KAKARONG REGIMENT: A ONE OF THE REGIMENT IN BULACAN MILITARY AREA Jesse G. Caling Capt. Alejo S. Santos, Inf., USAFFE, currently serving as the acting provincial governor of Bulacan, formally established the Kakarong Regiment, USPIF, under the Bulacan Military Area (BMA) on September 14, 1943. Five battalions, responsible for the municipalities of Bigaa (now known as Balagtas), Plaridel, and Guiguinto in the province of Bulacan, compose this regiment. They recruited the members from civilian volunteers, released prisoners of war, and men who had escaped from Bataan and Corregidor. From September 14, 1943, to November 24, 1944, this regiment was in close contact with the USAFFE Luzon Guerilla Army Forces, Kalayaan Area Command, which was then under the command of Captain Bernard L. Anderson, USA. The command was actively involved in the BMA from November 24, 1944, to March 31, 1945. Subsequently, it disbanded as an autonomous guerilla organization under the leadership of Capt. Alejo Santos. The BMA Division was no longer under Capt. Anderson's command as of November 24, 1944. On February 20, 1944, the GST units, led by Major Anastacio Jose, engaged the enemy at Pritil, Guiguinto, Bulacan. The encounter resulted in the deaths of five Japanese and one Filipino infiltrator. On September 20, 1944, the same unit at Tabang, Guiguinto, obstructed an enemy truck convoy and captured five barrels of gasoline. On October 5, 1944, they attacked and looted a train convoy transporting food provisions. On December 28, 1944, an encounter at Guiguinto resulted in the deaths of 16 Japanese soldiers. Lt. Col. Luis Sta Maria, who was leading a party of 60, confronted Japanese troops in Manatal, which is located three kilometers east of Bigaa. The four- hour combat resulted in the deaths of 12 Japanese and the destruction of truck equipment. This Regiment focused on training and arming its members, gathering critical enemy information, countering enemy propaganda, and planning future operations in accordance with the instructions of Capt. Anderson through Capt. Santos from the early phases of its organization to the middle of 1944. This command was able to acquire over 200 firearms and ammunition from a variety of sources by October 1944.