17 JANUARY 1945
Manicahan lies twenty kilometers from the City of Zamboanga and was important to the Japanese because a considerable quantity of their supplies had been conserved there.
The Enemy garrison consisted of 250 men guarding the Manicahan bridge; one hundred at the school building, one hundred in the heart of the town. Other Japs were stationed at Sabanita-Asinan, Sakol Island, Mercedes, and Zamboanga City – totaling between 4,000 to 6,000.
Two views of the Barredo Ancestral House in Manicahan which was used by the Imperial Japanese Army as a makeshift hospital during World War II. It has since burned down.
They were fully equipped with tanks, trucks, howitzers, SMs, MGs, grenade projectors, automatic weapons, rifles, etc. Intensive patrols were conducted. Positions were well entrenched and fortified; affording a good defense, field of fire and observation.
GUERRILLAS TAKE OFFENSIVE ACTION
Offensive operations against the enemy began on 17 Jan l945, at 7:55 AM. The guerrillas advanced towards Manicahan utilizing all available cover. The 81mm emplaced at Upper Corote shelled enemy emplacements at the Manicahan National Highway junction and at the school building. “I” Co crossed the river and gained the position heretofore occupied by the Japs at the school building.
The guerrillas held this until heavy enemy reinforcements arrived from Sakol Island and Po-ok in “kumpits” and “vintas” (native boats). Likewise, another Jap reinforcement from Asinan-Suba-nita engaged the Combat Co who were on their way to the alternate position where the 8lmm had been transferred.
‘The Combat Co withdrew at 9:00 PM, and the “I” Co to their first line of defense at Km 26, One Combat Co group of “TI” Co was left to delay any enemy action. In the meantime, other Combat Co groups of the “E”, “G” and “F” Cos harassed and ambushed enemy replacements along the highway.
Enemy casualties were then sixty seven dead and wounded. On the guerrilla side, one killed.
FIGHT AT BRIDGE
On 18 Jan 1945, enemy strength at Manicahan increased considerably overnight – about 600 to 700. Enemy pressure and lack of adequate ammunitions caused our troops to withdraw to Matamut. Replacements were effected, and again the different units moved to their respective zone of operation, One combat group of “I” Co was sent to reinforce the group at the bridge.
In the concerted action which followed, the guerrillas in spite of hard fighting, failed to dislodge the enemy. Actions this date accounted undetermined number of Japs killed; no loss on the guerrilla side.
On 19 Jan 1945, one combat group of “TI” Co was stationed at the edge of the rice field at Matamut to snipe and attract fire from the bridge and crossing while the Combat Co and the rest of “I” Co made for other Jap positions.
Snipers hiding on trees hampered the movements of the guerrillas. There was only desultory firing this time. At 10:00 PM, the guerrillas withdrew to their defensive positions. The day’s activity accounted for twenty-two Japs killed; none on the guerrilla side.
HARASSING EFFECTIVE
On 20 Jan 1943, enemy reinforcements again arrived at night, and morning found about 500 at Manicahan junction and about 200 at the bridge. Two combat groups of “I” Co were detailed to Matamut and two others at the bridge, while two officers and thirty seven men of the Combat Co tried for the junction.
The Combat Co guerrillas succeeded in removing the barbed wire entanglements on their way and gained enemy positions in their first line of defense. However, the enemy had plenty of reinforcements which caused the guerrillas to withdraw to their defensive positions. Ail the while, combat groups of “E”, “F”, and “G” Cos engaged in an all day and night harassing and ambushing engagements with the enemy along the National Highway.
The enemy suffered heavily on this date. Our casualties, one officer killed, four wounded, and one missing.
This entire operation – a true hit and run guerrilla tactic disturbed the heavily garrisoned Japs considerably and the death toll was exacting in favor of guerrilla troops.
Source: History of the Mindanao Guerrillas by the American Guerrillas of Mindanao (AGOM) Unpublished Manuscript
