CHAPTER 24

LAST HOMECOMING AND

TRIAL
 Rizal’s home coming in 1896,

 facing the supreme test, which mean the sacrifice

of his life, but he was unafraid.
 Gladly, he desired to meet his enemies and offer
himself as a sacrificial victim to their sadistic lust and
holy designs for he knew that his blood would water
the seeds of Filipino freedom.
 His enemies howled like mad dogs for his blood, and
they got it, without benefit of genuine justice.
A Martyr’s Last
Homecoming.
 Day by day, since leaving Barcelona in
Tuesday, October 6, 1896, Rizal
conscientiously recorded the events in his
diary.
 October 8, a friendly officer told Rizal that the
Madrid newspaper were full of stories about the
bloody revolution in the Philippines and were
blaming him for it.
 I believe that God is doing to me is a blessing, allowing me to go back
to the Philippines in order to be able to destroy such accusations.
Because, either they do me justice and recognize my innocence and
then I will be rehabilitated or they sentence me to death and thereby,
before the eyes of society, I atone for my supposed crime. Society will
forgive me and later, without any doubt, justice will be done me and I
will be one more martyr. At any rate, instead of dying abroad or in the
manigua (jungle in Cuba), I’ll die in my own country. I believe that
what is happening is the best that can happen to me. Always let God’s
will be done! I feel that place has descended upon me, thank God!
Thou art my hope and my consolation! Let your Will be done; I am
ready to obey it. Either I will be condemned or absolved. I’m happy and
ready.
Confiscation of Rizal’s Diary
 The Spanish authorities on board the Colon that Rizal
was keeping track of the daily events in his diary.
 October 11,before reaching Port Said, Rizal’s diary was

taken away and was critically scrutinized by the

authorities. Nothing dangerous was found in his
contents.
 November 2, the diary was returned to him. Owing to

interruption, Rizal was not able to record the events from

Monday, October 12 to Sunday, November 1.
 Monday, 2 November--- Today, they returned to me this
notebook which they took away on the 11th of the last month
before reaching Port Said. For this reason my diary was
interrupted. They search me and inspected thoroughly my
luggage. They took away all my papers and afterward they put
me behind the bars and they did not take me out until we
reached the Red Sea. That was what they did to me in 16 hours
before our arrival. Also twice they put me in four or six hours
before and they take me out when we are already in the high
seas. However, at Singapore they put me in 16 hours before our
arrival. Also twice they put handcuffs on me.
Unsuccessful Rescue in Singapore.
 News of Rizal’s predicament reached his friend in Europe and
Singapore.
 From London, Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor and Sixto Lopez
dispatched frantic telegrams to an English lawyer in
Singapore, Atty. Fort instituted proceedings at the Singapore
Court for the removal of Rizal from the steamer.

 Chief Justice Loinel Cox denied the writ on the ground that
the Colon was carrying Spanish troops to the Philippines.

 Rizal was unware 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 the Spanish
community was exulting with joy, Rizal was quietly
transferred under heavy guard from the ship to Fort
Santiago.
 The Spanish authorities fished for evidence against
Rizal. Many Filipino patriots, including Deodato
Arellano, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, Moises Salvador, Jose
Dizon, Domingo Franco, Temoteo Paez, and Pedro
Serrano Laktaw, were brutally tortured to implicate
Rizal. Rizal’s own brother, Paciano, was arrested and
cruelly tortured.
Preliminary Investigation
 November 20- the preliminary investigation began.
 Judge Advocate, Colonel Francisco Olive
 Two kinds of evidence were presented against Rizal:

1. Documentary and
2. Testimonial
The documentary evidence:
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 tranny.
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.
 KUNDIMAN
In the Orient beautiful
5. A letter of Carlos Oliver to an
Where the sun is born,
unidentified person, dated Barcelona,
In a land of beauty September 18, 1891, describing Rizal as
Full of enchantments the man to free the Philippines from
But bound in chains. Spanish oppression.
Where the despot reigns,
The land dearest to me. 6. A Masonic document, dated
Ah! that is my country, Manila, February 9, 1892,
She is a slave oppressed honoring Rizal for his patriotic
Groaning in the tyrant’s grips; services.
Lucky shall he be And Etc.
Who can give her liberty!
 
The testimonial evidence:

 Martin Constantino
 Aguedo del Rosario
 Jose Reyes
 Ambrosio Salvador
 Antonio Salazar and
 Francisco Quison.
November 26

• Colonel Olive transmitted the records of the

case to Governor General Ramon Blanco, and
the letter appointed Captain Rafael Dominguez
as special Judge Advocate to institute the
corresponding action against Rizal.
• After studying the papers, Judge Advocate General
Don Nicolas de la Peña 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; and
(4) he should be defended in court by an army
officer, not by a civilian lawyer.
Rizal Chooses His Defender
 The only right given to Rizal by the Spanish authorities was to
choose his defense counsel. For he had to choose only from a list
submitted to him.
 December 8- Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception
 A list of 100 first and second lieutenants in the Spanish Army was
presented to Rizal.
 It was Don Luis Taviel de Andrade, 1st Lieutenant of the Artillery.
Reading of Information of Charger to the
Accused.
 December 11- 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.”
 He admitted that he wrote the Constitution of the Liga
Filipina which was merely a civic association.
 December 13- Dominguez forwarded the papers of the Rizal
case to Malacañan Palace.
 General Camilo G. del Polavieja, he believed that Rizal was
not a traitor to Spain.
Rizal’s Manifesto to His People.
 December 15, Rizal 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.
My Countrymen:

On my return from Spain, I learned that my name had been used as a

war cry among some were in arms. The news painfully surprised me, but
believing it was all over, I kept silent over what I considered
irremediable. Now I hear rumors that the disturbances continue, and lest
any persons should still go on using my name in bad or good faith, to
remedy this abuse and to undeceive the unwary, I hasten to address you
these lines so that the truth may be known.

From the beginning, when I had news of what, was being planned, I
opposed it, fought it, and demonstrated its absolute impossibility. This is
the truth, and witnesses to my words are still living. I was convinced that
the idea was highly absurd and, what was worse, would bring great
suffering. I did more.
When later, in spite of my counsels the movement
broke out, I spontaneously offered not only my
services, but my life, and even my name so that they
might use the, in the manner they saw fit to suppress
the rebellion, for, convinced of the evils that would be
fall them, I considered myself fortunate if, at any
sacrifice, I could prevent such useless misfortunes.
This is equally of record,
My countrymen: I have given proofs, more than anybody else, of desiring
liberties for our country and I still desire them. But I place as a premise the
education of the people so that by means of education and of labor they might
have a personality of their own and make themselves worthy of liberties. In
my writings I have recommended redemption. I have also written (and my
words have been repeated) that reforms, to be fruitful, have to come from
above, that those that come from below are irregular and unstable. Imbued
with these ideals, I cannot but condemn and I do condemn this absurd, savage
uprising planned behind my back, which dishonors us, the Filipinos, and
discredits those who may advocate our cause. I abhor its criminal methods
and disclaim all participation therein, pitying from the bottom of my heart the
unwary who have allowed themselves to be deceived. Return then to your
homes, and may God forgive those who have acted in bad faith.
Rizal’s Saddest Christmas.
 December 25, 1896
 Truly, the Christmas of 1896, his last on earth, was the

saddest in Rizal’s life. He was despair for, he had no

illusions about his fate. Brooding over his hopeless case, he
wrote a letter to Lt. Taviel de Andrade
 Fort Santiago, December 25, 1896
My Very Distinguished Defender:

The investigating Judge has informed me that tomorrow my case will be

heard before the court. I was waiting for you this morning to tell you of an
important matter, but undoubtedly the pressure of your work did not permit you
to come as expected by the Investigating Judge. If you have time, I should like to
speak to you before I appear before the court; I shall be grateful if you come this
afternoon, this evening, or tomorrow.

Wishing you “Merry Christmas,” I reiterate, Always your attentive and

affectionate servant and client,

Jose Rizal
The Trial of Rizal
 He was considered guilty before the actual trial
 It accepted all charges and testimonies against him. And ignored
given the right (which any accused is entitled to have in a real court
of justice) to face the witnesses against him in open court.
 Rizal sat on a bench between two soldiers. His arms were tied
behind, elbow to elbow, like a common felon. He was dressed in a
black woolen suit with a white vest and black tie. He was calm and
dignified in appearance.
 When Lt. Taviel de Andrade took his seat, the court asked Rizal
whether he had anything to say. Rizal then read a supplement to his
defense which he wrote in his prison cell. In his supplementary
defense further proved his innocence by twelve points:
1. He could not be guilty of rebellion, for he advised Dr. Pio
Valenzuela in Dapitan not to rise in revolution.
2. He did not correspond with the radical, revolutionary
elements.
3. The revolutionists used his name without his knowledge. If
he were guilty he could have escaped in Singapore.
4. If he had 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 the revolutionists?
6. It was true he wrote the by-laws of the Liga Filipina, but this
in only civic association—not a revolutionary society.
7. The Liga Filipina did not live long, for after the first meeting
he was banished to Dapitan and it died out.
8. If the Liga was reorganized nine months later, he did not
know about it.
9. The Liga did not serve the purpose of the revolutionists,
otherwise they would not have supplanted it with the
Katipunan.
10. If it were true that there were some bitter comments in
Rizal’s letter, it was because they were written in 1890 when
his family was being persecuted, being disposed of houses,
warehouses, lands, etc. and his brother and all his
brothers-in-law were deported.
11. His life in Dapitan and been exemplary as the politico-military
commanders and missionary priests could attest.
12. It was not true that the revolution was inspired by his one speech at
the house of Doroteo Ongjunco, as alleged by witnesses whom he
would like to confront. His friends knew his opposition to armed
rebellion. Why did the Katipunan send an emissary to Dapitan who
was unknown to him? Because those who knew him were aware that
he would never sanction any violent movement.

On the same day (December 26th), the court decision was submitted to
Governor General 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
 December 28th-Polavieja approved the decision of court-martial and
ordered Rizal to be shot at 7:00 o’clock in the morning of December
30 at Bagumbayan Field (Luneta).
Manila December 28, 1896:

Conformably to the foregoing opinion. I approve the sentence dictated

by the Court Martial in the present case, by virtue of which the death
penalty is imposed on the accused Jose Rizal Mercado, which shall be
executed by shooting him at 7:00 o’ clock in the morning of the 30th of this
month on the field of Bagumbayan.

For compliance and the rest that may correspond, let this be returned to
the Judge Advocate, Captain Don Rafael Dominguez.
THANK YOU!!!