CAVITE MUTINY

GOVERNOR IZQUIERDO’S OFFICIAL REPORT

References:
• https://nhcp.gov.ph/the-two-faces-of-the-1872-cavite-mutiny/
• https://www.britannica.com/event/Cavite-Mutiny
 CAVITE MUTINY (JANUARY 20, 1872)
• IS THE BRIEF UPRISING OF 200 FILIPINO TROOPS AND WORKERS AT THE CAVITE
ARSENAL, WHICH BECAME THE EXCUSE FOR SPANISH REPRESSION OF THE
EMBRYONIC PHILIPPINE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT. IRONICALLY, THE HARSH
REACTION OF THE SPANISH AUTHORITIES SERVED ULTIMATELY TO PROMOTE THE
NATIONALIST CAUSE.

• THE MUTINY WAS QUICKLY CRUSHED, BUT THE SPANISH REGIME UNDER THE

REACTIONARY GOVERNOR RAFAEL DE IZQUIERDO MAGNIFIED THE INCIDENT
AND USED IT AS AN EXCUSE TO CLAMP DOWN ON THOSE FILIPINOS WHO HAD
BEEN CALLING FOR GOVERNMENTAL REFORM.

References:
• https://nhcp.gov.ph/the-two-faces-of-the-1872-cavite-mutiny/
• https://www.britannica.com/event/Cavite-Mutiny
 •SEVERAL FILIPINO INTELLECTUALS WERE SEIZED AND
ACCUSED OF COMPLICITY WITH THE MUTINEERS.
AFTER A BRIEF TRIAL, THREE PRIESTS:
• JOSÉ BURGOS
• JACINTO ZAMORA; &
• MARIANO GÓMEZ
WERE PUBLICLY EXECUTED. THE THREE SUBSEQUENTLY
BECAME MARTYRS TO THE CAUSE OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE.

References:
• https://nhcp.gov.ph/the-two-faces-of-the-1872-cavite-mutiny/
• https://www.britannica.com/event/Cavite-Mutiny
 GOVERNOR IZQUIERDO’S OFFICIAL REPORT
• JOSE MONTERO Y VIDAL, A PROLIFIC SPANISH HISTORIAN DOCUMENTED
THE EVENT AND HIGHLIGHTED IT AS AN ATTEMPT OF THE INDIOS TO
OVERTHROW THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES.

• MEANWHILE, GOV. GEN. RAFAEL IZQUIERDO’S OFFICIAL REPORT

MAGNIFIED THE EVENT AND MADE USE OF IT TO IMPLICATE THE NATIVE
CLERGY, WHICH WAS THEN ACTIVE IN THE CALL FOR SECULARIZATION.
• MONTERO AND IZQUIERDO SCORED OUT THAT THE ABOLITION OF PRIVILEGES ENJOYED BY
THE WORKERS OF CAVITE ARSENAL SUCH AS NON-PAYMENT OF TRIBUTES AND EXEMPTION
FROM FORCE LABOR WERE THE MAIN REASONS OF THE “REVOLUTION”.

References:
• https://nhcp.gov.ph/the-two-faces-of-the-1872-cavite-mutiny/
• https://www.britannica.com/event/Cavite-Mutiny
 • IZQUIERDO BLAMED THE UNRULY SPANISH PRESS FOR “STOCKPILING”
MALICIOUS PROPAGANDAS GRASPED BY THE FILIPINOS.  HE REPORTED TO THE
KING OF SPAIN THAT THE “REBELS” WANTED TO OVERTHROW THE SPANISH
GOVERNMENT TO INSTALL A NEW “HARI” IN THE LIKES OF FATHERS BURGOS
AND ZAMORA.

• IZQUIERDO ADDED THAT THE NATIVE CLERGY ENTICED OTHER PARTICIPANTS BY

GIVING THEM CHARISMATIC ASSURANCE THAT THEIR FIGHT WILL NOT FAIL
BECAUSE GOD IS WITH THEM COUPLED WITH HANDSOME PROMISES OF
REWARDS SUCH AS EMPLOYMENT, WEALTH, AND RANKS IN THE ARMY. 
IZQUIERDO, IN HIS REPORT LAMBASTED THE INDIOS AS GULLIBLE AND
POSSESSED AN INNATE PROPENSITY FOR STEALING.

References:
• https://nhcp.gov.ph/the-two-faces-of-the-1872-cavite-mutiny/
• https://www.britannica.com/event/Cavite-Mutiny
 • THE TWO SPANIARDS DEEMED THAT THE EVENT OF 1872 WAS PLANNED EARLIER AND WAS
THOUGHT OF IT AS A BIG CONSPIRACY AMONG EDUCATED LEADERS, MESTIZOS, ABOGADILLOS
OR NATIVE LAWYERS, RESIDENTS OF MANILA AND CAVITE AND THE NATIVE CLERGY. 

• THEY INSINUATED THAT THE CONSPIRATORS OF MANILA AND CAVITE PLANNED TO LIQUIDATE HIGH-
RANKING SPANISH OFFICERS TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE MASSACRE OF THE FRIARS. THE ALLEGED PRE-
CONCERTED SIGNAL AMONG THE CONSPIRATORS OF MANILA AND CAVITE WAS THE FIRING OF
ROCKETS FROM THE WALLS OF INTRAMUROS.

• ALLEGEDLY, THOSE IN CAVITE MISTOOK THE FIREWORKS AS THE SIGN FOR THE ATTACK, AND JUST
LIKE WHAT WAS AGREED UPON, THE 200-MEN CONTINGENT HEADED BY SERGEANT LAMADRID
LAUNCHED AN ATTACK TARGETING SPANISH OFFICERS AT SIGHT AND SEIZED THE ARSENAL.

• WHEN THE NEWS REACHED THE IRON-FISTED GOV. IZQUIERDO, HE READILY ORDERED THE
REINFORCEMENT OF THE SPANISH FORCES IN CAVITE TO QUELL THE REVOLT. 

• THE “REVOLUTION” WAS EASILY CRUSHED WHEN THE EXPECTED REINFORCEMENT FROM MANILA DID
NOT COME ASHORE.  MAJOR INSTIGATORS INCLUDING SERGEANT LAMADRID WERE KILLED IN
THE SKIRMISH, WHILE THE GOMBURZA WERE TRIED BY A COURT-MARTIAL AND WERE
SENTENCED TO DIE BY STRANGULATION.

References:
• https://nhcp.gov.ph/the-two-faces-of-the-1872-cavite-mutiny/
• https://www.britannica.com/event/Cavite-Mutiny