The Philippine Islands:

Usurpation of Indian Lands

by Friars

Presented by: Peaches Alliana R. Martinez

Letter to the president
and auditors of the Royal
Audiencia of the
Philippine Islands

KING PHILIP IV
King of Spain
• Reports of DON PEDRO ENRIQUEZ: an
auditor of the Audiencia, about his proceedings
done under the commission conferred to him
by the government.
 AGRARIAN UPRISING
1745-1746
BATANGAS

CAVITE BULACAN

TONDO TAGUIG

BINAN, LAGUNA SAN MATEO

• Usurped by the religious orders:
- St. Dominic (Dominicans)
- St. Augustine (Augustinians)

• Natives were forbidden to do the following:

- Fish in the river
- Cut woods for necessary use
- Collect wild fruits
- Pasture their work animals
• Enriquez: They should not pay unjust taxes collected from them
by the managers.

• Adjustment of land-titles

• Enriquez took measure on the investigation of fraudulent

proceedings in the measuring of lands in the estate of Biñan,
which is owned by the Dominicans (1743)
• The investigation charges resulted against Don Juan Monroy

• Cattle farm: first measured to be 8,695,652 brazas, where in the

second survey the land was measured only for about 3,024,574
square brazas of land

• With the fraudulent act, Don Juan Monroy was suspended from
his office for two years and lay upon him a fine of two thousand
pesos.
• Needed to be address regarding the Agrarian
Uprising in the Philippines:

- exclusive judge of rents

- settlement of land titles
- collection of fines and condemnations
- utmost vigilance in order that Indians may not be
molested by the religious orders.