Paglilitis Kay Rizal

(The Trial of Rizal)

Back to Manila
 Nov. 3 1896- the steamer Colon arrived in
Manila
 Upon arrival, Rizal was brought to Fort
Santiago.
 The Spanish authorities fished for
evidence against him
 Many Filipino patriots were brutally tortured to
implicate Rizal
 Some of whom were:
 Deodato Arellano
 Dr. Pio Valenzuela
 Moises Salvador
 Jose Dizon
 Domingo Franco
 Timoteo Paez
 Even Paciano was arrested and cruelly tortured.
His body was shattered on the torture rack and
his left hand was crushed by the screw.
Preliminary Investigation
 November 20, 1896-- the preliminary
investigation on Rizal began.
 Judge Advocate Colonel Francisco Olive
 It was a five-day investigation
 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.
 The documentary evidence consisted of fifteen
exhibits, as follows:
1. Letter of Antonio Luna to Mariano Ponce-- showing Rizal’s
connection with the Filipino reform campaign in Spain (Oct.
16, 1888, Madrid).
2. Letter of Rizal to his family– stating that the deportations are
good for they will encourage the people to hate tyranny
(August 20, 1890, Madrid)
3. Letter from M.H. del Pilar to Deodato Arellano– implicating
Rizal in the Propaganda campaign in Spain.
4. A poem entitled “Kundiman” allegedly written by Rizal
5. Letter of Carlos Oliver to unidentified person– describing Rizal
as the man to free the Philippines from the Spanish oppressions.
6. A Masonic document– honoring Rizal for his patriotic services
7. Letter of Dimasalang to Tenluz (Juan Zulueta)– stating that he
was preparing a safe refuge for Filipinos who may be persecuted
by the Spanish authorities.
8. Letter of Dimasalang to unidentified committee– soliciting the aid
of the committee in the “ patriotic work”
9. An anonymous and undated letter to the Editor of Hong Kong
Telegraph-- censuring the banishment of Rizal to Dapitan.
10. Letter of Ildefonso to Rizal– saying that the Filipino people look
up to him (Rizal) as their savior.
11. Letter of Rizal to Segundo– informing unidentified arrest and
banishment of Doroteo Cortes and Ambrosio Balvador
12. Letter of M.H. del Pilar to Tenluz– recommending the
establishment of a special organization to help the cause of the
Filipino peoeple.
13. Transcript of a speech of Pingkian (Emilio Jacinto), in a reunion
of the Katipunan– in which the ff. cry was uttered “Long live the
Philippines! Long live Liberty! Long live Dr. Rizal! Unity!

13. Transcript of a speech of Tik-Tik ( Jose Turiano Santiogo) in

Katipunan– wherein the katipuneros shouted: Long live the
eminent Dr. Rizal! Death to the oppressor nation!

13. A poem by Laong Laan (Rizal) entitled “A Talisay”.

 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
 Timoteo Paez.
 Governor Ramon Blanco– to whom the
evidences were endorsed by Colonel Olive
 Captain Rafael Dominguez– appointeed by
Blanco as the Judge Advocate assigned with the
task of deciding what corresponding action
should be done against Rizal.
 Don Nicolas de la Peña-- Dominguez, after a
brief review, transmitted the records to him for
an opinion.
 De la Peña's recommendations were as follows:

1. Rizal must be immediately sent to trial

2. He must be held in prison under necessary
security
3. His properties must be issued with order of
attachment, and as indemnity, Rizal had to pay
one million pesos
4. Instead of a civilian lawyer, only an army officer
is allowed to defend Rizal.
Rizal Chooses His Defender
 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.
 Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade– Rizal chose him to
be his defender.
Charges Read to Rizal
 On the 11th of December 1896, in the presence
of his Spanish counsel, charges against Rizal
were read.
 When asked regarding his sentiments or reaction on the
charges, Rizal replied that:
 He does not question the jurisdiction of the court
 He has nothing to amend except that during his exile
in Dapitan in 1892, he had not dealt in political
matters;
  He has nothing to admit on the charges against him
 He had nothing to admit on the declarations of the
witnesses, he had not met nor knew, against him.

 Governor Camilo C. de Polavieja– who had just

replaced Governor Blanco. Who had the
authority to command that the case be court-
martialed.
Rizal’s Manifesto to His People
 Dec. 15, 1896 (Fort Santiago)– Rizal wrote a
manifesto to his people appealing to them to
stop the unnecessary shedding of blood and to
achieved their liberties by means of education
and industry.
My Countrymen;
On my return from Spain, I learned that my name had been used as a war cry
among some who were in arms. The news was painfully surprised me, but believing
it was all over, I kept silent over what I considered irremediable. Now I hear rumors
that the disturbances continue, and lest any person should still go on using my
name in bad or good faith, to remedy this abuse and to undeceived the unwary, I
hasten to address you these lines so that the truth may be known.
From the beginning, when I had news of what was being planned, I opposed
it, fought it, and demonstrated its absolute impossibility. This is the truth, and
witnesses to my words are still living. I was convinced that the idea was highly
absurd and, what was worse, would bring great suffering. I did more. When later, in
spite of my counsels, the movement broke out, I spontaneously offered not only my
services, but my life, and even my name so that they might use them in the manner
they saw fit to suppress the rebellion, for, convinced of the evils that would befall
them, I considered myself fortunate if, at my sacrificed, I could prevent such useless
misfortunes. This is equally of record.
My countrymen: I have given proofs, more than anybody else, of desiring
liberties for our country and I still desire them. But I place as a premise the
education of the people so that by means of education and of labor they might have
a personality of their own and make themselves worthy of liberties. In my writings
 I have recommended to you study and civic virtues, without which there is no
redemption. I have also written (and my words have been repeated) that reforms, to
be fruitful, have to come from above, that those that come from below are irregular
and unstable. Imbued with this ideals, I cannot but condemn and I do condemn
this absurd, savage uprising planned behind my back, which dishonor us, the
Filipinos, and discredit those who may advocate our cause. I abhor its criminal
methods and disclaim all participation therein, pitying from the bottom of my heart
the unwary who have allowed themselves to be deceived. Return the to your homes,
and may God forgive those who have acted in bad faith.

 Advocate General de la Peña requested to Gov.

Polavieja that the publication of the manifesto be
prohibited, and so, the governor did. Thus, Rizal was
“saved from the shame of his manifesto’s being
misinterpreted and disobeyed by the Filipinos in arms”
Rizal’s Saddest Christmas
 Rizal who was accustomed to spend the
Christmas season in the company of his beloved
family or dear friends, found himself self alone
and depressed in a dreary prison cell.

 Truly the Christmas of 1896 was the saddest

and the last Christmas in Rizal’s life.
 Fort Santiago, Dec. 25, 1896

My Very Distinguished Defender:

The Investigating Judge has inform me that tomorrow my case will
be heard before the court. I was waiting for you this morning to tell you of
an important matter, but undoubtedly the pressure of your work did not
permit you to come as expected by the Investigating Judge. If you have
time, I should like to speak to you come this afternoon, this evening, or
tomorrow.

Whishing you “Merry Christmas”, I reiterate.

Always your attentive and affectionate servant and client,

Jose Rizal
The Trial of Rizal
 December 26, about 8 o'clock in the morning, the
court-martial of Rizal commenced.

 The hearing was actually a kind of ‘moro-moro’ – a

planned trial wherein Rizal, before hearing his verdict,
had already been prejudged.

 Unlike other accused, Rizal had not been allowed to

know the people who witnessed against him.
 Cuartel de España-- a military building where
the trial took place.

 Seated behind a long table were the seven members of

the military court, as follows:
 Lt. Col. Togores Arjona (president)
 Capt. Ricardo Muñoz Arias
 Capt. Manuel Reguera
 Capt. Santiago Izquierdo Osorio
 Capt. Braulio Rodriguez Nuñez
 Capt. Manuel Diaz Escribano
 Capt. Fernando Perez Rodriguez
 Also present at the courtroom were Jose Rizal, Lt.
Taviel de Andrade, Judge Advocate Capt. Rafael
Dominguez, Lt. Enrique de Alcocer (prosecuting
attorney), and spectators.

 Rizal sat on a bench between two soldiers. His arms

were tied behind, elbow to elbow, like a common felon.
He was calm and dignified in appearance.

 After Judge Advocate Dominguez opened the trial, it

was followed by Atty. Alcocer's reiteration of the
charges against Rizal, urging the court that the latter be
punished with death.
 The Spanish spectators applauded noisily at
Alcocer’s petition for the sentence of death.

 Rizal was accused of three crimes:

1. Rebellion
2. Sedition
3. Illegal assocation
 Lt. Taviel de Andrade, on the other hand, later took the
floor reading his speech in defense of Rizal.

 To supplement this, Rizal read his own defense which

he wrote in his cell in Fort Santiago. According to
Rizal, there are twelve points to prove his innocence:

1. as testified by Pio Valenzuela, Rizal was against rebellion

2. he had not written a letter addressed to the Katipunan
comprising revolutionary elements
3. without his knowledge, his name was used by the Katipunan; if
he really was guilty, he could have escaped while he was in
Singapore
4. If he was guilty, he should have left the country while in exile; he
shouldn't have built a home, bought a parcel of land or established a
hospital in Dapitan.

5. if he was really the leader of the revolution, the revolutionists should have
consulted him.

6. he did not deny that he wrote the by-laws of the La Liga Filipina, but to
make things clear, the organization was a civic association, not a
revolutionary society.

7. after the first meeting of La Liga, the association banished because of his
exile in Dapitan, thus, did not last long.

8. if the La Liga was reorganized nine months later, he had no idea about it

9. if the La Liga had a revolutionary purpose, then Katipunan should not

have been organized.
10. if the Spanish authorities found his letters having bitter
atmosphere, it was because in 1890 his family was being
persecuted resulting to their dispossession of properties and
deportation of all his brothers-in-law.

11. he lived an exemplary life in Dapitan – the politico-military

commanders and missionary priests in the province could attest to
that.

12. if according to witnesses the speech he delivered at Doroteo

Ongjunco's house had inspired the revolution, then he want to
confront these persons. If he really was for the revolution, then
why did the Katipunan sent an unfamiliar emissary to him in
Dapitan? It is so because all his friends were aware that he never
advocated violence.
 The military court, prejudice as it was,
remained indifferent to Rizal’s pleading.

 After a short deliberation, he was sentenced to be

shot in musketry until death at 7 o'clock in the
morning of December 30, 1896 at Bagumbayan.

 On the same day ( Dec. 26th), the court decision

was submitted to Governor Polavieja who
immediately sought the opinion of Nicolas de la
Peña – the latter found the verdict just and final.
Polavieja Signs Rizal’s Execution
 Dec. 28th– Governor Polavieja approved the
decision of the court-martial and ordered the
execution of Rizal on Dec. 30th at
Bagumbayan Field (Luneta).
Manila, December 28, 1896:

Conformably to the forgoing opinion; I approved the sentence

dictated by the Court Martial in the present case, by virtue of which the
death penalty is imposed on the accused Jose Rizal Mercado, which shall
be executed by shooting him at 7 o’clock in the morning of the 30th of this
month in the field of Bagumbayan.
For compliance and the rest that may correspond, let this be return
to the Judge Advocate, Captain Don Rafael Dominguez.

Camilo G. de Polavieja
 For signing this fatal document ordering the
execution of Dr. Rizal, Governor Polavieja won
the eternal hatred of the Filipino people. He and
the other Spanish officials who were responsible
for the death of Rizal will evermore remain as
obnoxious villains in Philippine history.
-- End --