Professional Documents
Culture Documents
After fishing as much evidence as possible, on November 20, 1896, the preliminary investigation on Rizal
began. During the five-day investigation, Rizal was informed of the charges against him before Judge
Advocate Colonel Francisco Olive. He was put under interrogation without the benefit of knowing who
testified against him. Presented before him were two kinds of evidences – documentary and testimonial.
Testimonial evidences, on the other hand, were comprised of oral proofs provided by Martin
Constantino, Aguedo del Rosario, Jose Reyes, Moises Salvador, Jose Dizon, Domingo Franco, Deodato
Arellano, Pio Valenzuela, Antonio Salazar, Francisco Quison, and Timoteo Paez.
These evidences were endorsed by Colonel Olive to Governor Ramon Blanco who designated Captain
Rafael Dominguez as the Judge Advocate assigned with the task of deciding what corresponding action
should be done. Dominguez, after a brief review, transmitted the records to Don Nicolas de la Peña, the
Judge Advocate General, for an opinion. Peña's recommendations were as follows:
His properties must be issued with order of attachment, and as indemnity, Rizal had to pay one million
pesos
Although given with “privilege” to choose his own defense counsel, this was limited to a list of 100
names – both first and second lieutenants - that the Spanish authorities provided him. Of the list, one
familiar name stood out – Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade. Rizal discovered that the said lieutenant was the
brother of Lt. Jose Taviel de Andrade who worked as Rizal's personal body guard in Calamba in 1887.
First Investigation
* November 20, 1896- preliminary investigation was conducted. * Rizal as the accused appeared before
Judge Advocate, Colonel Francisco Olive. He was subjected to a 5 day investigation, Rizal was informed
about his charges and been given the chance to answer the questions they have on him though he was
never permitted to confront those people who testified against him. * Two Evidences presented against
him, namely documentary an d testimonial. Documentary Evidences:
* A letter from Antonio to Mariano Ponce dated Madrid October 16, 1888, showing Rizal connection
with the Filipino reform campaign in Spain. * A letter of Rizal to his family, dated Madrid, August 20,
1890, stating that the deportations are good for they will encourage the people to hate tyranny. * A
letter from Marcelo H. del Pilar to Deodato Arellano, dated Madrid, January 7, 1889, implicating Rizal in
the propaganda movement campaign in Spain.
* A poem entitled Kundiman , allegedly written by Rizal in Manila on September 12, 1891 * A letter from
Carlos Oliver to an unidentified person, dated Barcelona, September 18, 1891, describing Rizal as the
man to free the Philippines from Spanish oppression. * A masonic lodge document, dated Manila,
February 9, 1892, honoring Rizal for his patriotic services. * A letter signed Dimasalang ( Rizal’s
pseudonym) to Tenlunz (Juan Zulueta’s pseudonym), dated Hongkong, May 24, 1892, stating that he was
preparing a safe refuge for Filipinos who may persecuted by the Spanish authorities. * A letter to
Dimasalang to an unidentified committee, dated Hongkong, June 1, 1892, soliciting the aid of the
committee in the “patriotic work” * Am anonymous and undated letter to the Editor of Hongkong
Telegraph, censuring the banishment of Rizal to Dapitan.
* A letter to Ildefonso Laurel to Rizal, dated Manila, informing an unidentified correspondent of the
arrest and the banishment of Doroteo Cortes and Ambrosio Salvador. * A letter to Marcelo H. del Pilar to
Don Juan A. Tenluz (Juan Zulueta), dated Madrid, June 1, 1893 recommending the establishment of a
special organization, independent of Masonry, to help the cause of the Filipino people. * Transcript of a
speech of Pingkian (Emilio Jacinto) in a reunion to a Katipunan on July 23, 1893, in which the following
cry uttered “Long Live the Philippines! Long Live Liberty!lOng live Dr. Rizal Unity!” * Transcript of speech
of Tik-Tik (Jose Turiano Santiago) in the same Katipunan reunion where in the katipuneros shouted “
Long Live the eminent Dr. Jose Rizal! Death to the oppressor nation!” * A poem by Laong Laan (Jose
Rizal) entitled Talisay, in which the author makes Dapitan schoolboys sing that they know how to fight of
their rights.
* The testimonial evidence consisted of the oral testimonies of Martin Constantino, Aguedo del Rosario,
Jose Reyes, Moises Salvador Jose Dizon, Domingo Franco, Deodato Arellano, Ambrosio Salvador, Pedro
Serrano Laktaw, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, Antonio Salazar, Francisco Quison, and Temoteo Paez * November 6,
1896- after the investigation, Col. Olive transmitted the records of the case to Gov. Gen. Ramon Blanco,
and the letter appointed Capt. Rafael Dominguez as special Judge advocate to institute the
corresponding action against Rizal. * Dominguez made a brief resume of the charges and returned the
papers to the Governor General, who thereupon transmitted them to the Judge Advocate General Don
Nicholas de la Peña for an opinion. * Peña submitted the following reccomendations:
* An order of attachment be issued against his property to the amount one million pesos as an
indemnity, and * He should be defended in court by an army
Rizal’s defender:
The preliminary investigation of Rizal started. It was conducted by a Colonel Francisco Olive, Judge
Advocate. The procedure was totally inquisitorial. He was informed of the accusation against him but
had no right to confront and cross-examine his accusers and the witnesses against him. He was able to
give a statement but without the assistance of counsel. Col. Olive interrogated Rizal for five continuous
days. He then transmitted the proceedings to Governor Blanco so the latter could appoint a special judge
to file the charge against Rizal. Blanco appointed Rafael Dominguez, a captain of the infantry. Dominguez
concluded that Rizal "... is the principal organizer and living soul of the insurrection ... the principal chief
of the filibusterismo of the country."
The preliminary investigation of Rizal was a mere show. It was an inquisition. A non-lawyer, Rizal
defended himself and he defended himself against accusers whom he could not confront nor cross-
examine. The investigation was held only to comply with the formality required by law. As soon as it was
finished, the charges against Rizal were readied as preconceived by the authorities.
Mock Trial of Rizal
Preliminary Investigation
November 20, 1896- Rizal appeared to Colonel Francisco Olive. Rizal was questioned by Col. Olive but
he was not permitted to confront witnesses who testified against him.
Two kinds of evidence presented against Rizal: Documentary and Testimonial Evidences.
Documentary Evidences:
A letter from Antonio Luna to Mariano Ponce dated Oct. 16, 1888, Madrid.
A letter from M.H. Del Pilar to Deodato Arellano dated Jan 7, 1889, Madrid
“Kundiman”
A letter signed “Dimasalang” to Ten Luz (Juan Zulueta) dated May 24, 1892, H.K.
A letter signed Dimasalang to unidentified committee dated June 1, 1892, Hong Kong.
An anonymous and undated letter to the Editor of the Hong Kong Telegraph.
A transcript of the speech of Pinkian (Emilio Jacinto) in a meeting of the Katipunan on July 23, 1893.
Transcript of a speech Tik-Tol (Jose Turiano Santiago) during the same Katipunan meeting.
Testimonial Evidences:
Martin Constantino
Jose Reyes
Moises Salvador
Jose Dizon
Pio Valenzuela
Ambrosio Savador
Francisco Quison
Timoteo Paez
Deodato Arellano
Domingo Franco
Captain (Rafael Domingez- Ramon Blanco designated him as the Judge Advocate assigned with the task
of deciding what corresponding action should be done.
Don (Nicolas de la Peña- Dominguez, after a brief review, transmitted the records to the Judge Advocate
General, for an opinion.
Peña’s Recommendations:
His properties must be issued with order of attachment, and as indemnity, Rizal had to pay one million
pesos
Rizal’s Defender
Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade- 1st Lieutenant of the Artillery. He is the brother of Jose Taviel de Andrade,
Rizal’s personal bodyguard in Calamba in 1887.
6 October 1896, 3:00 AM: On his 4th day of being held in his cabin at the MV Isla de Panay docked at
Barcelona, Spain on his way to Cuba, Rizal was awakened to be brought to Montjuich Prison in
Barcelona, Spain.
3 November: Rizal was brought to Fort Santiago, where other patriots, including his brother Paciano,
were being tortured to implicate him. Paciano refused to sign anything despite being his body broken
and his left hand crushed.
20 November: Preliminary investigation began with Rizal appearing before Judge Advocate Colonel
Francisco Olive. The investigation lasted five days.
26 November: The records of the case were handed over to Governor General Ramon Blanco who then
appointed Captain Rafael Dominguez as special Judge Advocate.