THE TRIAL OF JOSE RIZAL
THE FIRST INVESTIGATION
November 20, 1896
● the preliminary investigation on Rizal began
● Rizal as the accused appeared before Judge Advocate, Colonel
Francisco Olive.
● He was subjected to a 5 day investigation.
● Rizal was informed about his charges and was given the chance to
answer the questions they have on him though he was never
permitted to confront those people who testified against him.
● 2 pieces of evidence were presented against Rizal:
○ 1. Documentary
○ 2. Testimonial
RIZAL’S KANGAROO TRIAL : THE PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION
Documentary Evidences:
includes letters which allegedly implicate Rizal in the Propaganda
Movement, several transcripts of speech wherein his name was used
by the Katipunan, as well as several of his poems which were highly
nationalistic in nature.
1. A letter from Antonio 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 movement
campaign in Spain.
4. A poem entitled Kundiman, allegedly written by Rizal in Manila on
September 12, 1891
5. A letter from 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 lodge document, dated Manila, February 9, 1892, honoring
Rizal for his patriotic services
7. A letter signed Dimasalang ( Rizal’s pseudonym) to Tenlunz (Juan
Zulueta’s pseudonym), dated Hongkong, May 24, 1892,stating that he
was preparing a safe refuge for Filipinos who may persecuted by the
Spanish authorities
8. A letter to Dimasalang to an unidentified committee, dated Hongkong,
June 1, 1892, soliciting the aid of the committee in the “patriotic work”
9. An anonymous and undated letter to the Editor of Hongkong
Telegraph, ensuring the banishment of Rizal to Dapitan.
10. A letter from Idefonso Laurel to Rizal, dated Manila, September 3,
1892, saying that the Filipino people look up to him (Rizal) as their
savior
11. A letter from Ildefonso Laurel to Rizal, informing an unidentified
correspondent of the arrest and the banishment of Doroteo Cortes
and Ambrosio Salvador.
12. A letter from Marcelo H. del Pilar to Don Juan A. Tenluz, dated
Madrid, June 1, 1893 recommending the establishment of a special
organization to help the cause of the Filipino people.
13. Transcript of a speech of Pingkian (Emilio Jacinto) in a reunion to the
Katipunan on July 23, 1893, in which the following cry uttered “Long
Live the Philippines! Long LiveLiberty! Long live Doctor Rizal! Unity!”
14. Transcript of a speech of Tik-Tik (Jose Turiano Santiago) in the same
Katipunan reunion, where in they shouted: “Long live the eminent
Doctor Rizal! Death to the oppressor nation!”
15. A poem by Laong Laan (Rizal), entitled A Talisay in which the author
makes the Dapitan schoolboys sing that they know how to fight for
their rights
Testimonial Evidences:
1. Martin Constantino
2. Aguedo del Rosario
3. Jose Reyes
4. Moises Salvador
5. Jose Dizon
6. DomingoFranco
7. Deodato Arellano
8. Ambrosio Salvador
9. Pedro Serrano Laktaw
10. Dr. Pio Valenzuela
11. Antonio Salazar
12. Francisco Quison
13. Temoteo Paez
November 26. 1896
after the preliminary investigation, Colonel Olive transmitted the
records of the case to Governor Dominguez as special Judge
Advocate to institute the corresponding action against Rizal
Capt. Rafael Dominguez
as a special Judge advocate to institute the corresponding action. He
made a brief resume of the charges and returned the papers to the
Governor General, who thereon transmitted them to the Judge
Advocate, General Don Nicholas de la Peña, for an opinion.
Don Nicolas de la Pena
After studying the papers, he submitted the following
recommendations:
1. The accused be immediately brought to trial
2. He should be kept in prison
3. An order of attachment be issued against his property to the
amount of one million pesos as indemnity
4. He should be defended in court by an army officer, not by a
civilian lawyer
