LUKBAN
gentlemen; and on the same afternoon Señor Enage was appointed temporary chief( undoubtedly at his own request), while Señor Emeterio Enage was appointed local chief. This was done without the approval of the people of the locality, in fact without even consulting them, notwithstanding that they were represented on this occasion by the principal citizens of the community, which later, however, were so completely surprised by this step that they were not able to protest … We thought it better to await the day of formal elections and then we would be consulted. But, your Excellency, the day arrived and nothing was done. The Enages, or one of them at the instance of the other, called only on their friends and comrades on the previous night, instructing them on how to vote, and these instructions were carried out on the day set for the election, we, however, not having been called. In this manner, Emeterio Enage, a man whom people disliked on account of his bad character as shown by him during the four years he served as gobernadorcillo during the Spanish Government was elected local chief. In all this time, he did nothing for the people.
“ He did, however, claim for himself the benefits of the prestacion personal service, out of which he bought for himself a house, or rather a palace, entirely neglecting the public works of the Province which had to be kept up by utilizing the prisoners from the provincial jail. This exactly suits the plans of Señor Francisco Enage de Jesus, who, himself, is trying by every means in his power to become Provincial Governor or Chief, and he has made his intentions known to the newly made Local Chiefs of the province. General Lukban defended him with tooth and nail, notwithstanding the protests made to him. This, however, is natural as the Enages are his friends, and he has been staying in Emeterio’ s house. Not only did the general pay no heed to our protest, but he even threatened us through his secretary Esteban Aparri, saying he would shoot us for making the complaint... This is the only election in which favoritism and injustice have been showing; the same has also occurred in other towns through the machinations of the ever notorious Francisco Enage, now candidate for governor. He and Lukban are inseparable, and their sole occupation is in organizing factions and working up favoritism …. The elections have, with the exception of one, been presided over by Lukban or by means commissioned by him; and he didn’ t even notice the Politico-Military Governor appointed by you, namely, Señor Ambrosio Mojica, who is now here in the province.”
The petitioners led by Alejandro de los Reyes of Tacloban and 21
19