MikeLigalig.com

By JES B. TIROL
1870s: HOW THE GOVERNORS FARED IN BOHOL

Proem

Today we are familiar with what is going on in the Provincial Government.  Do you know that in the 1870s or about 139 years ago, the provincial governance sounds familiar?

Bohol was created as a Politico-Military Province on March 3, 1854.  As a Politico-Military province, the qualification of its governor was at least a Captain in the military.  Cebu was an Alcaldia province.  Its governor must be a lawyer.

Don Pablo Diaz Lomelino
On 29 October 1870, Don Pablo Diaz Lomelino was appointed by Gov.-Gen. Carlos dela Torre as the Politico-Military governor of Bohol.  He was a Brevet Major and Captain of the Infantry.  He was appointed to replace Governor Don Antonio Martinez.

Gov. Lomelino took position of his office in Bohol on 30 November 1870.  The ceremony was held at the Provincial Tribunal (The building still exists).  Present were Visayas District Governor Don Eusebio Mola y Altamaria and Tagbilaran Parish Priest Francisco Ayama.

On 18 April 1871 at 6 p.m., Gov. Lomelino died.  Some records insinuate that it was of mysterious circumstances.  The Alcalde Mayor (Provincial Governor) of Cebu Don Jose Gonzales Grano de Oro Marcon became the interim governor of Bohol.

Don Joaquin Bengoechea
On 12 May 1871, Don Joaquin Bengoechea y Tapia was appointed as the Politico-Military Governor of Bohol.  He was a Captain of the Cavalry.  Don Joaquin took position of his office in Tagbilaran, Bohol on 24 July 1871.

Turning over of the Vara de Justicia occurred at the Provincial Tribunal attended by the following: Interim Governor Don Jose Gonzales Grano de Oro Marcon, Reverend Fathers Lucas Coromina, Julio Saldaña, Jose Maria Cabañas, and Tomas Fernandez. The attending Spaniards were; Don Francisco Gallardo, Don Francisco Farriol, Don Andres Diana, and Don Eugenio Pellires.

The Governor’s Salary
The annual salary of Governor Bengoechea was “siete mil quinientos (7,500) pesetas” or equivalent to 3,750 pesos per year or P312.50 per month.  Take note that the salary of the first governor of Bohol in 1854 was P1,500.

How big was that salary?  Consider that the salary of an ordinary laborer during that time was P2 per month.  So the salary of the governor was 15,525% higher than that of an ordinary laborer.
Compare the above to the present situation.  Let us assume that the Governor of Bohol today receives P40,000 per month and the ordinary laborer receives P10,000 per month.  The salary of the Governor is only 300% higher than that of an ordinary laborer.

Was There No Corruption Then?
You will be surprised to know that early on the term of Governor Bengoechea he was already accused of desfalco or shortage of funds.  This is what we understand today as malversation of funds.  The party that filed the administrative case was not a government functionary but the “Sociedad de Fianzas (Society of Guarantors)”.  Today we still hear of private groups that file a case against government officials.  So it is nothing new.  It already occurred 139 years ago.

Gov. Bengoechea’s Defense
The defense of Gov. Bengoechea was denial. He said that when he took position of his office he wrote a letter to the District Governor of the Visayas that he would not function as the Deputy for Finance in the province.  He requested someone knowledgeable to be appointed.  As a soldier, Gov. Bengoechea admitted that he was not knowledgeable about financial matters.  But his lawyer-superiors cited legal provisions that the Governor was the Deputy for Finance in the province.

I could not find any record regarding the result of the case.  As late as year 1879, Gov. Bengoechea was still saddled with the case.

Gov. Bengoechea’s Notable Work
The emphasis of Gov. Bengoechea’s administration was to implement the quintos.  It was the drafting for military service every one-fifth of the qualified males in the province of Bohol.  The draft dodgers were put in prison.

Reference: Varias Papeles de Bohol, Bunch 111 & 112, National Archives, Manila.

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