LUKBAN
a stronger enemy.“ Each chief of the town shall organize a guerrilla band of the strength he may consider proper, to be maintained by the town itself... The police commissioner( delegado de policia) shall be at the head of this guerrilla band to be armed with bolos, lances and arrows, the tactics of which I leave to the good of the delegado, or in case of necessity, let him come to me to be taught how he must attack the enemy. And in the absence of the commissioner, another patriot shall be at the head of said guerrilla band, who shall report to me.” 20
A guerrilla officer shall appoint 2 sergeants and four corporals when his company is 50 men strong; twice the number when it is 100 men strong.
The sergeant who is second in command after the officer shall strictly obey orders, otherwise will be punished according to military regulations.
The guerrilla who captures 25 guns and a great quantity of ammunition shall be promoted to the rank of second lieutenant of the regular army; and if the guns captured amount to 50, 100, 150, 200, etc., he shall be promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, captain, major, etc.
A guerrilla officer shall look after the health of his men and shall do his best in the collection of war contributions. In the event of his men needing food, he shall send notice to the head of the barrio.
A guerrilla officer shall be held responsible for the behavior of his subordinates, and the guilty parties shall be sent up to me to my chiefs of columns for punishment.
A guerrilla officer shall try in every way to make prisoners of our enemies, and in case they make resistance, he is to shoot them.
A guerrilla officer shall prevent any act of abuse of destruction or robbery attempted by his men; those found guilty of these acts shall be sent to the chiefs or inspectors of columns.
A guerrilla officer shall prevent any unlawful collection of war contributions, and those found guilty of such shall be sent up to me or to my chiefs of columns. 21
These issuances came at a time when the revolutionary movement was at its lowest ebb, and the Americans were hot on the heels of Lukban. To add to his growing miseries, news of defections came to his attention after February 4. A captain of Lukban’ s infantry and his deputy in Catbalogan also turned themselves in. In addition, some 40 soldiers surrendered with their firearms near Calbayog. But the biggest blow to Lukban was the defection of his second-in-command, Col. Benedicto Sabater, a member of one of Catbalogan’ s prominent families and his
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