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 [88] to chiefs of guerillas in the Cagayan valley, recommending that they all "learn the verb 'Dukutar' [89] 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. [90] 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. "Manila, San Miguel, January 12, 1899. "Feliciano Cruz "Severino Quitiongco." (25 signatures follow.) (On the back is written in the handwriting of E. Aguinaldo): "Leberino Kitionko: "Feliciano de la Cruz: Commissioned to kill General Otis." [91] The difference in the spelling of the name Severino Quitiongco is doubtless due to the fact that Aguinaldo wrote it down as it sounded to him. When the Insurgent government began to be pinched for funds, failure to pay taxes became, in many cases, sufficient ground for murdering the delinquent. The method of procedure is set forth in the testimony of a tax collector, published in General Orders, No. 259, 1901, Division of the Philippines:--