Prepared by: Bensar Ali A. Karim

The Trial of Rizal

Preliminary Investigation(1896 November 20)

• Rizal was subjected to a grueling five-day investigation.

He was informed of charges against him, he answered the questions asked by Judge Advocate, Colonel Francisco Olive, but he was not permitted to confront those who testified against him.

Two kinds of evidence were presented to him - documentary and testimonial.

Documentary Evidences were:1. A letter of Antonio Luna to Mariano Ponce, dated Madrid, October 16, 1888, showing

Rizal’s connection with the Filipino reform campaign in Spain.2. 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.3. A letter from Marcelo H. del Pilar to Deodato Arellano, dated Madrid, January 7, 1889,

implicating Rizal in the Propaganda campaign in Spain.4. A poem entitled Kundiman, allegedly written by Rizal in Manila on September 12, 1891.5. A letter of Carlos Oliver to an unidentified person, dated Barcelona, September 18, 1891,

describing Rizal as the man to free the Philippines from Spanish oppression.6. A Masonic document , dated Manila, February 9, 1892 honoring Rizal for his patriotic

services.7. A letter signed Dimasalang to Tenluz (Juan Zulueta’s pseudonym), dated Hongkong,

dated May 24, 1892, stating that he was preparing a safe refuge for Filipinos who may be persecuted by the Spanish authorities.

8. A letter of Dimasalang to an unidentified committee, dated Hongkong, June 1, 1892, solicitating the aid of committee in the “patriotic work”.

9. An anonymous and undated letter to the Editor of Hongkong Telegraph, censuring the banishment of Rizal to Dapitan.

Documentary Evidences were:

10. A letter of Ildefonso Laurel to Rizal, dated Manila, September 3, 1892, saying that the Filipino people look up to him (Rizal) as their savior.11. A letter of Rizal Segundo, dated Manila, September 17, 1893, informing an

unidentified correspondent of the arrest and banishment of Doroteo Cortes and Ambrosio Salvador.

12. A letter of Marcelo H. del Pilar to Don Juan Tenluz, dated Madrid, June 1, 1893 recommending the establishment of a special organization, independent of Masonry, to help the cause of Filipino people.

13. Tranrscript of a 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!

14. Transcript of a speech of Tik-Tik (Jose Turiano Santiago) in the same Katipunan reunion, wherein the Katipuneros shouted: “Long live the eminent Doctor Rizal! Death to the oppressor nation!”

15. A poem by LaongLaan, entitled A Talisay, in which the author makes the Dapitan schoolboys sing that they know how to fight for their rights.

Testimonial Evidence1. Martin Constantino 2. Aguedo del Rosario 3. Jose Reyes 4. Moises Salvador 5. Jose Dizon 6. Pio Valenzuela 7. Ambrosio Savador 8. Francisco Quison 9. Timoteo Paez 10.Deodato Arellano 11.Pedro Serrano Laktaw 12. Antonio Salazar 13.Domingo Franco

Governor-General Ramon Blanco

Colonel Olive transmitted the records of the case to

Governor-General Ramon Blanco who, in turn,

appointed Captain Rafael Dominguez as the Judge Advocate to institute the

corresponding action against Rizal.

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.

Peña’s Recommendations:

Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade

• 1st Lieutenant of the Artillery, brother of Jose Taviel de Andrade, the bodyguard of Rizal.

Rizal was charged with the crime of rebellion, and the formation of illegal associations.

Rizal’s Arraignment (December 11, 1896)

• He did not question the jurisdiction of the court• He had nothing to amend except that during his exile in Dapitan in 1892, he had not dealt in political matters; • He had 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.

On December 13, 1896 …

While in Detention…

Rizal released a manifesto that he denounces the revolution and condemned Katipunan for using his name without his permission.

Actual Trial

Hall of Banners of the Cuartel de España. He was accused of 3 crimes: rebellion, sedition, illegal associations. Penalty: Life imprisonment-death for rebellion and sedition, correctional imprisonment and a fine of 325 to 3250 pesetas for illegal association.

(December 26, 1896)

Twelve-point Defense of Rizal:

As testified by Pio Valenzuela, Rizal was against rebellion He had not written a letter addressed to the Katipunan comprising revolutionary elements Without his knowledge, his name was used by the Katipunan; if he really was guilty, he could have escaped while he was in Singapore 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. If he was really the leader of the revolution, the revolutionists should have consulted him. 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.

After the first meeting of La Liga, the association banished because of his exile in Dapitan, thus, did not last long. If the La Liga was reorganized nine months later, he had no idea about it If the La Liga had a revolutionary purpose, then Katipunan should not have been organized. 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. He lived an exemplary life in Dapitan – the politico-military commanders and missionary priests in the province could attest to that. 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.

Twelve-point Defense of Rizal:

Governor-General Camilo de Polavieja

December 28, 1896 .He approved the decision of the court-martial and ordered Rizal to be shot at 7:00 o’clock in the morning of December 30 at Bagumbayan Field .

The End