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WhoreallyorderedLunasmurder?|InquirerOpinion

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Who really ordered Lunas murder?

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By: Ambeth R. Ocampo

Philippine Daily Inquirer

@inquirerdotnet

12:06 AM June 5th, 2015

On the afternoon of June 5, 1899, Gen. Antonio Luna arrived in the kumbento of Cabanatuan for a meeting
with Emilio Aguinaldo. Tired from traveling over 100 kilometers from his base in Bayambang, he was

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understandably upset to be told that the President had left earlier in the day. Luna was met by Felipe

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Buencamino, with whom he had previous disagreements. Then there was Capt. Pedro Janolino, as well as
the Kawit presidential bodyguards reinstated by Aguinaldo after he had them disarmed. The rest, as the

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clich goes, is history.

Luna, together with his aide Col. Paco Roman, was killed. Luna suffered over 30 wounds from bolos,
Seeing my Church in better
light amid Edsa chaos

bayonets and bullets. A lesser man would have died instantly from half of his wounds, but the general was
able to stagger out of the building, cursing his murderers, before falling lifeless on the church patio. When
it was all over, Aguinaldos mother, who watched the slaughter from a church window, said: Nagalaw pa ba
iyan (Is he still alive)?
Afterwards, Luna and his aide were given a proper military burial. But the questions persist to this day:
Who really ordered the murder of Luna? Was Luna really summoned to a meeting with Aguinaldo? If so,
why wasnt Aguinaldo there? And why were Aguinaldos Kawit bodyguards left behind, when their job was

to secure the President at all times?

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WhoreallyorderedLunasmurder?|InquirerOpinion

Textbook history has been oversimplified to blame

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Aguinaldo when the story is more complicated. We know

about the assassination, but not the other events that
led to Lunas bloody end. From The Evening News, an
American paper published in Washington, we read this

September10th,2015

report a week later:

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report

Manila, June 13. [7.35 p.m.]General Luna, lieutenant

commander of the Filipino army, has been assassinated
Beep

September10th,2015

by order of Aguinaldo. He was stabbed to death by a

guard selected by Aguinaldo to kill him. Reports were

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received here this morning giving the news that Luna

had been assassinated, but the information was at first
discredited. Investigation proved, however, that Luna had been killed and General Otis has authentic

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information regarding the death of the insurgent general.

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Details regarding the tragedy show that last Tuesday the general and his adjutant, Colonel Ramon
[Roman], visited Aguinaldos headquarters at Cabanatuan, their purpose being to procure Aguinaldos
authority to imprison all Filipinos suspected of being friendly to the United States. General Luna asked the

September11th,2015

captain of the guard in the lower hall of Aguinaldos quarters, if Aguinaldo was at home, to which question

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the captain replied in an insolent manner, I dont know.

Luna berated the officer vigorously for his insolence, whereupon the captain put his hand upon his

September10th,2015

revolver. Luna instantly drew his revolver and fired at the captain, who was only a second behind the

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banned IV on eve of
fight with Pacquiao

general in drawing his weapon. The captain returned the fire. Both missed and Colonel [Roman] interfered,
whereupon a sergeant of the guard stabbed Luna with a bayonet. The entire guard then attacked both
Luna and [Roman] with bayonets and bolos, soon killing them. The wounds of both men were numerous.

September11th,2015

The guard whose insolence to Luna was the main cause of the assassination was, it is said, arrested, tried
by court-martial and promptly acquitted. Further advices say that Ney [?], by order of Aguinaldo, purposely
insulted Luna and forced a quarrel. One report says Luna was shot before Ney stabbed him.
Laws course

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The foregoing information was sent by the Filipino leader, Pedro Paterno, to his brother in Manila by
special courier and is confirmed from other sources. The assassination of Luna recalls the similar fate of

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WhoreallyorderedLunasmurder?|InquirerOpinion

Andres Bon[i]facio in the Cavite province in the beginning of the revolution. Both were rivals of Aguinaldo
for the leadership of the Filipinos.
Luna was exceedingly unpopular among the Filipino troops on account of his stubborn, dictatorial
manners, and very little regret is expressed at his death. Luna and Aguinaldo were unable to agree as to
the manner of conducting the campaign, and it is said the rebel chief was afraid he would be assassinated
by Lunas orders. The death of General Luna is looked upon by the majority of the Filipinos as an
undisguised blessing.
Adjutant General Corbin refused this morning to discuss the reported assassination of General Luna. He
would not deny that General Otis had informed the department of Lunas death, but refused to affirm. It is

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believed that the death of Luna will mark the beginning of a break in the insurgent ranks. Notwithstanding
his lack of accord with Aguinaldo, Luna undoubtedly had many followers among the rebels and they will, it
is believed, resent his murder.
Pedro Paterno is cited as a source for the news report and others that appeared in US papers.
Paterno was biased against Luna, and it is obvious that those most threatened by Luna protected
themselves by playing on Aguinaldos fear and insecurity. They got rid of Apolinario Mabini by intrigue,
Luna had to be disposed of by murder. A more nuanced reading of the challenges that faced the short-lived
First Philippine Republic leads us to the complex background of the Luna assassination.
History provides perspective to the intrigue swirling over all the presidential aspirants for next years

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election. History remains relevant because in it we come to understand human nature, and appreciate why
we are the way we are.
***
Comments are welcome at aocampo@ateneo.edu

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3Comments

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Addacomment...

EddieCalderonUniversityofMinnesota
IwouldliketosharethecommentsImadefortheInquirernewsafterreadingthisarticleaboutthe
deathofGeneralLuna.GeneralAntonioLunagothismilitaryeducationfromPrussia/Germany
whichwasknowntotheworldatthattimeandperhapstodayforitsstrictmilitarydisciplinenotonly
whengoingtoschoolformilitaryeducationbutinthemilitaryfieldinvolvingregularsoldiers.
ManyhavereportedthatFilipinodisciplineinthemilitaryduringthattimewasnothingcomparedto
themilitarydisciplineinGermany.Andifthecauseofhisassassinationwasangerfromthe
person/s... SeeMore
LikeReplyJun8,20156:27am

Get to know this years IMMAP Summit

speakers!

EmmanuelVillaromanNewYork,NewYork
GOODWRITWUPFORGE.A.LUNA,HOWABOUTHEREMAINSIFBONIFAVCIOBROTHERS
AMASKING?ZEROMRAMBET.ZERO.
LikeReplyJun6,20151:30am

CJoieBuena
Pleasewatchthemovie,HeneralLuna.
LikeReplySep10,201511:47am
FacebookCommentsPlugin

Commentsforthisthreadarenowclosed.

21Comments

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bibabawan 3monthsago

Lunahasmademanyenemiesamongtheofficercorp,congressandtheAguinaldocabinet.

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WhoreallyorderedLunasmurder?|InquirerOpinion

Lunahasmademanyenemiesamongtheofficercorp,congressandtheAguinaldocabinet.
Janolin,aCavitenoandcloseassociateofAguinalldo,wassingledoutforinsubordinationfor
refusingtoadvancehisCavitebrigademassedatLaLomaduringtheFeb1899counterattackof
Manila.LunajailedJanolinandstriphimofhisrank.BuencaminowassimilarlyjailedbyLunafor
proposingtoseekarmisticewiththeAmericans.Thentherewastheinfamousabandonmentby
LunaandanumberofhistroopsoftheFilipinodefenselineinBagbag,BulacantoconfrontGen
MascardoinGuagua,becausehewantedtopunishMascardoandshamehimbeforehisown
troopsforrefusingtoobeyhisorders,moresobecauseMascardowasheardsayinghewould
onlytakeordersfromAguinaldo.TheAmericans,ofcourse,overrantheundermanneddefenseline
andpavedthewayforthedefeatoftheFilipinoarmyinallofCentralLuzon.Lunaalsoissued
orderstolocalgovernmentswhichAguinaldotookasinterferencewiththecivilianauthority.Andin
allcontroversialordersissuedbyLuna,Aguinaldohadthemreversed.EnmitybetweenAguinaldo
andLunagrewandwasfurtheraggravatedbyshortnotesbyMabinitohis"Puno",sayingLuna
wasamisfitinthearmy,thathewascreatinghisownarmycomposedofIlocanorecruitsandthat
hewasplanningtolaunchacouptotakeoverthegovernment.IthinkAguinaldo,likehishandling
ofBonifacio,madethecruicialmovetoeliminateLunabeforeLunacouldmakehis.

MeForeverButterfly...
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TGM_ERICK>bibabawan 3monthsago

Lunamighthavebeenharshbuthepunishedtheseinsubordinatesandtraitorsrightly.What
couldhavebeenkayaifLunaandBonifaciowonandthereforenoAmericanintrusioninthe
runningofourgovernment.andiftheformerwouldhavesurvivedthewealthtemporarily
giventothegreatgreatauntofKriswouldhavebeentakenbackbyLunatobeusednthe
establishmentofapureFilipinorungovernment.

Share

bibabawan>TGM_ERICK 3monthsago

AreyoureferringtothetreasuryoftheMalolosRepublic?Themoneytogetherwith
importantdocumentsoftherevolutionwereloadedin20bullcartsonordersof
AguinaldoandhauledtobehiddensomewhereinnorthernLuzon,whichwerelater
trackeddownandconfiscatedbytheAmericans.

Share

teddyboy>bibabawan 3monthsago

aha....justifyingaguinaldo'saction!kamaganakka?sobranglayonasiguro?
http://opinion.inquirer.net/85501/whoreallyorderedlunasmurder

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ThursdayassluggisheconomicdataoutofChina7/12

9/11/2015

WhoreallyorderedLunasmurder?|InquirerOpinion

aha....justifyingaguinaldo'saction!kamaganakka?sobranglayonasiguro?

Share

ThursdayassluggisheconomicdataoutofChina
andJapanresonatedacrossregionalmarkets.The
Phi...

bibabawan>teddyboy 3monthsago

No,Iamnotkamaganak,justimpressedontheaccomplishmentsofAguinaldofrom
thetimehedefeatedtheSpaniardstotheestablishmentandoperationofthe
MalolosRepublicuptohistreacherouscapturebytheAmericans.

Share

teddyboy>bibabawan 3monthsago

hinahangaanmopalamgaganungtao?sabagaysyaangugatkayanauso
angpulitikahansamgaliderngpinasinuunaangpansariliinteres!!!!!
hahahaha

Share

InquirerGroup
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.@MARoxasonanniversarygreeting:Ididnt
meantoupsetZamboangueos
inq.ph/roxaszamboI@JLDejesusINQ
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mamasapano 3monthsago

Paternosnarrativeismixedwithdoubts.FirstitimmaculatesAguinaldofromtheassasinationof
Luna.AndwhywouldLunagotoCabanatuanifitwerentanorderfromtheboss?SecondPaternos
narrativeclaimsantineocolonialAmericanstanceheldforinstancebyLunaisntwelcomeby
FilipinosoldierslikeproneocolonialistBuencamino.PaternoUSnarrstiveonlypresentsstoryto
AmericanpopulationtornbyUSinterferencetoPhilippinesthatalliswellforUStosucceedSpain
inthePhilippinesgiventheperceivedproAmericanFilipinorevolutionarysoldiers.

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bibabawan>mamasapano 3monthsago

ThisunfortunateincidentwasprecededbyAguinaldo'sorderreversingLuna'sinstructions
tothelocalciviliangovernmentsaboutrelationshipwithAmericans,recruitsandfunding.
Lunawasheardbywitnessestohavereceivedtheorderangrilyandsaying:"Hewillbe
deadmeattomorrow.",whichwasreportedtoAguinaldo.So,ingoingtoCabanatuan,itis
quitepossibleLunaalsowantedtoclarifymatterswithAguinaldopersonally.

Share

dlagotka 3monthsago

AguinaldoseemstobeaverynotoriousleaderaccordingtothepresentationsofOcampo.Hewas
abletodisposeofhisrivals,wasalandgrabber,andrunawaywiththepeople'smoney.Isn'tit
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timeweputhimandotherswhotookadvantageoftheyoungrepublictotrial?

Share

bibabawan>dlagotka 3monthsago

Canyoupleaseelaborateonlandgrabbingandrunningawaywithpeople'smoneyyou
attributetoAguinaldo?

Share

dlagotka>bibabawan 3monthsago

GobacktothepastarticlesofOcampo.

Share

ApoNiLolo 3monthsago

Thefactthathismotheruttered"Nagalawpabaiyan?"pointsout,hismotherknewaboutthe
impendingdoomofLuna.Ifthemotherknewanddidnothingtosavethegeneral,then,itcanbe
assumedshedidittoprotecthersonwhowasinvolvedandperhapsthemastermindofthecrime.

Share

Islander 3monthsago

Forthefirsttimeinalongwhile,Ocampofinallycoveredahistoricalquestionotherthananytrivia
aboutRizal.HeaskedaboutLuna'sassassinationandhintedbroadlythatitisnotpurelyAguinaldo
whowastoblamebutalsothehangersonaroundthepresident.But,forahistorianwhohavebeen
tellingusdetailslikewhatRizalhadforbreakfast,hecannotprovideanydetailsonhishypothesis
thatour"first"presidentwaslesscriminallyliablethangenerallybelieved.Iamunderwhelmed.
1

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fpc 3monthsago

Whatwerethecircumstancesthathappenedthatdaythatsomebodywitnessedthemotherof
Aguinaldo"whowatchedtheslaughterfromachurchwindow,said:Nagalawpabaiyan(Ishestill
alive)?thisisquitedisturbing.ThatalonerevealsthehatredoftheclantoLuna.
ThisputsmoreweightonthebeliefthatAgunaldohadahandonLuna'sdeathandonthedeathtoo
ofBonifacio.
1
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KalaMagdael>fpc 3monthsago

Whowasthesourcewhoheardthemothersaidsuchathing?Wasthisbroughttobolster
thepremisethatAguinaldowasbehindtheassassination?
1

Share

MagnusHistorae>fpc 3monthsago

Aguinaldo'shandistaintedwiththebloodofhisowncountrymen.Hewasthemastermind
behindthemurderoftheBonifaciobrothers,theassassinationofGen.AntonioLunaandof
coursethesacrificeofGen.GregoriodelPilarinTiradPassandperhapsothersthatwe
deemedtoounimportant.TheFirstPresidentoftheFirstPhilippineRepublicwasamanof
questionablecharacter,hewaspowerhungry,narcissistandofcoursecannottoleratethe
slightestcriticismofhisleadership.Unfortunately,wehavethousandsofAguinaldosinour
midsttoday.
2

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shamgar 3monthsago

It'sFelipeBuencamino,number2balimbing(proSpanish,pronativesandlastlyproAmericans).
Number1balimbingwasPedroPaterno.Ofcourse,justlikebefore,Aguinaldodidnotpunishthe
instigators.
1

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jcj2013 3monthsago

AnswerisAguinaldo.Tooobvious.Papupuntahinmoyungheneralmo,taposlalayaska?
1

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Islander>jcj2013 3monthsago

Itwasanambushthatwasaggravatedbecausethevictimwasforcedtocometothe
ambushpointby"legitimate"orderfromasuperior.Our"first"presidentwasamultiple
murdererwithapredilectionofkillinglegitimateheroes.Hewasthetruestantihero.
1

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BuwayaBuwitreBaboycompany 3monthsago

June12isAguinaldosponsoredIndependenceday,Traitors.

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joerizal 3monthsago

Whateverthestoryis,twothingsstillringtrueofFilipinos1)Theyhavenoregardforauthority
(likeLuna)and2)theywillkillwhenslighted(likeAguinaldo)
1

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TAGS: andres bonifacio, Antonio luna, Apolinario Mabini, Emilio Aguinaldo, Felipe Buencamino, Paco
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