Report of the governor general of the Philippine Islands. [1908]

402 REPORT OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION.
Cebu.-Conditions throughout the island of Cebu have been good during the
year. There is no organized outlawry in the province, although a few old subleaders are still at large either in hiding or living quietly among the hill people
without arms or followers. Eugenio Aleachufas is said to have one revolver
and to have several followers in the mountains of Alaguinsan. The patrols of
the constabulary penetrate the mountains to prevent the formation of ladrone
bands and to exert influence over the people, advising them on matters of law
and order and taking an interest in their affairs. There are no so-called " montescos" in Cebu, all, even the simple people, living in the mountains being Christianized inhabitants. They market their produce and buy a few necessities in
the towns. There is sometimes jealousy and hard feeling between these hill
people and the town people on the coast, and the former when excited by the
spell of some fakir have in past years attacked some of the towns. The hill
people are ignorant, suspicious, and easily excited.
Iloilo.-Peace conditions are not altogether satisfactory, as there remain in
the mountains of Iloilo two or three ladrone bands with arms.
These bands have been quiet during the year, the principal trouble having'
been in the lowlands in the shape of carabao stealing, during the dry season,
by thieves who, it is said, live in the villages or barrios.
The ladrone bands are that of Sano and Oto, with 10 arms and about 20
followers, in the hills to the northwest of Janiuay, and that of Toribio, to the
west of Maasin, with about 8 rifles and 20 followers.
Higher up in the mountains are the chiefs of the wild tribes, Berdin and
Santo, who live some distance to the northwest of Lambunao, and Bernandino,
who lives near Alibunan, to the north of Lambunao. These chiefs have influence over all of the wild tribes that inhabit the central mountain range. Efforts
have been made, with some success, to improve the relations between the mountain tribes and the people of the lower lands and to induce the former to come
down, establish markets, and trade without fear of molestation so long as they
conduct themselves well.
The assassination of Governor Benito Lopez, in his office, in December, was
an outcome, no doubt, of political feuds, and while there was intense feeling
at the time, no disturbance of the peace took place.
Leyte.-Leyte has remained quiet during the year, and there are no outlaw organizations in the province. The remaining pulahan subchief, Idos, surrendered in October last. He was the last of the pulahanes of any influence.
The central portion of Leyte, which was much disturbed by the outbreak of
1906-7, has been constantly patrolled during the year and the people have
gone to work at their usual occupations, although the fall in the price of hemp
has made it difficult for many. In the north end of Leyte carabao stealing
developed as a natural outcome of the disturbances of past years, but the
activity of the constabulary patrols in capturing the stolen animals and restoring them to their owners has put it down, and the province, as a whole, seems
very free from crime. There are no wild tribes in Leyte, although the ignorant
people who live in the barrios and hemp fields are suspicious and could be
easily excited against the town people by religious fakirs or by unjust treatment on the part of village authorities.
In addition to the three constabulary companies allotted to Leyte, there are
three companies of Philippine scouts stationed on the east coast of the island,
whose presence is useful in restoring confidence and quiet.
Negros Occidental.-There have been no serious disturbances during the year
and there are no outlaw bands at large. "Papa " Isio and his followers, who
had terrorized this province and the neighboring one of Negros Oriental for
many years, surrendered to the senior inspector through the presidente of Isabela at Isabela on August 6, 1907. This band had been persecuted by the
constabulary for years, and lived in the dense forests in the mountain ranges
in the center of the island. The census gives more than 20,000 as the population of the wild tribes inhabiting the mountain ranges of Negros. The country
and the people are little known, and the latter are made up of Negritos, montescos, or wild people of the Filipino type, and on the south coast of some admixture of Moro blood. Efforts have been made by the provincial and constabulary authorities to gain the confidence of these people, and missionaries also
have begun work among them.
An active band of carabao thieves, that operated in the north end of the
province, was broken up by the capture, in October, of the leader, Santiago,
who was later sentenced to imprisonment. This band robbed the inmates of
a house near Cadiz of money and clothing on July 21, 1907, and committed