Chapter 24:Last Homecoming and TrialOctober 8, 1896 Rizal learned that the Madrid papers were full of stories regarding the revolutions in the Philippines and hewas blamed from it.October 11, 1896 Rizals diary was confiscated during his way to Port Said, his cabin was searched nothing significant was found. On November 11, 1896 his diary was returned.Unsuccessful Rescue in SingaporeDr. AntonioMa. Regidor andSixto Lopez Dispatch telegrams to an English lawyer in Singapore named Hugh Fort to rescue Rizal when his arrive, by means of writ of habeas corpuz.

When the Spanish steamer arrived Atty. Fortinstituted proceedings at the Singapore Court for the immediate removal of Rizal from the said steamer.Chief Justice Loinel Cox denied the writ of habeas corpus on the ground because the steamer carry Spanish troops hence it is a warship of foreign power which under the law beyond the jurisdiction of the Singaporean court.November 3, 1896 (Arrival in Manila)Spanish authorities gather evidence against Rizal while: Deodato ArellanoDomingo FrancoDr. Pio ValenzuelaTemoteo PaezMoises SalvadorPedro Serrano Laktawwere brutally tortured to implicate Rizal.

Rizal owned brother was also arrested and tortured but never said anything against his younger brother.First InvestigationNovember 20, 1896Preliminary investigation was conducted. 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 been given the chance to answer the questions they haveon him though he was neverpermitted to confront thosepeoplewhotestifiedagainsthim.Two Evidences presented against him: 1. documentary 2. testimonial

JoseRizalKangaroo Trial: Preliminary Investigation

Documentary EvidencesA letter from Antonio toMariano Ponce dated Madrid October 16, 1888, showing Rizal connection with the Filipino reform campaign in Spain.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 hatetyranny.A letterfrom Marcelo H.del Pilarto DeodatoArellano, dated Madrid, January 7, 1889, implicating Rizal in the propaganda movement campaign in Spain.A poem entitled Kundiman,allegedly written by Rizal in Manila on September 12, 1891A letter fromCarlos Oliver to an unidentified person, dated Barcelona, September 18,1891, describing Rizal as the manto free thePhilippines from Spanish oppression.A Masonic lodge document, dated Manila, February 9, 1892,honoring Rizal for hispatriotic services

7. A letter signed Dimasalang ( Rizals pseudonym) to Tenlunz(Juan Zuluetas pseudonym), dated Hongkong, May 24, 1892,stating that he was preparing a safe refuge for Filipinos who may persecuted by theSpanish authorities8. A letter toDimasalang to anunidentified committee, dated Hongkong, June 1, 1892, soliciting the aidof the committee in the patriotic work9. Am anonymous and undated letter to the Editor ofHongkong Telegraph, censuring the banishment of Rizal toDapitan.11. A letter toIldefonso Laurel to Rizal, dated Manila,informing an unidentified correspondent ofthe arrest andthe banishment of Doroteo Cortes and Ambrosio Salvador.12. A letter to Marcelo H. del Pilar to Don Juan A. Tenluz (JuanZulueta), dated Madrid, June 1, 1893 recommending theestablishment of a special organization, independent ofMasonry, tohelpthe causeofthe Filipinopeople.

13.Transcript of a speech of Pingkian (Emilio Jacinto) in areunion toa Katipunanon July23, 1893,in whichthefollowing cry uttered Long Live the Philippines! Long LiveLiberty!lOng live Dr. Rizal Unity!14. Am anonymous and undated letter to the Editor ofHongkong Telegraph, censuring the banishment of Rizal toDapitan.15. A letter toIldefonso Laurel to Rizal, dated Manila,informing an unidentified correspondent ofthe arrest andthe banishment of Doroteo Cortes and Ambrosio Salvador.16. A letter to Marcelo H. del Pilar to Don Juan A. Tenluz (JuanZulueta), dated Madrid, June 1, 1893 recommending theestablishment of a special organization, independent ofMasonry, tohelpthe causeofthe Filipinopeople.17. Tanscript of a speech of Pingkian (Emilio Jacinto) in areunion toa Katipunanon July23, 1893,in whichthefollowing cry uttered Long Live the Philippines! Long Live

The testimonial evidence consisted of the oral testimonies of:Martin ConstantinoAguedo delRosario Jose Reyes MoisesSalvadorJose DizonDomingoFrancoDeodatoArellanoAmbrosio SalvadorPedro Serrano LaktawDr. PioValenzuelaAntonio SalazarFrancisco QuisonTemoteo PaezNovember 6, 1896 After the investigation, Col. Olive transmitted the records of the case to Gov. Gen. Ramon Blanco, and the letter appointedCapt. Rafael Dominguez - as special Judge advocate to institute thecorresponding action.

Dominguez made a brief resume ofthe charges and returned the papers to theGovernor General, who there upon transmitted them to theJudge Advocate General Don Nicholas de la Pea for an opinion.Pea submitted the following recommendations:The accused should be immediately brought to trialHe should be kept in prisonAn order of attachment be issued against his property to the amount one million pesos as an indemnity, andHe should be defended in court by an army officer, not by a civilian officerDecember 8, 1896 100 first and second lieutenants in the Spanish Army was presented to Rizal, Lt. Taviel de Andrade chosenby Rizal to behis defense, he was the brother of JoseTaviel de Andrade his previous bodyguard

Charges to the accusedHe was accused of being the principal organizer and the living soul of the Filipino insurrection, the founder ofsocieties, periodicals and books dedicated to fomenting and propagating ideas of rebellionHe pleaded not guilty to the crime ofrebellionManifesto to Some FilipinosDec 15To inform the people that he condemned the rebellion because he wanted their liberties to be attained through education and lacked the participation of those from aboveWas not published because it did not condemn the rebellion in itstotality but only in two aspects: lack of participation and preparation.

Spain's case against Rizal

Trial of RizalProsecution (Alcocer) Asked for death sentence; if pardon, permanent disqualification and subjection to surveillance of authority, indemnity of 20,000 pesos. De Andrade in defense, delivered an impressivespeechandclaimedthatthe guilt of Rizal has not been legally established. Rizal supplemented his defenders points in detail

CUARTEL DE ESPAA site of Rizals trial

Rizal read his own defense which he wrote in his cell in Fort Santiago. According to Rizal, there are twelve points to prove his innocence:As testified by Pio Valenzuela, Rizal was against rebellionHe had not written a letter addressed to the Katipunan comprising revolutionary elementsWithout his knowledge, his name was used by the Katipunan; if he really was guilty, he could have escaped while he was in SingaporeIf 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 inDapitan.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 theLa Liga Filipina, but to make things clear, the organization was acivicassociation, not a revolutionary society.

7.After the first meeting of La Liga, the association banished because of his exile in Dapitan, thus, did not last long.8.If the La Liga was reorganized nine months later, he had no idea about it9.If the La Liga had a revolutionary purpose, then Katipunan should not have been organized.10.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.11.He lived an exemplary life in Dapitan the politico-military commanders and missionary priests in the province could attest to that.12.If according to witnesses the speech he delivered atDoroteo 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.

But the military court remained indifferent to the pleads of Rizal. After a short deliberation, he was sentenced to be shot in musketry until death at 7 o'clock in the morning of December 30, 1896 at Bagumbayan. The decision was submitted to Gov. Polavieja who immediately sought the opinion of Nicolas de la Pea the latter found the verdict just and final. Two days later, the governor general signed the court's decision and ordered Rizal's execution.

Polavieja signs Rizals ExecutionDec 26 same afternoonDeath sentence was passed with the same condition except that indemnity was raised to100,000pesosDec 28 Gov. Gen Polavieja approved the sentence, ordering Rizal be executed by firing squad twodays later at 7a.m at Luneta

Camilo de Polavieja, Governor-General of the Philippines (1896-1897).