Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Document 545

 It turns out there is a document such as this, the basis of the town's celebration of SingKapital. A facsimile of the document is provided by Dr. Clarita DG. Jimenez. (This document is not yet on display at the Museum.)


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Document 545
President Aguinaldo Disbands the Regular Army of the Republic and Establishes Guerrilla Warfare Against the Americans
(Bayambang, November 12, 1899)

On November 12, 1899, President Aguinaldo and other Filipino military leaders, worried by the irresistible avalanche of American victories in the battlefields, held an emergency meeting at Bayambang. In this meeting it was decided to disband the regular army and continue the resistance to American invasion by means of guerrilla warfare. Accordingly, President Aguinaldo issued the following decree:

In accordance with the present politico-military status in this, the center of Luzon, and using the powers I possess, in accordance with my council of government, I decree the following:

1. The politico-military command of the center of Luzon is hereby established, comprising of Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Sambales, and Pangasinan.

2. The superior commander in question will have full and extraordinary powers to issue orders by proclamation, impose contributions of war and to adopt all such measures as may seem for the good service of the country.

3. The troops which will operate in all the described districts will maneuver in flying columns and in guerrilla bands; these will be under the orders of the aforesaid superior commander, to whose orders all the other leaders and generals will be subject, reporting to him and receiving from him orders and instructions of the government; nevertheless, all orders received direct from the government will be obeyed and advice of the same will be given to the superior commander aforesaid.

4. Sr. Pantaleon Garcia, General of Division, is appointed politico-military commander of the center of Luzon, and he will assume in addition, the judicial powers which belong to me as Captain-general.

Given at Bayambang, November 12, 1899.

Signed EMILIO AGUINALDO
President

Report of Arthur MacArthur, Lieutenant General Commanding Division a Division of the Philippines (Washington D.C., 1900) p.1.

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