CHAPTER 22

TRIAL OF RIZAL
“I HAVE ALWAYS LOVE MY POOR COUNTRY, AND I AM SURE I
SHALL LOVE HER TO THE LAST MOMENT, EVEN THOUGH
MEN ARE PERHAPS UNJUST TO ME, MY FUTURE, MY LIFE,
MY JOYS – ALL THESE I HAVE SACRIFICE MY LOVE FOR
HER.”

- JOSE P. RIZAL
 ON SEP. 2, 1896, A WEEK AFTER THE OUTBREAK OF THE
PHILIPPINES REVOLUTION , HE LEFT MANILA BAY FOR SPAIN.
 HIS DESTINATION WAS CUBA, WHERE HE HOPED TO
CONTRIBUTED HIS MEDICAL SKILL TO COMBAT THE YELLOW
FEVER EPIDEMIC.
 BEFORE REACHING SPAIN, HE WAS PLACED UNDER ARREST.
HE WAS JAILED IN BARCELONA AND LATER SHIPPED BACK
TO MANILA AND IMPRISONED AT FORT SANTIAGO. HIS
ENEMIES HOWLED FOR HIS BLOOD, AND THEY GOT IT .
 HIS TRIAL BY COURT-MARTIAL ON DEC. 26, 1896 WAS A
FARCE. THE VERDICT WAS DEATH BY FIRING SQUAD AND
THIS WAS APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR CAMILO G.
POLAVIEJA WHO ORDERED HIS EXECUTION ON DEC. 30TH.
GOV. CAMILO POLAVIEJA
 RESCUE ATTEMPTS BY THE KATIPUNAN

 AS EARLY AS DURING RIZAL’S EXILE IN DAPITAN “THE

KATIPUNAN”, A SECRET REVOLUTIONARY SOCIETY FOUNDED
BY BONIFACIO, WAS DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT HIS LIFE.
 DR. PIO VALENZUELA, SECRET EMISSARY OF THE KATIPUNAN
TO DAPITAN, TOLD RIZAL, IN THE COURSE OF THEIR
INTERVIEW.
 ON THE NIGHT OF THE JUNE 21, 1896, OF THE KATIPUNAN
PLAN TO RESCUE HIM AND SMUGGLED HIM ON BOARD A SHIP
TO JAPAN. RIZAL DISAPPROVED THIS PLAN SO THAT IT WAS
NOT CARRIED OUT.
 IN THE EARLY DAYS OF AUGUST, 1896, BEFORE THE
OUTBREAK OF THE REVOLUTION, ANDRES BONIFACIO,
EMILIO JACINTO, AND OTHER BRAVE KATIPUNEROS
PLOTTED TO RESCUE RIZAL FROM THE CRUISER,
CASTILLA, WHICH WAS THEN ANCHORED AT THE MANILA
BAY.
 JACINTO AND SOME KATIPUNEROS, DISGUISED AS A
SAILORS ON THE MOTOR LAUNCH CARIDAD WERE ABLE
TO BOARD THE CRUISER.
 JACINTO APPROACHED RIZAL, WHO WAS ON DECK, AND WHISPERED:
“WE ARE KATIPUNEROS. WE ARE HEAVILY ARMED, AND WE COME TO RESCUE
YOU.”
 BUT RIZAL GRACIOUSLY REFUSED TO BE RESCUED. “PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE,”
HE REPLIED. “I KNOW WHAT I HAVE TO DO .”
 RIZAL COULD HAVE ESCAPED WITH THE AID OF THE KATIPUNAN.
BUT HE CLOSE TO REMAIN WITHIN THE CLUCHES OF SPAINISH
COLONIAL AUTHORITIES WERE ALSO HONORABLE MEN. THIS WAS
HIS MISTAKE, HIS TRAGIC UNDOING.
 LAST TRIP TO SPAIN. FOR 26 DAYS, AUGUST 6 TO SEP. 2, 1896, RIZAL
STAYED ON BOARD THE CASTILLA. MEANWHILE, PORTENTOUS
EVENT SURGE.
 ON AUGUST 29TH THE KATIPUNAN PLOTTED TO RISE IN ARMS
AGAINST SPAIN WAS DISCOVERED BY FR. MARIANO GIL,
AUGUSTINIAN PARISH PRIEST OF TONDO.
 ON 26TH OF AUGUST, BONIFACIO AND THE FILIPINO PATRIOTS RAISED
THE “CRY OF BALINTAWAK”- THE CRY THAT STARTED THE FILIPINO
REVOLUTION.
 AT LONG LAST, THE NATIONAL STRUGGLE FOR THE FILIPINO
FREEDOM WAS ON.
 RIZAL, ON HEARING OF THE KATIPUNAN UPRISING, WAS NOT
SURPRISED. HE EXPECT IT. HIS ONLY WORRY WAS THAT THE
SPANISH AUTHORITIES MIGHT IMPLICATE HIM WITH BLOODY
STRUGGLE.
 ON AUGUST 30, FOUR DAYS AFTER THE “CRY OF BALINTAWAK” HE
RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GOVERNOR BLANCO WISHING HIM
“HAPPINESS.” WITH THIS LETTER WERE TWO ADDITIONAL
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION FROM MINISTER OF WAR
(GENERAL MARCELO DE AZCARRAGA, PHILIPPINE-BORN
SPANIARD) AND THE MINISTER OF COLONIES.
GOVERNOR BLANCO
 ON SEP. 3, 1896, RIZAL LEFT FOR SPAIN ON BOARD THE STEAMER
ISLA DE PANAY.
 IT WAS THE FOURTH TIME HE HAD LEFT MANILA BAY FOR
ABROAD. AT THAT TIME HE HAD LEFT RAGING FURIOUSLY ON
PROVINCES AROUND MANILA.
 ON THE EVE OF HIS DEPARTURE, HE WROTE TO HIS MOTHER: “
DO NOT WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING; WE ARE ALL IN THE HANDS OF
THE DEVINE PROVIDENCE, NOT ALL WHO GO TO CUBA DIE; ANY
WAY , IF ONE HAS TO DIE, IT IS BETTER TO DIE DOING SOME
GOOD.”
 RIZAL ON SINGAPORE
 THE STEAMER REACHED SINGAPORE, BRITISH COLONY, ON THE NIGHT OF
SEPTEMBER 7TH.
 THE NEXT MORNING DON PEDRO ROXAS AND HIS SON (PERIQUIN), RIZAL’S
FELLOW-PASSENGERS, GOT OFF THE SHIP. RIZAL’S FRIENDS IN SINGAPORE
INCLUDING ROXAS, URGED HIM TO REMAIN.
 BUT RIZAL DID NOT HEED THEIR ADVICE. “NO,” HE SAID “I CANNOT BE A
FUGITIVE. I AM AFRAID, FOR I AM INNOCENT.”
 ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT

 ON THE AFTERNOON OF SEPTEMBER 30, WHEN THE STEAMER

HAD LEFT PORT SAID AND WAS REST BY THE SHIP SKIPPER,
CAPTAIN A. ALEMANY, UPON TELEGRAPHIC ORDERS FROM
MANILA.
 RIZAL WAS BITTERLY DISGUSTED AT SPANISH INJUSTICE. HE WAS
CONFIRMED TO HIS CABIN DURING THE DURATION OF THE
VOYAGE.
 ON OCTOBER 3, THE ISLA DE PANAY ARRIVED IN BARCELONA,
WITH RIZAL A PRISONER ON BOARD.
 EARLY IN THE MORNING OF THE NEXT DAY, HE WAS AWAKEN IN
HIS CABIN BY ARTILLERY SALVOS. THE CITY WAS FIRING ITS
CANNON TO CELEBRATE THE FEAST DAY OF SAINT FRANCIS OF
ASSISI.
 AT 5:00 A.M. , OCTOBER 6, RIZAL WAS MOVED ASHORE AND
JAILED AT MONTJUICH CASTLE. GENERAL DESPUJOL, THE SAME
MAN WHO VANISHED HIM TO DAPITAN IN 1892 AND NOW IN
MILITARY COMMANDER OF CATALUÑA WITH JURISDICTION OVER
MONTJUICH 8:00 P.M., THE MANILA-BOUND STEAMER COLON,
WITH RIZAL ON BOARD, LEFT BARCELONA.
 UNSUCCESFUL RESCUE IN SINGAPORE

 NEWS OF RIZAL’S PREDICAMENT REACHED HIS FRIENDS IN EUROPE AND

SINGAPORE.
 FROM LONDON, DR. ANTONIO MA. REGIDOR AND SIXTO LOPEZ DISPATCHED
FRANTIC TELEGRAMS TO AN ENGLISH LAWYER IN SINGAPORE NAMED MR.
FORT TO RESCUE RIZAL FROM THE SPANISH STEAMER WHEN IT REACHED
SINGAPORE BY A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS.
 WHEN THE COLON ARRIVED IN SINGAPORE, MR. FORT INSTITUTED
PROCEEDING AT THE SINGAPORE COURT FOR THE REMOVAL OF RIZAL FROM
THE STEAMER. THE CRUX OF MR. FORT’S LEGAL CONTENTION WAS THAT RIZAL
WAS “ILLEGALLY DETAINED” ON THE SPANISH STEAMER.
 UNFORTUNATELY, THE SINGAPORE JUDGED DENIED THE WRIT
ON THE GROUND THAT THE COLON WAS CARRYING SPANISH
TROOPS TO THE PHILIPPINES, HENCE IT IS A WARSHIP OF A
FOREIGN POWER. THE STEAMER PROCEEDED TO MANILA WITH
RIZAL ON BOARD.
 BACK TO MANILA

 ON NOVEMBER 3, THE STEAMER COLON ARRIVED IN MANILA.

RIZAL, UNDER HEAVY GUARD, WAS BROUGHT TO FORT
SANTIAGO.
 WHILE RIZAL WAS HELD INCOMUNICADO, IN FORT SANTIAGO,
THE SPANISH AUTHORITIES FISHED FOR EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM.
 MANY FILIPINO PATRIOTS ---- DEODATO ARELLANO, DR. PIO
VALENSUELA, MOISES SALVADOR, JOSE DIZON, DOMINGO
FRANCO, TIMOTEO PAEZ, ETC.---- WERE BRUTALLY TORTURED TO
IMPLICATE RIZAL.
 RIZAL’S OWN BROTHER, PACIANO, WAS ARRESTED AND CRUELLY
TORTURED.
 HE ENDURED ALL PAINS INFLICTED BY SPAIN DIABOLICAL
TORTURES, RATHER THAN SIGN A DAMAGING STATEMENT
INCRIMINATING HIS YOUNGER BROTHER. HIS BODY WAS
SHATTERED ON THE TORTURE RACK AND HIS LEFT HAND WAS
CRUSHED BY THE SCREW, BUT HIS VALIANT ASIAN SPIRIT WAS
UNBROKEN.
 PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION

 ON NOVEMBER 20, THE PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION BEGAN.

RIZAL, THE ACCUSED, APPEARED BEFORE THE JUDGE
ADVOCATE, COLONEL FRANCISCO OLIVE. HE WAS SUBJECTED TO
A GRUELLING FIVE-DAY INVESTIGATION. HE WAS INFORMED OF
THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM, HE ANSWERED THE QUESTION
ASKED BY THE JUDGE ADVOCATED, BUT HE WAS NOT PERMITTED
TO CONFRONT THOSE WHO TESTIFIED AGAINST HIM.
COLONEL FRANCISCO OLIVE
 TWO KINDS OF EVIDENCE WERE PRESENTED
AGAINST RIZAL

 DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE
 THE DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE CONSIST OF 15 EXHIBITS, AS
FOLLOWS:
 A LETTER OF ANTONIO LUNA TO MARIANO PONCE, DATED
MADRID, OCTOBER 16, 1888, SHOWING RIZAL’S CONNECTION
WITH THE FILIPINO REFORM CAMPAIGN IN SPAIN.
 A LETTER OF RIZAL TO HIS FAMILY, DATED MADRID, AUGUST
20, 1890, STATING THAT THE DEPORTATION ARE GOOD FOR
THEY WILL ENCOURAGE THE PEOPLE TO HATE TYRANNY.
 A LETTER FROM M. H. DEL PILAR TO DEODATO ARELLANO,
DATED MADRID, JANUARY 7, 1889, IMPLICATING RIZAL IN THE
PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN IN SPAIN.
 A POEM KUNDIMAN, ALLEGEDLY WRITTEN BY RIZAL IN
MANILA ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1891.
THIS POEM IS AS FOLLOWS:

“KUNDIMAN”

IN THE ORIENT BEAUTIFUL

WHERE THE SUN IS BORN
IN A LAND OF BEAUTY
FULL OF ENCHANTMENTS
BUT BOUND IN CHAINS,
WHERE THE DESPOT REIGNS,
AH! THAT IS MY COUNTRY
THE LAND TO ME
SHE IS A SLAVE OPPRESSED
GROANING IN THE TYRANT’S GRIPS
LUCKY SHALL HE BE
WHO CAN GIVE HER LIBERTY
 A MASONIC DOCUMENT, DATED MANILA, FEBRUARY 9,
1892, HONOURING RIZAL FOR HIS PATRIOTIC SERVICE.
 A LETTER SIGNED DIMASALANG (RIZAL’S PSUEDONYM) TO
TENLUZ (JUAN ZULUETA’S PSUEDONYM), DATED
HONGKONG, MAY 24, 1892, STATING THAT HE WAS
APREOARING A SAFE REFUGE FOR FILIPINOS WHO MAY
BE PERSECUTED BY THE SPANISH AUTHORITIES.
 A LETTER OF A CARLOS OLIVER TO AN UNIDENTIFIED
PERSON, DATED BARCELONA, SEPTEMBER 18, 1891,
HONORING RIZAL FOR HIS PTRIORIZAL AS THE MAN TO
FREE THE PHILIPPINES FROM THE SPANISH OPRESSION.
 A LETTER OF DIMASALANG TO AN UNIDENTIFIED
COMMITTEE, DATED HONGKONG, JUNE 1, 1892,
SOLICITING THE AID OF COMITTEE IN THE “PATRIOTIC
WORK”.
 AN ANONYMOUS AND UNDATED LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE
HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, CENSURING THE BANISHMENT OF
RIZAL TO DAPITAN.
 A LETTER OF IDELFONSO LAUREL TO RIZAL, DATED MANILA,
SEPTEMBER 3, 1892, SAYING THAT THE FILIPINO PEOPLE LOOK
UP TO HIM (RIZAL) AS THEIR SAVIOR.
 A LETTER OF RIZAL SEGUNDO, DATED MANILA, SEPTEMBER 17,
1893, INFORMING AN UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT OF THE
ARREST AND BANISHMENT OF DOROTEO CORTEA AND
AMBROSIO SALVADOR.
 A LETTER OF M. H. DEL PILAR TO DON JUAN A TENLUS (JUAN
ZULUETA), DATED MADRID, JUNE 1, 1893 RECOMMENDING THE
ETABLISHMENT OF A SPECIAL ORGANIZATION, INDEPENDENT OF
MASONRY, TO HELP THE CAUSE OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE.
 TRANSCRIPT OF A SPEECH OF TIK-TIK (JOSE TURIANO
SANTIAGO) IN THE SAME KATIPUNAN REUNION, WHEREIN
THE KATIPUNEROS SHOUTED:”LONG LIVE EMINENT
DOCTOR RIZAL! DEATH TO THE OPPRESSOR NATION!”
 A POEM BY LAONG LAAN (RIZAL), ENTITLED A TALISAY, IN
WHICH THE AUTHOR MAKES THE DAPITAN SING THAT
THEY KNOW HOW TO FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS.
 TRANSCRIPT OF SPEECH OF PINGKIAN (EMILIO JACINTO),
IN A REUNION OF THE KATIPUNAN ON JULY 23, 1893, IN
WHICH THE FOLLOWING CRY WAS UTTERED “LONG LIVE
THE PHILIPPINES! LONG LIVE LIBERTY! LONG LIVE
DOCTOR RIZAL! UNITY!
 THE TESTIMONIAL EVIDENCE CONSIST OF THE ORAL TESTIMONIAL
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, FRANSISCO QUISON, AND
TIMOTEO PAEZ.
 AT THE CONCLUSIONOF THE PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION,
COLONEL OLIVE TRANSMITTED THE RECORDS OF THE CASE OF
GOVERNOR RAMON BLANCO WHO, IN TURN, APPOINTED CAPTAIN
RAFAEL DOMINGUEZ AS THE JUDGE ADVOCATE TO INSTITUTE THE
CORRESPONDING ACTION AGAINST RIZAL.
Capitan Dominguez
Governor Blanco
 IMMEDIATELY, DOMINGUEZ MADE A BRIEF RESUMĒ OF THE CHARGES
AND RETURNED THE PAPERS TO GOVERNOR BLANCO WHO,
THEREUPON, TRANSMITTED THEM TO THE JUDGE ADVOCATE
GENERAL, DON NICOLAS DEL LA PEÑA, FOR AN OPINION.
 AFTER STUDYING THE PAPERS, PEÑA SUBMITTED THE FOLLOWING
RECOMENDATIONS:

1.) THE ACCUSSED BE IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT TO TUTORIAL

2.) HE SHOULD BE KEPT IN PRISON,
3.) AN ORDER OF ATTACHMENT TO BE ISSUED AGAINST HIS PROPERTIES
TO THE AMOUNT OF ONE MILLION PESOS AS INDEMNITY, AND

4.) HE SHOULD BE DEFENDED IN COURT BY AN ARMY OFFICER, NOT BY A

CIVILIAN LAWYER.
Governor Peña
 RIZAL CHOOSES HER DEFENDER

 THE ONLY RIGHT GIVEN RIZAL BY THE SPANISH AUTHORITIES

WAS TO CHOOSE HIS DEFENSE COUNSEL AND EVEN THIS WAS
HIGHLY RESTRICTED, FOR HE HAD TO CHOOSE ONLY FROM THE
LIST SUBMITTED TO HIM.
 ON DECEMBER 8, FEAST DAY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION,
A LIST OF 100 1ST AND 2ND LIEUTENANTS IN THE SPANISH ARMY
WAS PRESENTED TO RIZAL. HE LOOKED OVER THE LIST, ONE
NAME STRUCK HIS FANCY. IT WAS DON LUIS TAVIEL DE ANDRADE,
1ST LIEUTENANT OF ARTILLERY. THE NAME WAS FAMILIAR TO HIM
SO THAT HE CHOOSE THE LIEUTENANT TO BE HIS DEFENDER IN
COURT.
 LT. LUIS TAVIEL DE ANDRADE PROVED TO BE THE BROTHER OF
LT. JOSE TAVIEL DE ANDRADE, RIZAL’S “BODYGUARD” IN
CALAMBA IN 1887.
 UPON BEING NOTIFIED BY THE AUTHORITIES THAT HE WAS
CHOSEN TO DEFEND THE ACCUSED, HE GLADLY ACCEPTED
THE TASK. HE HAD PREVIOUSLY HEARD OF RIZAL FROM HIS
BROTHER. AND LIKE HIS BROTHER, HE ADMIRE THE TALENTED
FILIPINO.
DON LUIS TAVIEL DE ANDRADE
 CHARGES READ TO RIZAL
 ON DECEMBER 11, THE CHARGES WERE READ TO RIZAL IN THE
PRESENCE OF HIS COUNSEL.
TO QUESTIONS ASKED, RIZAL REPLIED :
 HE DID NOT QUESTION THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURT.
 HE HAD NOTHING TO AMEND, EXCEPT THAT SINCE HIS
DEPORTATION TO DAPITAN IN 1892 HE HAD NOT ENGAGED IN
POLOTICS.
 HE DID NOT ADMIT THE CHARGES PREFERRED AGAINST HIM.
 HE DID NOT ADMIT THE DECLARATIONS OF THE WITNESSES
AGAINST HIM.
 ON DECEMBER 13, THE CASE AGAINST RIZAL WAS REFERRED TO
GOVERNOR POLAVIEJA, WHO HAD JUST REPLACED GOVERNOR
BLANCO.
 AS GOVERNOR AND CAPTAIN-GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINES,
POLAVIEJA HAD THE AUTHORITY TO ORDER A COURT-MARTIAL TO
TRY THE ACCUSED.
 RIZAL’S MANIFESTO TO HIS PEOPLE

 ON DECEMBER 15, RIZAL WROTE A MANIFESTO TO HIS PEOPLE

APPEALING TO THEM TO STOP THE UNNECESSARY SHEDDING
OF BLOOD AND TO ACHIEVE THEIR LIBERTIES BY MEANS OF
EDUCATION AND INDUSTRY.
 FORTUNATELY, FOR RIZAL, JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL
NICOLAS DE LA PEÑA RECOMMEND TO GOVERNOR POLAVIAJE
THAT THE MANIFESTO BE SUPPRESSED.
 ACCORDINGLY ITS PUBLICATION WAS PROHIBITED. THUS RIZAL
WAS “ SAVED FROM THE SHAME OF HIS MANIFESTO’S BEING
MISINTERPRETED AND DISOBEYED BY THE FILIPINOS IN ARMS”.
 RIZAL’S SADDEST CHRISTMAS

 DECEMBER 25, 1896 WAS CHRISTMAS. ON THAT DAY, ALL

CHRISTENDOM JOYOUSLY CELEBRATED THE BIRTHDAY OF
CHRIST WAS BORN TO REDEEM MANKIND FROM INJUSTICE.
 A DARK AND CHEERLESS CHRISTMAS OF RIZAL! HE WHO WAS
ACCUSTOMED TO SPEND THIS MERRY SEASON IN THE COMPANY
OF HIS BELOVED FAMILY OR DEAR FRIENDS, FOUND HIMSELF
ALONE AND DEPRESSED IN A DREARY PRISON CELL.
 TRULY, THE CHRISTMAS OF 1896 WAS THE SADDEST AND THE LAST
CHRISTMAS IN RIZAL’S LIFE.
 HE WAS IN DESPAIR, FOR HE HAD NO ILLUSION ABOUT HIS LIFE.
BROODING OVER HIS HOPELESS CASE, HE WROTE A LETTER TO LT. TAVIEL DE
ANDRADE, AS FOLLOWS:

FORT SANTIAGO, DECEMBER 25, 1896

MY VERY DISTINGUISHED DEFENDER:

THE INVESTIGATING JUDGE HAS INFORMED ME THAT
TOMORROW MAY CASE WILL BE HEARD BEFORE THE COURT. I WAS
WAITING FOR YOU THIS MORNING TO TELL YOU OF AN IMPORTANT
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
 THE TRIAL OF RIZAL WAS AN ELOQUENT PROOF OF SPANISH
INJUSTICE AND MISRULES. MORE THAN A FARCE, IT WAS PATENTLY
MISTRIAL.
 RIZAL, A CIVILIAN, WAS TRIED BY MILITARY COURT COMPOSED OF
ALIEN MILITARY OFFICERS. HIS CASE WAS PREJUDGE; HE WAS
CONSIDERED GUILTY BEFORE THE ACTUAL TRIAL. THE MILITARY
COURT MET NOT TO JUDGE HIM, BUT TO ACCUSED AND CONDEMN
HIM. IT ACCEPT ALL CHARGES AND TESTIMONIES AGAINST RIZAL,
AND IGNORED ALL ARGUMENTS AND RULES IN HIS FAVOR.
 MOREOVER, RIZAL WAS NOT GIVEN THE RIGHT(WHICH ANY
ACCUSED IS ENTITLED TO HAVE REAL COURT OF JUSTICE) TO FACE
THE WITNESSES AGAINST HIM IN OPEN COURT.
 AT 8:00 A.M., DECEMBER 26, 1896, THE COURT-MARTIAL OF RIZAL
STARTED IN MILITARY BUILDING CALLED CUARTEL DE ESPAÑA. SEATED
BEHIND A LONG TABLE ON AN ELEVATED DAIS WERE THE SEVEN
MEMBERS OF MILITARY COURT, DRESS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE MILITARY
UNIFORM, AS FOLLOWS:
1. LT. COL. JOSE TOGORES ARJONA (PRESIDENT)

2. CAPT. RICARDO MUÑUS ARIAS,

3. CAPT. MANUEL REGUERA,
4. CAPT. SANTIAGO IZQUIERDO OSORIO,
5. CAPT. BRAULIO RODRIGUEZ NUÑES
6. CAPT. MANUEL DIAZ ESCRIBANO,
7. CAPT. FERNANDO PEREZ RODRIGUEZ
 ALSO PRESENT AT THE COURTROOM WERE DR. RIZAL (THE
ACCUSED), LT. TAVIEL DE ANDRADE (HIS DEFENSE COUNSEL),
CAPT. RAFAEL DOMINGUEZ (JUDGE ADVOCATE), LT. ENRIQUE DE
ALCOCER (PROSECUTING ATTORNEY), AND THE SPECTATORS.
AMONG THE SPECTATORS WERE JOSEPHINE BRACKEN, A
SISTER OF RIZAL, SOME NEWSPAPERMEN, AND MANY
SPANIARDS.
 RIZAL SAT ON A BENCH BETWEEN TWO SOLDIERS. HIS ARMS
WERE TIED BEHIND, ELBOW TO ELBOW, LIKE A COMMON FELON.
 HE DRESSED IN A BLOCK WOOLEN SUIT WITH A WHITE VEST
AND BLACK TIE. HE WAS CALM AND DIGNIFIED IN APPEARANCE.
 THE TRAIL WAS OPENED BY JUDGE ADVOCATE DOMINGUEZ
WHO EXPLAIN THE CASE OF RIZAL. AFTER HIM
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY ALCOCER AROSE AND DELIVERED
A LONG AND BITTER THE COURT GIVE THE VERDICT OF
DEATH TO THE ACCUSED. THE SPANISH SPECTATORS
APPLAUDED NOISILY ALCOCER’S PETITION FOR THE
SENTENCE OF DEATH.
 RIZAL ACCUSED OF THREE CRIMES:
1) REBELLION
2) SEDITION
3) ILLEGAL ASSOCIATION
 ACCORDING TO SPANISH LAW, THE PENALTY FOR
REBELLION AND SEDITION WAS FROM LIFE IMPRISONMENT
TO DEATH, AND THE PENALTY FOR ORGANIZING AN ILLEGAL
ASSOCIATION WAS CORRECTIONAL IMPRISONMENT AND A
FINE OF 325 TO 3,250 PASETAS.
 AFTER THE PROSECUTING, ATTORNEY FINISHED HIS
SPIRITED HARANGUE, DEFENSE COUNSEL TAVIEL DE
ANDRADE TOOK THE FLOOR AND READ HIS ELOQUENT
DEFENSE OF RIZAL.
 HE ENDED HIS DEFENSE WITH A NOBLE, BUT FUTILE,
ADMONITION TO THE MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY: THE JUDGE
CANNOT BE VINDICTIVE; “THE JUDGE CAN ONLY BE JUST”.
 EVIDENTLY, HIS ADMONITION FELL ON DEAF EARS.
 WHEN LT. TAVIEL DE ANDRADE TOOK HIS SEAT, THE COURT
ASK RIZAL WHETHER HE HAD ANYTHING TO SAY. RIZAL THEN
HAD A SUPPLEMENT TO HIS DEFENSE WHICH HE WROTE IN HIS
PRISON CELL. IN HIS SUPPLEMENTARY DEFENSE, HE FURTHER
PROVED A INNOCENCE BY TWELVE POINTS.
 TWELVE POINTS SUPPLEMENTARY
DEFENSE

1. HE COULD NOT BE GUILTY OF REBELLION, FOR HE ADVICE DR.

PIO VALENZUELA IN DAPITAN NOT TO RISE IN REVOLUTION.
2. HE DID NOT CORRESPOND WITH THE RADICAL, REVOLUTIONARY
ELEMENTS.
3. THE REVOLUTIONIST USED HIS NAME W/OUT HIS KNOWLEDGE.
IF HE WERE GUILTY HE COULD HAVE ESCAPED IN SINGAPORE.
4. IF HE HAVE A HAND IN THE REVOLUTION HE COULD HAVE
ESCAPED IN A MORO VINTA AND WOULD NOT HAVE BUILT A HOME,
A HOSPITAL, AND BOUGHT LANDS IN DAPITAN.
5. IF HE WERE THE CHIEF OF THE REVOLUTION, WHY WAS HE
NOT CONSULTED BY REVOLUTIONIST.
6. IT WAS TRUE HE WROTE THE BY-LAWS OF THE LIGA FILIPINA,
BUT THIS IS ONLY A CIVIC ASSOCIATION—NOT A REVOLUTIONARY
SOCIETY.
7. THE LIGA FILIPINA DID NOT LIVE LONG FOR AFTER THE
FIRST MEETING HE WAS VANISHED TO DAPITAN AND IT DIED
OUT.
8. IF THE LIGA WAS REORGANIZED NINE MONTHS LATER, HE
DID NOT ABOUT IT.
9. THE LIGA DID NOT SERVE THE PURPOSE OF THE
REVOLUTIONIST, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE
SUPPLANTED IT WITH THE KATIPUNAN.
10. IF IT WERE TRUE THAT THERE WERE SOME BITTER
COMMENTS IN RIZAL’S LETTERS , IT WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE
WRITTEN IN 1890 WHEN HIS FAMILY WAS BEING PERSECUTE,
BEING DISPOSSESSED OF HOUSES, WAREHOUSE, LANDS, ETC.,
AND HIS BROTHER AND ALL BROTHER-IN-LAW WERE DEPORTED.
11. HIS LIFE IN DAPITAN HAD BEEN EXEMPLARY AS THE
POLITICO-MILITARY COMMANDERS AND MISSIONARY PRIESTS
COULD ATTEST.
12. IT WAS NOT TRUE THAT THE REVOLUTIONIST WAS
INSPIRED BY HIS ONE SPEECH AT THE HOUSE OF DOROTEO
ONGJUNCO, AS FRIENDS KNEW HIS OPPOSITION TO ARMED
REBELLION. WHY DID THE KATIPUNAN SEND AN EMISSARY
WHO WAS UNKNOWN TO HIM? BECAUSE THOSE WHO KNEW
HIM WERE AWARE THAT HE WOULD NEVER SANCTION ANY
VIOLENT MOVEMENT.
 THE MILITARY COURT , PREJUDICED AS IT WAS, REMAINED
INDIFFERENT TO RIZAL PLEADING. THE PRESIDENT, LT. COL.
TOGORES ARJONA, CONSIDERED THE TRIAL OVER AND
ORDERED THE HALL CLEARED.
 AFTER A SHORT DELIBERATION, THE MILITARY COURT
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED FOR THE SENTENCE OF DEATH.
 ON THE SAME DAY (DECEMBER 26TH), THE COURT WAS
SUBMITTED TO GOVERNOR POLAVIEJA. IMMEDIATELY
POLAVIEJA SOUGHT THE OPINION OF JUDGE ADVOCATE
GENERAL NICOLAS DE LA PEÑA ON THE COURT DECISION.
THE LATTER AFFIRMED THE DEATH VERDICT.
 POLAVIEJA SIGNS RIZAL’S EXECUTION

 ON DECEMBER 28TH, GOVERNOR POLAVIEJA APPROVED THE

DECISION OF THE COURT-MARTIAL AND ORDERED THE
EXECUTION OF RIZAL ON DECEMBER 30TH AT THE BAGUMBAYAN
FIELD (LUNETA).
 His decree on this matter runs as follows :

 MANILA, DECEMBER 26, 1896

CONFORMALLY TO THE FOREGOING OPINION; I

APPROVE THE SENTENCE DICTATE BY THE COURT
MARTIAL IN THE PRESENT CASE, BY THE VIRTUE OF
WHICH THE DEATH PENALTY IS IMPOSED ON THE
ACCUSED JOSE RIZAL MERCADO, WHICH SHALL BE
EXECUTED BY THIS MONTH IN THE FIELD OF
BAGUMBAYAN.
FOR COMPLIANCE AND THE REST THAT THEY MAY
CORRESPOND, LET THIS BE RETURNED TO THE JUDGE
ADVOCATED, 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 OTHER SPANISH OFFICIALS WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE DEATH OF RIZAL WILL EVERMORE REMAIN AS
OBNOXIOUS VILLAINS IN THE PHILIPPINE HISTORY.