INTRODUCTION:
There has always been a mystery behind certain events in the past, and it is history's role to uncover them.
Voltaire once stated, "History is only the register of crimes and misfortunes." Exposing the loopholes in the
controversy surrounding General Luna's assassination will lead us to a verdict on the unwritten crime. Is it
righteous to terminate someone just out of hatred? Or is it an excellent move to diminish an uprising threat
to power? Either way, General Antonio Luna died tragically, and the reason behind his death is
unacceptable.
The controversy introduces two perspectives: Emilio Aguinaldo as the culprit in the assassination and the
alleged quarrel as a cause of Luna’s demise. On the afternoon of June 5, 1899, General Antonio Luna
arrived in the convent of Cabanatuan for a meeting with Emilio Aguinaldo. Tired from traveling over 100
kilometers from his base in Bayambang, he was understandably upset to be told that the President had left
earlier in the day. Luna was met by Felipe Buencamino, with whom he had previous disagreements. Then
there was Captain Pedro Janolino, as well as the Kawit presidential bodyguards reinstated by Aguinaldo
after he had them disarmed. The rest was put down to history.
EMILIO AGUINALDO AS THE CULPRIT IN THE ASSASSINATION
Textbook history has been oversimplified to blame Aguinaldo when the story is more complicated. An
unearthed telegram dating back to 1899 could solve the decades-long debate about the involvement of late
President Emilio Aguinaldo in the killing of Philippine-American War hero General Antonio Luna. The
document dated June 4, 1899, titled “The Extremely Important Heneral Luna Telegram, from Aguinaldo,
Summoning him to his Death,” was auctioned at the Leon Gallery in December 2018.
The document was found by descendants of Luna in their family’s belongings and later decided to have it
auctioned. According to Lisa Guerrero Nakpil, consultant for the Leon Gallery, the archaic document could
be proof of Aguinaldo’s role in the killing of Luna, one of his top generals during the Philippine’s war
against the United States. Historian Ambeth Ocampo, one of those who had seen the telegram, said in a
column that the message was only one of the four telegrams sent to ensure that Luna would fall for a trap
to take his life. Historian Xiao Chua on the one hand gave the document credibility after Ocampo, who was
familiar with Luna’s handwriting, found that it did in fact have the slain hero’s penmanship. Another
historian, Kristofer Pasion, said that the document as a primary source could prove the link between
Aguinaldo and the assassination of Luna. (Interaksyon, 2018)
Another information says that Ney, a guard of Aguinaldo, by order of General Aguinaldo purposely insulted
Luna and forced a quarrel.Pedro Paterno, one of the Filipino leaders believed that Aguinaldo ordered the
killing of Luna. The assignation recalled, was similar to the fate of Bonifacio in Cavite province. Both Luna
and Bonifacio were rivals of Aguinaldo for the leadership of the Filipino.
ARGUMENTS FOR AGUINALDO'S DIRECT INVOLVEMENT:

Luna's Criticism of Aguinaldo's Leadership: Luna was a vocal critic of Aguinaldo's military
strategies and authoritarian tendencies. His opposition to Aguinaldo's planned retreat from
Cabanatuan is seen as a potential motive for the latter to eliminate him (Zaide, 1999).

The Assassination Perpetrators: The soldiers who killed Luna belonged to the Kawit Battalion,
known for their loyalty to Aguinaldo. Their involvement strengthens the claim of Aguinaldo's
knowledge, if not direct command (Guerrero, 1998).

Claims of witness testimony: General Pantaleon García, in 1921, claimed Aguinaldo verbally
ordered him to carry out the assassination (though Garcia himself did not participate due to illness).
(Wikipedia)
Luna's Accusation: According to some accounts, Luna, moments before his death, named
Aguinaldo as the mastermind behind his assassination (Mayuga, 2007). However, the reliability of
these accounts is debatable due to the chaotic circumstances surrounding the event.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST AGUINALDO'S DIRECT INVOLVEMENT:





Captain Pedro Janolino as the Offender: Capt. Janolino, the head of the Presidential guards, on
his part did not implicate Aguinaldo or anyone for that matter and claimed full responsibility in an
interview conducted by Antonio K. Abad in 1929 as it appeared in an article in the Philippines Free
Press on April 3, 1954, entitled "More on Luna's Death". (De Viana, 108-109).
Lack of Concrete Evidence: While there are suspicions, no definitive proof exists linking
Aguinaldo to a direct order for Luna's assassination. The Cabanatuan telegram's authenticity
remains disputed, and other accusations lack solid corroboration (Zaide, 1999).
Aguinaldo's Public Denial: Aguinaldo consistently denied any involvement in Luna's death,
claiming he even tried to intervene when informed of the planned arrest (Agoncillo, 1990).
However, his credibility is often questioned due to potential biases.
Alternative Motives: The assassins reportedly acted upon personal grudges against Luna, fueled
by Luna's strict discipline and perceived arrogance (Guerrero, 1998). This suggests their actions
might not have directly involved Aguinaldo.
The Chaotic Context: The Philippine-American War was a period of intense conflict and
confusion. It's possible that Luna's death resulted from miscommunication, misunderstandings, and
escalating tensions, rather than a deliberate plot by Aguinaldo (Mayuga, 2007).
CONCLUSION:
Emilio Aguinaldo is guilty of the assassination of General Antonio Luna.
The motive is one of the most important things to take into account when examining Luna's murder. Luna
was well-known for his independent spirit and his commitment to reforming the Philippine armed forces.
But his strategies frequently ran counter to the desires of some people, including Aguinaldo. Because of his
uncompromising discipline and his attempts to root out corruption in the army, Luna became a target for
those who wanted to keep things as they were. It's possible that Aguinaldo, the head of the revolutionary
government, felt intimidated by Luna's increasing power and made the decision to have him removed.
Second, testimony from witnesses are important for understanding the circumstances surrounding Luna's
murder. On the day of his death, Aguinaldo's close friends, including his brother Crispulo Aguinaldo and
General Jose Alejandrino, allegedly met with Luna. These reports raise the possibility of a link between
Aguinaldo and the scheme to assassinate Luna.
Finally, an additional look at the historical background of Luna's death may help clarify Aguinaldo's
possible role. Luna's rising reputation and influence was a threat to Aguinaldo's authority at the time of the
assassination. By taking Luna's place, Aguinaldo's power would have been significantly less threatened. In
addition, Aguinaldo was able to keep his position as the head of state of the Philippines and solidify his
hold on the revolutionary government because to Luna's death.
To sum up, Aguinaldo is responsible for the murder of General Antonio Luna. The information at hand
points to a potential link between Aguinaldo and Luna's assassination. The historical background,
Aguinaldo's response, eyewitness reports, and the reason all add to the suspicions of Aguinaldo's
involvement.
CITATIONS:
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (1990). History of the Filipino People. Ateneo de Manila University Press.
Aguinaldo, E, “Ang Pagkamatay ng Heneral Antonio Luna”, Unpublished notes typewritten and scribbled
with edit corrections in Aguinaldo's own handwriting. (These notes were formerly kept by Felisa Diokno,
the secretary of Gen. Aguinaldo, and is now in custody of Elizabeth Angsioco, who has given permission
to publish the pertinent portion in this article.)
Guerrero, Milagros C. (1998). The Filipino Nation: A History. Malaya Books Inc.
Leynes, V. (2018, September 18). The Killing of General Antonio Luna According to Aguinaldo [Web Log
Post]. Retrieved February 3, 2024, from https://macapili-filipino.blogspot.com/
Limos, M. (2018, November 24). This Letter Could Prove That Emilio Aguinaldo Was Behind General
Antonio Luna's Death [Web Log Post]. Retrieved February 3, 2024, from https://www.townandcountry.ph
Manglinong, D. (2018, November 26). Unearthed: Emilio Aguinaldo’s telegram to meet Antonio Luna
before his killing [Web Log Post]. Retrieved February 3, 2024, from http://www.interaksyon.com/
Mayuga, Melchior C. (2007). Antonio Luna: The Story of a Filipino General. Rex Bookstore.
Ocamo, A. (2015, June 5). Who really ordered Luna’s murder? [Article Column]. Retrieved February 3,
2024, fom https://opinion.inquirer.net/
Zaide, Gregorio F. (1999). Philippine Political and Cultural History. Rex Bookstore.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emilio_Aguinaldo#:~:text=Later%2C%20General%20Pantaleon%20Garc%
C3%ADa%20said,with%20the%20assassination%20of%20Luna.
https://opinion.inquirer.net/85501/who-really-ordered-lunas-murder
https://www.quezon.ph/2015/12/11/lunatimeline/?fbclid=IwAR0PpLn4Heq7SJ78ywZGrLSN6wsBtsy0jbXJ9zMTNM40CUtegZDIToPzKKM