The Philippines: Past and Present (Volume 1 of 2)Worcester, Dean C. (Dean Conant)
History
The Philippines: Past and Present (Volume 1 of 2)
Worcester, Dean C. (Dean Conant)
Philippines; Philippines -- History -- 1898-1946
"Even the Indios of Cagayan complained and were the victims of
looting and robbery on the part of the soldiery. So lacking in
discipline and so demoralized was that army that according to
the confession of a prominent Filipino it was of imperative
necessity to disarm them. [278] On the other hand we saw
with real astonishment that instead of warlike soldiers
accustomed to battle they were nearly all raw recruits and
apprentices. From an army lacking in discipline, and lawless,
only outrages, looting and all sorts of savagery and injustice
were to be expected. Witnesses to their demoralization are,
aside from the natives themselves who were the first to
acknowledge it, the Chinese merchants whose losses were
incalculable; not a single store or commercial establishment
remained that was not looted repeatedly. As to the Spaniards
it goes without saying because it is publicly known, that
between soldiers and officers they despoiled them to their
heart's content, without any right except that of brute force,
of everything that struck their fancy, and it was of no avail
to complain to the officers and ask for justice, as they turned
a deaf ear to such complaints. At Tuguegarao they looted in a
manner never seen before, like Vandals, and it was not without
reason that a prominent Filipino said, in speaking to a priest:
'Vandalism has taken possession of the place.' These acts of
robbery were generally accompanied by the most savage insults;
it was anarchy, as we heard an eye-witness affirm, who also
stated that no law was recognized except that of danger,
and the vanquished were granted nothing but the inevitable
duty of bowing with resignation to the iniquitous demands of
that soulless rabble, skilled in crime."
Villa now set forth for Isabela. Meanwhile the jailer of the priests
proceeded to steal their clothes, including shirts, shoes and even
handkerchiefs. Isabela was taken without resistance on September
12. Dimas Guzman [279] swore to the priests on his life that he would
work without rest to the end that all friars and all Spaniards might
be respected, but he perjured himself.
On September 12 Villa and others entered the town of Cabagan Viejo,
where Villa promptly assaulted Father Segundo Rodriguez, threatening
him with a revolver, beating him unmercifully, insulting him in every
possible way and robbing him of his last cent. After the bloody scene
was over he sacked the _convento_, even taking away the priests'
clothes.
Villa also cruelly beat a Filipino, Quintin Agansi, who was taking
care of money for masses which the priests wished to save from the
Insurgents.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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