Show I SAVED FROM OEA ro I Gen MacArthur is Lenient Toward I Convicted Filipinos Correspondence Associated Press I Manila May 1ITlme first ofHcial I act I of Gen MacArthur throwing light on his policy in dealing with tho Insurgents I leniency I I surgents displays the same I which Gen Otis followed The case I I wa that of a native Ramon Laezatn ala tried by a millar commission In I Batunzas convicted of being a spy an1 sentenced to be hanged The specification specifica-tion on which he was tried set forth I tnat being a noncommissioned olilcor of the insurgent army a public enemy I I engaged in an Insurrectinn against the authority and laws of the United I Slates he did secretly lurk and act as a spy about the buildings occupied 1 by the Thirtyeighth infantry and did collect Information In regard to the I numbers jesources and operations of Ilhe I army of the United States with intent in-tent to Impart the same to the enemy I I Gen MacArthur after reviewing the I case decided that while the evidence of I the prisoners connection with the Insurgent I I In-surgent army Aas conclusive It W t not jnoven that his presence within the lines was With the Intention necessary neces-sary to constitute him a spy under the laws of war He disapproved the sentence sen-tence and ordered that Laearnana bo kept a prisoner of war Gabriel Ciyaban time Piesldente of a puobelo In Hangaslnan hUB been convicted con-victed of conspiracy against the Government Gov-ernment and sentenced to five years Imprisonment with a line of 2000 Pe fore leaving Manila Gen Otis reviewed the findings of tho commissions which had sentenced seveial Filipino to death for guerrilla operations The rule which he followed In all these eas s was to aprpove tile death sentence upon guerrillas who had attacked other T II Iplnos for supporting the Americans and to reduce to long Imprisonment the penalty against those who had ambushed am-bushed American soldiers |