Alipio Tecson

Alipio Tecson was born in San Miguel de Mayumo in 1861, the same year as his friend and cousin Simon Tecson. But he grew up in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija where his parents had migrated (from the account of Pacifico Tecson, the great grandson of Alipio Tecson). During the Revolution, he joined Melencio Carlos, being brothers in the Masonry and classmates in the school established by Maestro Jose Flores of San Miguel de Mayumo.

Alipio's parents were Crispulo Tecson and Juana Buencamino. Alipio was the second to the eldest of four sisters and two brothers; they were Bruna, Jacinto, Jose, Adelaida, Maria and Teopista. From San Miguel de Mayumo, the family of Alipio transferred to and settled in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija because of the property they acquired in Cabiao. Simon Tecson's father, Tiburcio and Alipio's father, Crispulo, were cousins. Alipio likewise studied in Letran. He had to stop his studies to take care of their lands in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, until he was called upon by his patriotism to defend of the motherland (from the accounts of Pacifico Tecson).

Together with Gen. Mariano Llanera, he attacked San Isidro and Cabiao, Nueva Ecija. But the attempt to liberate the province of Nueva Ecija against the Spaniards failed and resulted to the arrest and execution of many martyrs of that province at the beginning of the struggle. In various raids in tondo, lists containing the names of members of the Katipunan of the town of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija were captured by the Spaniards. On September 2, 1896 the spaniards started arresting and executing prominent members of the secret society in Nueva Ecija. Alipio Tecson, together with Mariano Llanera, realizing that they were discovered, decided to once again attack the capital town of San Isidro, now referred to as the "Cry of Nueva Ecija." Nueva Ecija is represented by one of the eight rays of the sun in the national flag.

However, it was a short lived victory. The Spaniards struck back and put up rewards for Alipio Tecson and Mariano Llanera. They were hunted for the crimes of rebellion and sedition. Included likewise in the list of those to be arrested were Eduardo Llanera, the son of Mariano Llanera, and other prominent leaders of Nueva Ecija, such as Simon Salamat, Juan Urquiza, Gil Maniquiz, Clemente Nieves, Pablo Cabling, Isaac Encarnacion, Tomas Tagundong, Pedro Yloco, Ciriaco Satari alias Castila, all of San isidro; Atancio Salvador alias "Chachoy" of Cabanatuan; Jose dela Cruz, Vicente de Castro, Marcelo dela Cruz and many others.

The revolutionaries escaped to Biak-na-Bato in San Miguel de Mayumo. When the Cavite revolutionaries of Nueva Ecija retreated to Biak-na-Bato, choosing it as the revolutionary headquarters, the Novo Ecijanos joined them in establishing a republican government. In the drafting of a constitution Alipio was an active participant.

Due to Alipio's proven loyalty and leadership in the battles of Cabiao and San Isidro, he became a commissioned officer in the revolutionary forces with the rank of Captain. After his leadership in the defence of Pulilan and San Rafael, Bulacan under the Gregorio del Pilar Brigade at the outbreak of Philippine-American war, he steadily rose to the rank of a Lt. Colonel.

The war with the Americans continued throughout the rainy season. Col. alipio Tecson, directed guerilla warfare from his headquarters at entablado, Cabiao, Nueva Ecija. There were many encounters against the Americans participated by the unit of col. alipio Tecson in coordination with that of col. Lacuna and the Tecson brothers in San Miguel de Mayumo in Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac. In June 1900, when Ge. Servillano Aquino (Great grandfather of President Noynoy Aquino) and Gen. Makabulos surrendered to the Americans, Gen. Jose Alejandrino designated Lt. col. Alipio Tecson the supreme Politico and Military commander for the province of Tarlac. He kept the post until January 1901, when after running out of bullets, he was forced to surrender himself. He was captured in barrio Kaisan, Moriones, province of Bataan. But he refused to take the oath of allegiance to the American flag, so he was deported to Guam together with Gen. Artemio Ricarte, Apolinario Mabini, Mariano Llanera, his cousin Simon Tecson and forty three other patriots. When he returned to Cabiao from Guam, he did not accept any position to serve the Americans.

The capture and surrender of Col. Alipio Tecson was reported by Lt. John O'Shea. In the report, he wrote that the american soldiers who attacked the encampment of Lt. Col. Alipio Tecson were composed of 12 mounted scouts of the 12th U.S. Infantry and elements of 2nd Lt. Andrew C. Wright troops. They located the camp of Col. Alipio Tecson in barrio Kaisan, Moriones in the province of Bataan. They surprised the forces of Col. tecson and in the ensuing battle 12 Filipinos were killed, 8 wounded, 13 captured and 17 rifles and 1,000 rounds of ammunition were confiscated. The members of the security force of Col. Alipio Tecson were either killed, captured or had surrendered. This left Col. Alipio Tecson alone with no means of escape fighting fearlessly until he ran out of ammunition. With no other option left, he was forced to surrender. He was brought to San Fernando, Pampanga to undergo interrogation and investigation.

During the investigation, a captured letter from a subordinate Lieutenant addressed to Alipio Tecson was presented as basis for his persecution. In the report, the Lieutenant described in detail how they captured, executed and buried an american trooper in an undisclosed wooden location. The american lost his Kraig rifle and 90 rounds of ammunition. The investigation was to determine if it was the standing order of engagement by the Filipinos to execute American prisoners. Gen. Makabulos was likewise implicated in the same case and was investigated as an accomplice since by command responsibility he could have prevented the execution from taking place. This incident came to the attention of the U.S. Senate which conducted hearing on the matter. However, the committee of the US Senate tasked to investigate, found out there was no compelling evidence presented and Gen. Makabulos was cleared. So was Col. Alipio Tecson. Below is an excerpt of the Senate hearing, clearing Col. Alipio Tecson for the crime of executing the captured American troopers:

"Furthermore, the alleged confession of the accused does not necessarily imply criminality. From the confession it appears the accused was the insurgent commander of the band which [who] inflicted the wounds with [on] Ray, and that said band was acting under the general order of Alipio Tecson to attack the enemy when they were encountered. No fact in the record negates the presumption in favor of the accused that the attack was a legitimate one, incidental to a state of war."

Col. Alipio Tecson, exonerated of all charges, was illegible to be released, but refusing to take the oath of loyalty to the American Flag, he was subsequently deported to Guam together with his cousin Col. Simon Tecson.