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c. Slaves actually, they were debt peons. They will be released from
dependence after paying back the debts
Some people in the barangays were members of the dependent population.
Individuals became dependents through the following situations
a. Being captured in battle
b. Failing to pay a private debt or a legal fine
c. Committing a crime
Many crimes were punishable by fines. If the guilty person cannot pay his fine, he
barrowed and repaid the amount with his labor, thus becoming a dependent
Barangay stratification was not rigid. A chief could be deposed, freemen and even
members of the chiefs families could be reduced to dependence, and debt peons
could become freemen once they had paid their debts
The form of servitude that dependents underwent was generally mild. Master and
slave could eat at the same table, and slaves could even marry a member of his
masters family
The institution of debt peonage cannot be equated to slavery as it existed in
Europe