Gen. Arcadio Maxilom and his battles (Part I)

General Arcadio Molero Maxilom, the last general who surrendered to the Americans in Cebu was born on November 13, 1862. He was the son of Roberto Maxilom, the gobernardocillo of Tuburan, Cebu and Gregoria Molero. The parents of Arcadio were members of the "principalia" of the town, he inherited his father's position as gobernardorcillo of Tuburan before the Cebuano patriots rose against the Spaniards in Cebu on April 3, 1898. Arcadio was also a teacher.

Arcadio replaced Pantaleon Villegas more known as Leon Kilat when the latter was treacherously murdered in Carcar on April 10, 1898. Arcadio became the military commander of the KKK of Cebu. He held camps in Sudlon and Pardo. It was Gen. Maxilom who wrote to the Spanish officials in Cebu who camped at the Fort San Pedro to surrender, his letter was sent on December 16, 1898. The Spaniards replied and asked three days to vacate, then on December 24, 1898, the Spaniards left Cebu. Days later, Gen. Maxilom with Luis Flores, Juan Climaco and other revolutionaries entered victoriously in the municipality of Cebu. Victory was short lived as the Philippines was short changed by Spain and America, they signed the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898 with Spain selling us to the Americans in the amount of twenty million dollars.

When the Americans came to Cebu in 1899, Gen. Maxilom continued with his fight for Cebuano independence, while others made peace with the new colonizers. Cebuano patriots who surrendered to the Americans were given positions, either through appointments or elections.  Gen. Maxilom, with few men and logistically inferior continued the revolution with guerrilla warfare. This hurt the Americans who resorted to burning of houses of civilians in several towns of Cebu.

Gen. Maxilom surrendered to the Americans on October 27, 1901 and was imprisoned released only in 1903. But the battles of Maxilom against the Americans continued and did not end with his surrender and imprisonment.

While Maxilom was imprisoned, his hacienda was left in the hands of his wife, Dona Ciriaca Novicio, daughter of Lope Novicio. At that time, he had 25 carabaos. Then,  Bonifacio Alburo, the municipal president of Tuburan, Cebu with Lt. McCarthy, an American constabulary officer on August 23, 1902 sent troops to his hacienda and took his carabaos. Gen. Maxilom, who is now a civilian took his case before the court.  He filed a case of conspiracy against those who were now in possession of his carabaos and cattle. He won in the lower court, defendants Demetrio Ouano, Felix Estrella, Severino Mercado, Julio Villarin were ordered to pay the value of the carabaos in the amount of 775 pesos.

The defendants appealed their cases, they were represented by lawyer Jose A. Clarin (who also became senator) to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court where majority of its members were Americans decided the case en banc (entire court deciding) reversed the decision of the lower court and acquitted all the defendants of conspiracy. The decision of the Supreme Court was made on December 4, 1908 written by Justice Willard.