were hiding. While the third remained near the road. NARANJO, SATURRE and BALINDRES refrained their fire until the main Jap column was near.
NARANJO then gave the order. to commence battle by firing at the three enemy scouts who were easily eliminated. Exchange of fire was intense and terrific.
When NARANJO finally ordered withdrawal for lack of ammunition the enemy had lost forty men dead and an undetermined number wounded. SATURRE and NARANJO were wounded and Corps MAXIMO LINGATONG and ASSELMO MEJIA captured by the enemy.
Source: History of the Mindanao Guerrillas by the American Guerrillas of Mindanao (AGOM) (Unpublished Manuscript)
