Last Homecoming and Trial

Chapter 24

Last Homecoming and Trial

A Martyrs Last Homecoming Rizal leave Barcelona on Tuesday, October 6,1896, He

conscientiously recorded the events in his diary.

Rizal was given a good cabin in the second class and although strictly guarded, he was courteously treated by the army officers.

On October 8 a friendly officer told Rizal that the Madrid newspapers were full of stories about the bloody revolution in the Philippines and were blaming him for it.

Confiscation of Rizals Diary

The Spanish authorities were curious as to what were recorded in his diary. Not only their curiosity, but also their suspicion were aroused, for they feared that the diarist might be writing something seditious or treasonable.

On October 11 before reaching Port, Rizals diary was taken away and was critically scrutinized by the authorities. But it was returned to him on November 2.

Unsuccessful Rescue in Singapore.

News of Rizals 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 Hugh Fort to rescue Rizal from the Spanish steamer when it reached Singapore by means of a writ habeas corpus.

When the colon arrived in Singapore, Atty. Fort instituted proceedings at the Singapore court for the removal of Rizal from the steamer.

Unfortunately, Chief Justice Loinel Cox denied the writ on the ground that the colon was carrying Spanish troops to the Philippines.

Rizal was unaware of the attempt made by his friends to rescue him in Singapore because he was then kept behind bars in the ship.

Arrival in Manila November 3, the colon

reached Manila. While the Spanish community was exulting with joy, Rizal was quietly transferred under heavy guard from the ship to Fort Santiago.

Spanish authorities fished for evidence against Rizal. Many Filipino patriots were brutally tortured to implicate Rizal.

Rizals own brother, Paciano, was arrested and cruelly tortured, but he never signed any damaging statement incriminating his younger brother.

Preliminary Investigation Two kinds of evidence were presented against Rizal, namely

documentary and testimonial. The documentary evidence consisted of 15 exhibits. After studying the papers, Pena submitted the ff

recommendations: (1) The accused be immediately brought to trials. (2) He should be kept in prison. (3) An order of attachment be issued against his property to

the amount of 1M pesos as indemnity. (4) He should be defended in court by an army officer, not by

a civilian lawyer.

Rizal Chooses His Defender. Rizal chose Don Luis Taviel

de Andrade, 1st Lieutenant of the Artillery to be his defender in court.

Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade proved to be the brother of Lt. Jose Taviel de Andrade, Rizals bodyguard in Calamba in 1887.

Reading Of Information of Charges to the Accused

Dec.11, information about charges was formally read to Rizal in his prison cell, with his counsel present.

He was accused of being the principal organizer and the living soul of the Filipino insurrection, the founder of societies, periodicals, and books dedicated to fomenting and propagating ideas of rebellion.

Rizal raised no objection on the jurisdiction of the court, but pleaded not guilty to the crime of rebellion.

He admitted that he wrote the Constitution of the La Liga Filipina which was merely a civic association.

He waived the right to amend or make further statements already made, except that he had taken no part in politics since his exile to Dapitan.

Dec. 13, Captain Rafael Dominguez forwarded the papers of the Rizal case to Malacaan Palace.

Also the same day when General Camilo G. de Polavieja, with help of the powerful friars, became Governor General of the Philippines, succeeding General Blanco.

The withdrawal of Blanco from the gubernatorial office sealed Rizals fate, for he was more humane in character than the ruthless Polavieja and, moreover, he firmly believed that Rizal was not a traitor of Spain.

If he had remained longer in office, Rizal would not have been executed.

Rizals Manifesto to His People December 15, He wrote a manifesto to his people appealing

to them to stop the necessary shedding of blood and to achieve their liberties by means of education and industry.

Judge Advocate General Nicolas de la Pea recommended Gov. Gen. Polavieja that the manifesto be suppressed. The latter heeded the recommendation so that Rizals manifesto was not issued to the people.

Thus Rizal was saved from the shame of his manifestos being misinterpreted and disobeyed by the Filipinos in arms.

Rizals saddest Christmas December 25, 1896, Rizal, who was accustomed to spend

merry season in the company of his beloved family or dear friends, found himself and depressed in a dreary prison cell.

the 1896 Christmas was in did, was the saddest in Rizals life. Rizal was in despair and had no idea of what his fate may be.

Under this delusion, he wrote a letter to Lt. Taviel de Andrade requesting the latter to visit him before his trial for there was a very important matter they need to discuss. Likewise, Rizal greeted the lieutenant a joyous Christmas.

The Trial of Rizal Trial of Rizal was an eloquent proof of Spanish injustice &

misrule

His case was prejudged; he was considered GUILTY before the actual trial. The military men met not to give him JUSTICE, but to accuse and condemn him.

It accepted all charges and testimonies against him, and ignored all arguments and proofs in his favor.

Rizal was not given the right (which any accused is entitled to have in a real court of justice) to face the witnesses against him in an open court.

December 26, 1896 (8:00am), the court-martial of Rizal started in the military building called Cuartel de Espaa.

Seated behind a long table were the 7 members of the military court as follows:

Lt. Col. Jose Togores Arjona (president) Capt. Ricardo Muoz Arias Capt. Manuel Reguera Capt. Santiago Izquierdo Osorio Capt. Braulio Rodriguez Nuez Capt. Manuel Diaz Escribano Capt. Fermin Perez Rodriguez

Cuartel de Espana, scene of Rizal's military trial

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 including Josephine Bracken, some newspapermen and many Spaniards.

Rizal sat on a bench between 2 soldiers. His arms were tied behind, elbow to elbow. He was dresses in a black woolen suit with a white vest and black tie.

After a short deliberation, the court unanimously voted for the sentence of death.

On the same day, the court decision was submitted to Gov. Gen. Polavieja.

The latter sought the opinion of Judge Advocate General Nicolas de la Pea, whom affirmed the death verdict.

Polavieja Signs Rizals Execution December 28, 1896, the

Governor General Polavieja signed the court's decision and ordered Rizal to be shot at 7:00 oclock in the morning of December 30 at Bagumbayan Field (Luneta).