Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-05
CRUELTIES OF FlLIPINOS
FINDINGS OF MILITARY COMMISSIONS
IN THE ISLANDS.
Natives Convicted of Murder and
Guerrilla Tactics and the Employ
ment of Inhuman Methods.

The War Department is Informed that a
military commission, convened at San Fer
nando, 1IuZon, P. l., recently, sentenced a
native named Jacinto Pineda to imprison-
ment at hard labor for life on conviction of
murder and guerrilla tactics. 1t appears
from the evidence that Pineda was a men,
Der of band of insurgent guerrillas COM
manded by Eusedlo Rojas, notorious out
law the members of which band were ordi-
narily engaged in peaceful pursuits, but
occasionally assembled for the purposes of
robbery and murder. The specific offense
for which Pineda was tried was partlcipa-
tion in the burial alive Of a law-abiding
neighbor named Dalmacio Sicat. The ac-
cused, while confessing his part IN this
most cruel deed. pleaded his youth and the
compulsion exercised over him by Rojas,
who has since paid the penalty Of death for
this and other similar crimes OF which he
was the chief actor and instigator.
In reviewing the case, General Macarthur
said that the evidence showed that the &C.
cused was an active and willing agent, and.
in the eye of the law, principal In the
murder. He therefore approved the SEN
tence imposed.
Methods of the Sandatahans.
Another case tried by a military COM
mission at Vigan, Luzon, shows the meth
DDS Of a band Of outlaws known as the
were bound together by an oath to collect
contributions for the insurgents, and killed
all who did not obey the orders of its
chiefs. In pursuance of the bands meth
DDS one Luis Flores, in August, 1900, at
the barrio Of Paratong San Catalina, was
delivered, bound, by Luis Plana. captain.
or "Jefe principal" to three members Of his
band, with orders to take the captive to a
spot near the sea and kill him. 1t was
shown that the order was executed by the
the victim with sabers and daggers, at the
brink of a grave, in an Isolated spot Sc
lected for his interment, and in which
grave the victim was Immediately buried
fenced to be hanged by the neck The
other two prisoners were sentenced to
thirty years imprisonment at hard labor
Gen. Macarthur in reviewing the case
said that the legal guilt of the four pris-
oners seemed Of equal degree, and their
punishment should in his opinion be Of
equal extent. He therefore commuted the
sentences so as to provide that all four
prisoners should be imprisoned for thirty
years.
Convicted by circumstances.
Three other natives were convicted bv a
military commission at Urdaneta, Luzon
of murder and sentenced to death by hang
ing. In this case it appeared that the
three prisoners seized and bound native
ing in the Camanang river and that a few
days later his mutilated body was found In
the vicinity hacked with bolos, covered
with lacerated cuts, fractures ard 75raises,
nine in number, five of which were each
sufficient to cause death In addition
cord was tied very tightly AROUND the neck
Of the victim. The accused offered no de-
NAL or explanation Of the charge against
them. but rested their defense on the prop
osition that there was no eyewitness of
the actual killing, and that the worst which
had been proved against them was kidnap-
ing, which was not charged.
In his review of the proceedings, General
Macarthur said that the presumption of
the guilt Of the accused as shown by the
evidence overcame all reasonable doubt.
in accordance with recommendation Of the
department. commander. commuted it in
the case Of one Of the prisoners to twenty
years Imprisonment at hard labor and in
the case of the other two to imprisonment
at hard labor for life.