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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