(Signed) “Isidoro Torres.
“17th February, 1899.”[4]
Evidently General Torres’ recommendation was favourably acted upon, for among the papers of the Insurgent government is a memorandum,[5] apparently in Aguinaldo’s handwriting, stating that—
“there were 297 Spanish friars held prisoners in Luzón, and that on February 17, 1899, those in Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Pampanga, 111 in all, had been ordered by him to be concentrated in La Paz”!
In many instances other prisoners were murdered outright. This hard fate befell three Spaniards, of whom one was a friar, and two were shipwrecked Englishmen, who were butchered in Zambales in December, 1899, upon the approach of the American troops, apparently by the order of the governor, Vicente Camara.[6]
On February 15, 1900, an expedition under the immediate command of Brigadier-General J. M. Bell sailed from Manila under the personal supervision of Major-General Bates. This was composed of troops detailed to take possession of North and South Camarines and Albay, to which provinces Insurgent troops, having many Spanish prisoners in their possession, had been forced to retire as a result of the operations in Tayabas Province. In compliance with these instructions the town of Daet was occupied after some resistance and the Insurgents in that quarter were driven to the northeast, taking with them a number of Spanish prisoners. A large proportion of these were murdered by command of the officer in charge of the guerilla band guarding them, probably because he was not able to force them to move as rapidly as his own men.
On November 15, 1900, Simeon Villa, of evil fame, issued a circular letter[7] to chiefs of guerillas in the Cagayan valley, recommending that they all “learn the verb ‘Dukutar’[8] so as to put it into immediate effect,” and adding “it is the most efficacious specific against every kind of evil-doer, and most salutary for our country.” This, too, under the “Filipino Republic” before the outbreak of war with the United States, and at a time when we are assured that “profound peace and tranquillity” prevailed in this region.
This villanous order was approved and made general in its application by Aguinaldo himself, on November 15, 1900.[9]
Aguinaldo’s orders were not always couched in such general terms as the one above quoted. Among the most interesting of the captured Insurgent documents is the following:—
“Our Honourable President: We, the signers, who subscribe the declaration appended; by these presents protest against the American proclamation; we recognize no authority but that of God and the Revolutionary Government, and we offer our lives and property for the independence of our country.