In Cabadbaran, Sergeant Gregorio Vince of the 81st Infantry Regimen formed a guerilla band and with him were Sergeants Celestino Dagani, Benjamin Barrientos, Pedro Orbita, and Pedro Galon. After apprehending an alleged Japanese spy, a certain "Sindak" whom they executed in Calibunan at the mouth of the Pandanon River, the group was joined in by Mr. Yray, the principal of the Cabadbaran Elementary School. Later on, Mr. Segundo Reyes of the Bureau of Lands joined the group and established a military camp at the outskirts of Tubay. This unit started apprehending bandits. Some weeks later, Judge Jose R. Villanueva, Justice of the Peace of Cabadbaran joined the guerillas and became its commanding officer with the nom de guerre of Captain Rovejo.

The guerillas, however, were having a difficult time procuring food, hence they decided to expand, absorbing into their folds people who could help them in their cause by procuring food, arms and ammunition. They, therefore called for a meeting of resistance sympathizers and the same was made at the farmhouse of Agaton Parrocho at Malico (the present site of the barrio of Calamba). Attending the meeting presided over by Judge Villanueva were Mr. Segundo Reyes, Mr. Vicente Zapanta, Manager of the Surigao Express, Atty. Tranquilino Ortega, who became the Judge Advocate General, Captain Celestino Udarbe, S-4, Mr. Agaton Parrocho, Chief Procurement Officer, Sergeants Gregorio Vince, Celestino Dagani, Benjamin Barrientos, Pedro Orbita and Pedro Galona,who were elevated to the rank of 3rd Lieutenants and some non-commissioned officers like Antimo Flora, Silverio Corvera, Neftali delos Reyes, Benito Orit and many others.

The unit grew into a battalion force, augmented by soldiers who chose to return home instead of surrendering to the Japanese. USAFFE Second Lieutenant Benjamin Famador and Third Lieutenant Plenio Atega, Prisoners of War, who were sent home by the Japanese to help in the Pacification campaign, instead joined the guerillas in Cabadbaran. In the month of November, after the fiasco in ambushing a Japanese patrol at Hacienda Soriano, the USAFFE group took the leadership from the civilians and Captain Benjamin Famador was installed as Battalion Commander. When Capt. Famador was transferred to the Division Headquarters, Captain Plenio Atega, who like Famador were adjusted to the ranks of Captain took over as Battalion Commander of the Second Infantry Battalion.

In the upper stretches of the Agusan River, Sergeants Alfredo and Santiago Cayton, prevailed upon Khalil Khodr, a Lebanese national, who was a gold prospector in Butuan to head the guerilla movement. Khodr had no choice. He had to fight to survive, being a white man. So, with a few officers and men, they established a guerilla outfit and were soon joined by USAFFE officers and men. Not long after, a new guerilla regiment, the 113th Infantry Regiment was formed with Khalil Khodr as Regimental Commander with the rank of Major. His staff and unit commanders were Capt. Godiardo Guillen, former Cadre Commander of Bancasi, Capt. Zacarias Pizzaro, Capt. Vicente Conde, Capt. Francisco Conde, Capt. Arnado, Lt. Mabakyao, Lt. Sulpicio Lagnada, Lt. Napoleon Pil, Lt. Juan Calo, Lt. Vicente Rosales, Lt. Adolfo Sanchez, Lt. Suico, Dr. Casiano Plaza, Lt. Dominador Gayon, Lt. Alfredo Calo and a host of other officers and men. A regimental band was also formed with Lt. Jovito Lagnada as Bandmaster.

The nucleus of the guerilla which was started in Cabadbaran, Amparo, Butuan City and Buenavista was formally organized into the 113th infantry Regiment with Khalil Khodr as Regimental Commander and Capt. Godiardo Guillen as Executive Officer. The 1st Battalion was headed by Lt. Makabayao, the 2nd by Capt. Plenio Atega and the 3rd by Lt. Ramon G. Ruiz. With Capt. Atega in the 2nd Battalion were Capt. Fesalboni as Executive Officer, Lt. Gregorio Vince, Company "A" and Junior Officers, Lt. Pedro Orbita and Lt. Pedro Galona, Company "B", was headed by Lt. Benjamin Barrientos and Company "C" by Lt. Celestino Dagani. Later, a Company "D" was formed under Lt. Alfredo Barrientos and Lt. Amando Bacleon. Headquarters was ran by Lt. Leonero.

A hospital was also established in Cabadbaran with Capt. Uyguangco, Hospital Incharge, Lt. Carlos Turla, Assistant Chief, Lt. Lumang, Hospital Dentist and Lt. Rivera, Medical Aide. Other officers in the battalion were Lt. Leonardo Paņares, Lt Marcelo Villalba, Lt. Jose Magno, Finance Officer, Lt. Amando Cabrera and Lt. Ricardo Moran. A Battalion Combat Team was also formed headed by Lt. Felipe Benavaye, Lt. Juan Lagrama and Lt. Eleazar Garces, all of whom are already dead. Lt. Garces retired as a Major in the US Army.

In Buenavista, where there was a rift among the members of the unit, Lt. Ramon G. Ruiz suceeded in reorganizing the same unit into a battalion and the other officers of the unit were Lt. Leonardo, Ex-O, Lt. Andres Pasion, Lt. Justino Honculada, Lt. Enrique Gerona, Lt. Jesus Ruiz, Lt. Disodado Robles, Lt. Mauro Aguilar, Lt. Nicolas Apolinar, Lt. Honrado, Lt. Napoleon Pastrana and others.

Later, Lt. Col. Ernest Mclish, who started to consolidate the guerilla regiments into a division, came over and had the 113th Infantry Regiment incorporated into the 110th Military Division, which included the 109th, 112th and 114th Infantry Regiments. Mclish pulled out some officers from the regiment and some of whom were Capt. Benjamin Famador and Major Juan Rivera. Aide to Mclish was Lt. Lorimer Reyes. Americans started joining the guerillas, some of whom were Capt. Knortz, Major Childress, Major Dubrvits, Lt. Rufie, Capt. Tom Baxter, Lt. Lou Robertson, Lt. McCarthy, Lt. Booth and others. The Adjutant General was Major Lagman and the fighting team of the Division was the Division Special Troops under the command of the Major Resauro Dongallo, later to become Governor of Misamis Oriental.

An Engineering Battalion was also formed under Lt. Pastor D. Ago and Lt. Alfonso Alaan. They not only repaired bridges but most of all, made grenades and cannons. One Ago cannon was responsible for the capitulation of the Provincial Building residents during the attack in Butuan, when the same was hit by the blast. Pastor Ago's cannon broke after one shell was fired.

A distillery was also established at Cabadbaran to rpoduce alcohol for vehicles. In charge was Lt. Domingo Enciso.

By early 1943, the guerillas were getting very strong because of their growing number, yet were losing face before the civilian populace, who were feeding them, for not doing anything against the Japanese garrisoned in Butuan. So, on the third Monday of March, 1943, the guerillas decided to launch an attack on Butuan, not only to destroy the Japanese garrison in Butuan but also to rescue Lt. Col. Ruperto Kangleon, incarcerated as a prisoner of war in the Provincial Jail building.

About 1,200 troops with guerillas issued 4-5 rounds of ammunition each, converged in Butuan for the attack. Units from the 113th Infantry Regiment, comprising the 1st, 2nd and 3rd battalions, the Combat Company, the Division Special troops and the Expeditionary Force of Col. Morgan attacked Butuan from all sides. With limited ammunition and unable to see Japanese snipers from houses, they decided to burn the whole town until only a few houses were left, giving them a clear view of the Primary School Building where the Japanese made their last stand.

The attack was so sudden that civilians in the town were caught by surprise. Amidst the exchange of fire between the guerillas and the Japanese, the civilians, including ourselves had to move to safer places. I had to move out things and help evacuate our family in Silongan in a big banca which would transport them across the river to Buhangin, thence to Mahay. I had to make the trip five times before all our necessities were finally evacuated. Considering that aside from my father, I was the only man in the family, comprised mostly of women and children, I could not join the guerilla like some others, much as I wanted to.

For three weeks after the rescue of Col. Kangleon, the guerillas kept the siege at the beleaguered Japanese, holed in the foxholes inside the primary school building. After Butuan was burned, only the following houses were leftstanding: (1) The Provincial Capitol Building which later was used as City Hall and finally as the INP Central Headquarters today; (2) The Primary School Building where the Japanese made their last stand until only 11 were left out the original 120 men; (3) the houses of Mateo tupaz, David Galicia, Engineer Ordona, Sulpicio Lagnada, the old hospital building and some small houses in the Agao area.

The siege would have caused the surrender of the Japanese were it not for the arrival of the Japanese planes which bombed the guerilla emplacements from sunrise to sunset. Because of the lack of ammunition, low food supply and the continuous bombing, the guerillas were forced to withdraw. It took three days after the guerilla withdrawal before the Japanese ventured outside their foxholes. When the Japanese were finally sure the guerillas were no longer around and with reinforcements from Cagayan de Oro, they tried to organize the municipal government of Butuan.

Pedro Torralba, the Japanese designated Mayor returned to Butuan with some families. The rest of the residents, however, did not want to return again to Poblacion for fear that they would be caught in the crossfire, should another attack occur. The Japanese on the other hand, started to strengthen their defenses and any civilian group ventured into Butuan would no longer be allowed to leave, perhaps with the idea that the civilian population would serve as a shield for their small garrison composed of one company of Japanese troops.