Efrain Rios Montt vs Gregorio del Pilar

Under Ríos Montt's 'Beans and Bullets' policy, the Guatemalan army conducted a scorched earth campaign in the highlands, destroying hundreds of Maya villages, killing thousands, and displacing tens of thousands. The campaign aimed to eliminate support for leftist guerrillas.

Ríos Montt led a military coup that overthrew President Fernando Romeo Lucas García. He assumed power as head of a military junta, suspending the constitution and dissolving Congress. His rule marked the bloodiest period of Guatemala's 36-year civil war.

Ríos Montt was convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity for the massacre of over 1,700 Maya Ixil people during his 1982-83 rule. He was sentenced to 80 years in prison, but the conviction was later overturned on procedural grounds by the Constitutional Court.

Del Pilar commanded 60 Filipino soldiers in a rearguard action at Tirad Pass to cover Aguinaldo's retreat. They held off 300 American troops for five hours. Del Pilar was killed by a shot to the neck, and his force was annihilated.

Del Pilar led Filipino forces in a successful ambush of American cavalry at Quingua, Bulacan. The attack killed Colonel John Stotsenburg and forced an American retreat. This was one of the few Filipino victories in the early phase of the war.

Aguinaldo promoted del Pilar to brigadier general at age 23, making him the youngest general in the Philippine Revolutionary Army. The promotion recognized his earlier successes in guerrilla operations against American forces in Bulacan.