Vicente R. Lukban ...

General Vicente Rilles Lukban (February 11, 1860 - November 16, 1916) was a Philippine general during the Philippine-American War.


He was born in Labo, Camarines Norte on Feb. 11, 1860. His parents were Don Agustin Lukban   and Dona Andrea Rilles. He finished his early education in Escuela Pia, continued studying in Ateneo Municipal de Manila (now Ateneo de Manila University), and took up LLB in University of Santo Tomas and Colegio de San Juan de Letran.

He returned to Labo after resigning from his job at the Manila Court of First Instance. He married Sofia Dizon Barba and the union produced four children: Cecilia, Felix, Agustin, and Vicente. His first wife Sofia died after their last child was born. He left his children in the care of his brothers and sisters so that he could devote his time to the cause of the revolution.

On December 31, 1899, 100 Filipino riflemen under Gen. Lukban were gathered and there he proclaimed himself the new governor of Samar under the Philippine Republic, meeting little resistance. When the U.S. 1st Infantry Regiment landed on Samar’s shores in January 1901, they were met by charges of suicidal bolomen under Lukban’s command. Nevertheless, Lukban was soon forced to retreat inward, leaving behind an organized resistance network. Samarenos caught cooperating with the Americans were executed swiftly and dramatically. When U.S. General Arthur MacArthur offered Lukban amnesty in exchange for his surrender, he turned it down and swore to fight to the end.

Although bearing command responsibility for the Balangiga Massacre, he only learned about it a week later, on October 6, 1901. Other than a letter to town mayors encouraging them to follow the Balangiga example on the same date, there are no published records of his reaction to the news or later comment from him.

After Baldomero Aguinaldo’s capture in 1901, Samar, under Lukban's leadership, remained one of the few areas of Filipino Army resistance. However, American troops found few enemies to attack and found themselves constantly harassed by Lukban's guerillas, until two prisoners revealed the location of Lukban’s secret headquarters along the Caducan river. The prisoners warned that the fort was impregnable, but Major Littleton Waller sent scouts to investigate. 

On Feb. 27, 1902, Waller attacked with an amphibious assault team up the river, as Captains Bearss and Porter attacked by land with forces from Basey and Balangiga. The water assault was foiled by a Filipino trap, and Porter attacked alone. The Filipino soldiers fled machine gun fire, leaving scaling ladders behind for the Americans. The retreating Filipinos were gunned down from behind as the American flag was raised above the garrison. It was a clear victory for the United States, with 30 Filipinos dead and the capture of Lukban and his lieutenants. However, the war on Samar would not truly be over until the rugged interior was conquered.

The public career of Gen. Vicente Lukban did not end with his captivity. He was elected governor of Tayabas (Quezon now) in 1912 and re-elected in 1916. He died at his Manila residence on November 16, 1916.

Source:  Wikipedia

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