LUKBAN
Chapter 11
Epilogue
Vicente Rilles Lukban did not fade into obscurity after his guerrilla days in Samar. He was brought by his captors to Manila, then imprisoned in Talim Island in Laguna de Bay until July 15, 1902. He lived in Manila with his family after his release, but in 1904, he and his brothers were charged with sedition by the Manila police. However, these charges would be dismissed by the Supreme Court. He returned to the public eye when he ran for governor of Tayabas in 1912 and won. He ran again in 1916 but did not complete his term due to illness. He died on November 16, 1916.
In later historical accounts, his name would be scarcely mentioned because of his critical role in Samar where the biggest number of American soldiers had paid with the ultimate sacrifice. In the history of the Philippine-American war, it was in Samar where Americans suffered the greatest number of casualties. It was also in Samar where they were put to shame in the well-documented Balangiga affair and in a number of other smaller encounters. The American press, which sensationalized the encounter in Balangiga, expressed the opinion that during the war, the Philippines meant Samar and Samar meant the Philippines. 1
Lukban’ s nemesis, the Philippine Scout Sgt. Pedro Lora, who was largely responsible for his capture along with other Filipino collaborators in the Philippine Scouts, did not fare so well in his short life. Although that single exploit earned him the highest rank given to a native, that of a second lieutenant, cholera took his life a year afterwards. He was only 32.
Lora’ s commanding officer, Lt. Alphonse Strebler, who was credited by superior officers for Lukban’ s capture, suffered a worse fate. After his commendation for a job well done in Samar, he was given a regular Army commission and assigned to an Artillery Corps in Fort Hunt, Virginia, in May 1903. Months later, he figured in an embezzling scandal, using government funds to pay off his debts. He was fingered by his own subordinate, arrested but broke arrest and fled the fort. Three months later, he was dropped from the Army roster as a deserter. 2
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