-from a Private Collection
This isn't just an important document about the death of Heneral Luna
but a first hand view of the presidential household during the retreat north.
How efficient and functional it was - a fully functioning revolutionary
military government. It had protocols and offices. Janolino is mentioned as
Oficial de Guardia.
This CONFIRMS that the Kawit Battalion was not seen as just a bunch of
layabouts but was Aguinaldo's Household Guard and Aguinaldo himself confirms
that. This means that the accusation of Luna that they were lazy/did not follow
his instructions shows that Luna did not understand military protocol regarding
personal guard of the sovereign.
The Kawit Battalion was specifically under the command of President
Aguinaldo as his household guard. Luna could not just take command of them
without Aguinaldo's authority. This also brings out the very real threat that
Aguinaldo was warned of - that of Luna fomenting a Civil War.
Luna had betrayed the Revolution - rejected their own goddamn idol
Bonifacio for pity's sake - and upon being made General by Aguinaldo, proceeded
to hire the former Spanish Colonial Army officers which would have formed a
'personality cult' around him. Paco Roman, Bugallon, Sityar, etc. Who was to
say that Luna could not also use these officers to stage a coup and replace the
Autonomista government with one that HE picked. Aguinaldo acted as a prudent
leader dealing with a potentially dangerous situation.
Th ending is telling as well. Bonifacio was dangerous because of his
popularity and pre-revolutionary reputation but his failure as a military
leader lost him his reputation and then his followers. Luna on the other hand
had a cadre of Spanish and Ilustrado officers that were loyal to him. Yet he
too failed as a military leader but because of his training and demeanor was
able to scapegoat his failures off elsewhere - it was the Kawit troops fault,
it was the Cavitenos fault, it was someone else's fault. And with a personality
cult to back him up he very well might have started a coup - holding Aguinaldo
prisoner while taking the reins of government. TM IV
