AGUINALDO TO MOJICA, JANUARY 1, 1899
Exhibit 1369.
[Original in Tagalog. A.L.S . P.I.R . , 1037 3.]
(Letter head) Revolutionary Government of the Philippines. Office
of the President.
INSTRUCTIONS TO COLONEL MOJICA.
JANUARY 1, 1899.
1. On your arrival there you will organize the towns comprising
the jurisdiction of the province of Leyte into Municipalities with their
respective local presidentes, commissioners, and police.
II. You will collect war contributions from those who can afford to
pay them, as a large amount of money is needed for the purchase of
arms and other articles.
III. You will continue in force temporarily all taxes which were
imposed during the Spanish domination.
IV. Women will be exempt from the payment of personal tax;
however, if there be any of them willing to pay said tax the offer will
be accepted and entered as war tax, provided the person is well-to-do.
V. All kinds of property belonging to Spaniards not married to
native women will be confiscated as a measure on precaution, if they
fail to pay a war tax of 5% of the value of their property; a detailed
inventory will be made and kept by, and under the responsibility of,
the receiver designed and the presidente of the town. If a Spaniard
be married to a native woman and has a bad reputation in the town,
his property will also be confiscated. Similar action will be taken with
reference to Filipinos whose behavior has been unsatisfactory. On confiscating
property a copy of the inventory will be sent to this office or
to the Central Republican Government.
VI. When the amount of money collected has become large then,
or once each month, a remittance will be made to this Government
through trustworthy parties or by letters of exchange properly drawn
by a resident foreign merchant.
VII. A duty of 5 % ad valorem will be collected on all merchandise
shipped from or received at ports of the province in coastwise
trade. Reliable persons will be placed in charge of the ports and the
presidente of the town will audit the collections.
VIII. In case a controversy on matters of minor importance should
arise owing to the people's want of judgment, a settlement shall be made by
arbitration.
IX. The policy of the Government shall always be that of attraction
and equal treatment to all, especially to foreigners.
X. No attention will be paid to claims of foreigners to be excused
from payment of taxes or duties or compliance with the decrees or
orders of this Government, unless it is otherwise ordered or directed
by this Government. No merchandise will be shipped without the proper
duty first having been paid.
XI. No discharge receipts shall be issued except those from stub
books furnished by this Government, or, in lieu thereof, certificates
shall be issued by the politico-military governor with a statement of
the import and export duties and the amount collected. A report of
the transaction will be made to this government within fifteen days.
XII. A duty of 15% ad valorem will be collected from all articles
shipped abroad, and 5 % from all merchandise imported from foreign
countries.
(Signed) EMILIO AGUINALDO.
MALOLOS, January 1, 1899.
(SEAL) Revolutionary Government of the Philippines. Office of the
President.