Francisco Carreón

Francisco Carreón y Marcos (October 5, 1868 – 1939/41) was a Filipino general in the Philippine Revolution against Spain and in the Philippine–American War. As the vice president of Macario Sakay's Tagalog Republic (Tagalog: Republika ng Katagalugan), he continued resistance against the United States up until the dissolution of the republic in 1906. He was captured on July 14, 1906, and was imprisoned in the old Bilibid Prison; he was later released in 1930 through a pardon.

Biography

Carreón was born on October 5, 1868, to Espiridion Carreón and Jacinta Marcos in the southern town of Cotabato on the island of Mindanao. He studied in Trozo, Manila, after relocating there later in his life. Later, he worked as a blacksmith then as a machacante in Tondo, earning one peseta a week for each job. After briefly working in Intramuros, he enlisted in 1886 to become a member of the Spanish Cuerpo de Caribiñero (Carabinier Corps). He later married Bibiana Bastida, and they had a child, Dorotea Carreon who had three children: Enrique Rivera, Nestor Souza and Fe Souza (who married 1Lt Edgardo Gener, USAFFE - son of famous Tagalog poet and writer, Atty. Teodoro Gener of Norzagaray, Bulacan).

Philippine Revolution In 1892, Carreón joined the Katipunan following the footsteps of his cousin, Emilio Jacinto. His career in the organization began as head of a branch called Balangay Silanganan (Silanganan Branch) then later moved to another branch called Balangay Dapitan (Dapitan Branch). Like Jacinto he was eventually elected to the Katipunan Supreme Council headed by founder Andrés Bonifacio.

Despite serving at the time as a councilor in the Katipunan, he also served in the Spanish colonial civil guards (Spanish: guardia civil). after moving from the Cuerpo de Caribiñero. He was present at the Cry of Balintawak, the start of the Philippine Revolution.

During the Philippine Revolution, he took part in the Battle of Zapote Bridge in Cavite on February 17, 1897. Carreón sided with Andrés Bonifacio after the latter was accused of treason and even testified on his behalf. Despite his actions, Bonifacio was executed and his role in the Revolution was sidelined until the start of the Filipino–American War. On July 14, 1906, during the establishment of the Philippine National Assembly, the group, along with Carreón, entered Manila and was unharmed by the American officials. Later, they were invited to a town fiesta in Cavite. This turned out to be a trap and the band was tried for banditry and were incarcerated in the old Bilibid Prison. On August 6, Carreón was sentenced to life in prison while Sakay was hanged on September 13. He was later released in 1930 after being pardoned. Carreón died between 1939 and 1941, during World War II. There is no information about his later life and maybe he was presumed to have died of tuberculosis.