Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No.8174

Introduced by HON. ALAN "ALDU" R. DUJALI

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to rename the Davao del Norte Police Provincial Office in Tagum City as Camp
Col. Claro L. Laureta to pay tribute to his outstanding contribution to the Province of Davao
del Norte during World War 2 and be remembered and cherished by the succeeding
generations.

As early as 1942, the seed of the guerrilla resistance movement against the Imperial Japanese
Army (A) was first established, organized and made operational in the “Free Davao area”,
now Davao del Norte and which eventually became one of the base of operation of the 10"
Military District (L0MD) until the liberation from Japanese rule in 1945.

The Davao guerrillas which was later designated as 130" Infantry Regiment of the 107"
Division, 10" Military District figured in countless small unit ambuscades and raids of JA
personnel and installations. Notably, two (2) major engagements against the JA were
recorded in the History of Mindanao Guerrillas by Col. Wendell W. Fertig, CO, 10 Military
District: The Epic Battle of Tagum (10-14 November 1944); and The Battle of Ising (3-10 May
1945).

Outstanding among these gallants who resisted the Japanese occupation and who shaped the
larger events of the resistance movement in the province was Colonel CLARO L LAURETA 0-
1407, a graduate of the Philippine Constabulary Academy Class of 1934. At the outbreak of
WW2, then Capt. Laureta was Commanding Officer of the 2" Davao Company of the
Philippine Constabulary (PC) based in Camp Victa in Kapalong, Davao. After the surrender of
the USAFFE in May 1942, Capt Laureta and his men, with indomitable spirit, resisted and
carried on the fight. Instead they moved to the interiors of the province and became the
nucleus of the guerrilla resistance movement in the province. From there, the 130" Infantry
Regiment was evolved whose mission was to harass the Japanese Army to the greatest extent
possible and to protect civilians especially the evacuees from Davao City who established
evacuation sites along the Libuganon River. Their activities were concentrated in the “Free
Davao area”, now Davao del Norte, which ensured in no small proportion the continuous


civilian support to the guerrilla organization. He rose to become the Commanding Officer of
the Davao Forces of the USAFFE (1941-42) and Commanding Officer of the 130" Infantry
Regiment, 10" Military District, USFIP (1943-45). His unit was responsible in the sabotage and
ambuscade operations of Japanese Army units in Davao area during the Second World War.
Notable among which was the ambush by his unit of a Japanese Army unit near Linao Point
resulting in the killing of 60 Japanese killed.

To give recognition and remember the significant contributions of Col. Claro L. Laureta to the
Wolrd War 2 history of the Province of Davao del Norte, it is only appropriate that the Davao
del Norte Provincial Office in Tagum City be named after him.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

G? ©

HON. ALAN "ALDU" R. DUJALI
Representative
2nd District, Davao Del Norte


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No.8174 _

Introduced by HON. ALAN "ALDU" R. DUJALI

AN ACT RENAMING THE DAVAO DEL NORTE POLICE PROVINCIAL OFFICE IN TAGUM CITY
‘AS CAMP COL. CLARO L. LAURETA

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. The Davao del Norte Police Provincial Office in Tagum City is hereby
renamed as Camp Col. Claro L. Laureta.

SEC. 2. This act shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

Approved,