CHAPTER 24 Reviewer

Rizal’s homecoming in 1896, the last in his life, was his saddest return to his beloved native land. He knew he was facing the supreme test, which might mean the sacrifice of his life, but he was unafraid. As a matter of fact, he welcomed it. Gladly, he desired to meet hos enemies and to offer himself as a sacrificial victim to their sadistic lust and unholy designs for he knew that his blood water seeds of Filipino freedom. The trial that was held shortly after his homecoming was one of history’s mockeries of justice. His enemies howled like mad dogs for his blood, and they got it, without benefit of genuine justice. A Martyr’s Last Homecoming. October 6,1896, Rizal conscientiously recorded the events in his diary. He was given a good cabin in the second class although strictly guarded, he was courteously treated by the army officers. “The officer on duty,” he wrote in his diary, “seems amiable, refined, and polite, consistent with the seriousness of his duty.” Confiscation of Rizal’s Diary. It was known to the Spanish authorities on board the Colon that Rizal was keeping track of the daily events in his diary. They were, of course, curious as to what were recorded in his diary. Not only their curiosity, but also their suspicion was aroused, for they feared that the diarist might be writing something seditious or treasonable. On October 11 before reaching Port Said, Rizal’s diary was taken away and was critically scrutinized by the authorities. Nothing dangerous was found in its contents. The cabin was searched thoroughly, but nothing incriminating was found. On interruption, Rizal was not able to record the events from Monday, October 12 to Sunday, November 1. Speaking of this incident, he wrote in his diary. Unsuccessful Rescue in Singapore. News of Rizal’s 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 writ of habeas corpus. When the Colon arrived in Singapore, Atty. Fort instituted proceedings at Singapore Court for the removal of Rizal from the steamer. The crux of Mr. Fort’s legal contention was that Rizal was “illegally detained” on the Spanish steamer. Unfortunately, Chief Justice Loinel Cox denied the writ on the ground that the Colon was carrying Spanish troops to the Philippines. Hence it is a warship of a foreign power, which under international law was beyond the jurisdiction of the Singapore authorities. 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. On nov. 3 the colon reached manila, where the Spaniards and friars greeted it with wild rejoicing because it brought ore reinforcements and military supplies. While the Spanish communities was exulting with joy, rizal was quietly transferred under heavy guard from the ship to fort Santiago. Meanwhile, the Spanish authorities fished for evidence against rizal. Many Filipino patriots, including deodato arelano, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, moises slvador, jose dizon, domingo franco, temoteopaez, and pedro Serrano laktaw, were bruttaly tortured to implicate rizal. Rizal’s own brother , paciano was arrested and cruelly tortured. He suffered all pains inflicted by spain’s diabolical tortures, but he never signed any damaging statement incriminating his younger brother. Although his body was shatterd on the torture rack and his left hand crushed by the screw, his waliant Asian spirit remained unbroken. Preliminary investigation.` on November 20. The preliminary investigation began. Rizal, the accused, appeared before the judge advocate, colonel Francisco olive. He was subjected to a grueling five-day investigation. He was informed of the charges against him. He answered the questions asked but the judge advocate, but he was not permitted to confront those who testified against him. Two kinds of evidence were presented against rizal, namely documentary and testimonial. The testimonial evidence consisted of the oral testimonies of Martin Constantino, Aguedo del Rosario, Jose Reyes, Moises Salvador, Jose Dizon , Domingo Franco, Deodato Arellano, Abrosio Salvador, Pedro Serrano Laktaw, Dr. Pio Valenzuela , Antonio Salazar, Francisco Quison , and Timoteo :Paez. On November 26, after the preliminary investigation, Colonel Olive transmitted the records of the case to Governor Ramon Blanco, and the letter appointed Captain Rafael Dominguez as special Judge Advocate to intitute the corresponding action against Rizal. Immidiately, Domingez made a brief resume of the charges and returned the papers to Governor General Blanco who, thereupon, transmitted them to the Judge Advocate General, Don Nicolas de laPeña for an opinion Rizal Chooses his Defender. The only right given to rizal by the Spanish authorities was to choose his defense counsel and even this was highly restricted, for he had to choose only from a list submitted to him. On December 8, Feast day of the Immaculate Concepcion, a list of 100 first and second lieutenants in the Spanish Army was presented to Rizal. He looked over the list . One name struck hi fancy. It was Don Luis Taviel de Andrade, 1 st Lieutenant of the Artillery , The name was familiar to him so that he chose the lieutenant to be his defender in court. Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade proved to be the brother of Lt. Jose Taviel de Andrade, Rizal’s bodyguard in Clamba in 1887. Upon being notified by the authorities that he was chosen to defend the accused, he gladly accepted the task. He had Previously heard from his older vrother (Jose Taviel Andrada) about Dr. Rizal of Calamba. Domiguez forwarded the papers of the Rizal case to Malacañan Palace on December 13, the same day when General Camilo G. De Polavieja , with the help of the powerful Dominican friars , became Governor General of the Philippines , succeeding General Blanco. The withdrawal of Blanco from the gubernatorial office sealed Rizal;s fate, for he was more humane in character that the ruthless Polavieja and moreover he firmly believed that Rizal would not have beed executed. But this was one of those intruiging “ifs” history , of which man has no control because the destiny of men and nations is in accordance with God’s divine plan. Rizal’s Manifesto to His People. On December 15, Ruzal wrote a manifesto to his people appealing to them to stop necessary shedding of blood and to achieve their liberties by means of education and industry, Fortunately for Rizal , Judge Advocate General Nicolas dela Peña recommended to Governor General Polavieja that the manifesto be suppressed. The latter heeded the recommendation so that Rizal’s manifesto was not issued to the people. Thus Rizal was saved from the shame of his manifesto’s being misinterpreted and disobeyed by the Filipinos in arms. Rizal’s saddest Christmas. December 25, 1896 was Christmas. On the day all Christendom joyously celebrated the birthday of Christ who was born to redeem mankind and to bring peace and brotherhood to all men on earth.. Truly , the Christmas of 1896, his las on earth was the saddest in Rizal’s life. He was in despair for , he had no illusions about his fate. Brooding over his hopeless case, hewrote a letter to Lt. Taviel Andrada, as follows: The Trial of Rizal. The trial of Rizal was an eloquent proof of Spanish injustice and misrule. More than a farce, it was patently a mistrial. A military court met not to give him justice, but to accuse and condemn him tried Rizal, a civilian. It accepted all charges and testimonies against him. And ignored all arguments and proofs in his favor, moreover. Rizal was not given the right to face the witnesses against him in open court. At 8:00am December 26, 1896, the court martial of Rizal started in the military building called Cuartel de España. Seated behind a long table on an elevated dais were the seven members of the military court , dressed in their respective army uniforms as follows : Lt. Col. Jose Togores Arjona ( President ), Capt. Ricardo Muñoz Arias, Capt . Manuel Reguera , Capt Santiagio Izquierdo Osorio, Capt. Braulio Rodrigez Nuñez, Capt. Manuel Diaz Escribano. And Capt. Fermin Perez Rodriguez. Rizal sat on a bench between two soliders . His arms were tied behind, elbow to elbow, like a common felon. He was dressed in black woolen suit with a white vest and black tie he was calm and dignified in appearance. The Trial was opnend by the Judge Advocate Dominguez who explained the case against Rizal . After him, Prosecuting Atty.Alcoicer arose and delivered a long speech summarizing the charges against rizal and urged the court to give the verdict of death to the accused.The Spanish spectators applauded noisily Alcocers petition for the sentence death After the prosecuting attorney finished his spirited harangue, Defense Counsel Taviel De Andrade took the floor and read his eloquent defens of Rizal. He ended his defense with a noble but futile , admonition to the members of the military : The Judges cannot be vindictive; the judges can only be just

Incidentally , his admonition fell on deaf ears. The Spanish army officers who were trying Rizal were both vindictive and unjust. 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, he further proved his innocence by twelve points. The military Court , prejudiced as it was , remained indifferent to Rizal’s pleading. The President, Lt. Col. Togores Arjona. Considered the trial over and ordered the hall cleared. After a short deliberation, the military court unanimously voted for the sentence of death. On the same day , the court decision was submitted to the Governor General Polavieja, Immidiately, Polavieja sought the opinion of Judge Advocate General Nicolas dela Peña on the court decision./ The Latter affirmed the death verdict.