He was briefly Governor of Cochinchina in 1886–87, where he helped bring a rebellion in the protectorate of Cambodia to a conclusion.

[3] Filippini became a municipal councillor on 6 August 1870, and after the fall of the empire became acting Mayor of Corte on 12 September 1870.

[5] From 1884 the French were engaged in a war of pacification in the protectorate of Cambodia, to the north of the colony of Cochinchina.

The climate is harsh, with torrential rainfall from May to October, and diseases such as dysentery, cholera and malaria were endemic.

[6] Filippini's predecessors had allowed the troops to rape, loot and kill peasants whom they suspected of supporting the rebels, and had sanctioned collective punishments and summary executions.

[8] Filippini obtained permission from his superiors to negotiate a settlement with King Norodom of Cambodia in which the French respected the autonomy of the king's administration and cut back the number of French officials in the kingdom.

The colony of Cochinchina and the protectorates of Cambodia, Tonkin and Annam now came under the overall authority of the Governor-General of Indo-China.

[11] Filippini's body was returned to Corte and placed in a catafalque within an imposing tomb erected after a national subscription.