Rizal's Trial and Defense

Selection of a Defender

• December 8: Rizal was given a list of potential defenders
• Don Luis Taviel de Andrade was chosen as his defender
• He was the brother of Lt. Jose Taviel de Andrade, Rizal's former guard in Calamba in 1887
• Rizal was accused of being the "main founder and the living soul of the Filipino insurrection"

G.H. Camilo G. de Polavieja

• Replaced Governor Blanco, who was considered more humane
• Rizal wrote a manifesto to the people while imprisoned in Fuerza Santiago
• Intended to convey that freedom could only be achieved through education and effort
• Expressed his shock that his name was used as a battle cry by some revolutionaries
• Clarified he was against the revolution as Filipinos were not yet ready

Final Christmas

• Rizal spent Christmas imprisoned
• He wrote to his defender, Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade
• He wished his defender could visit him that morning to talk before the trial

Trial

• Rizal's trial began on December 26, 1896, at Cuartel de España
• It was a military court, and showed the injustice of the Spaniards
• Military Court Members included:
• Lt. Col. Jose Togores Arjona (President)
• Capt. Ricardo Muñoz Arias
• Capt. Manuel Reguera
• Capt. Santiago Izquierdo Osorio
• Capt. Braulio Rodriguez Nuñez
• Capt. Manuel Diaz Escribano
• Capt. Fermin Perez Rodriguez
• Key people at trial
• Dr. Jose Rizal (the accused)
• Lt. Taviel de Andrade (Rizal's defender)
• Capt. Rafael Dominguez (Judge Advocate)
• Lt. Enrique de Alcocer (Prosecutor)
• Josephine Bracken, spectators, and many Spaniards were also present

Start of Trial

• Rizal was bound elbow to elbow but remained calm
• Judge Advocate Captain Dominguez explained the case against Rizal
• Prosecutor Lt. Alcocer gave a speech summarizing Rizal's case
• Rizal deserved the death penalty
• Rizal's defender, Lt. Taviel de Andrade, delivered a passionate defense

Rizal's Defense

• Rizal defended himself, proving his innocence through 12 points:
• He had no connection to the revolution, advising Dr. Pio Valenzuela against revolt in Dapitan
• He did not correspond with radical and revolutionary elements
• Revolutionaries used his name without his knowledge; he would have fled to Singapore if guilty
• If involved, he would have escaped in a Moro vinta
• He would not have built a house, hospital, and bought land in Dapitan
• If he were the leader, the revolutionaries would have consulted him
• He admitted to writing the La Liga Filipina's constitution, but it was a civic association
• The La Liga Filipina did not last long, as he was exiled to Dapitan after the first meeting.
• He did not know if La Liga revived after nine months
• La Liga Filipina did not support revolutionary principles; otherwise, the Katipunan would not have been founded
• His bitter commentaries were due to his family being persecuted in 1890
• Their house and property were confiscated, and his brother and brothers-in-law were exiled
• His life in Dapitan was commendable
• Friends knew he opposed armed revolution, so why would the Katipunan send an unfamiliar messenger to Dapitan?
• Friends knows he was against any violent movement
• The judges did not listen to Rizal's appeal as they were biased.
• Lt. Col. Togores Arjona announced the trial's conclusion
• After a very short deliberation, they gave the death sentence
• The decision was sent to Governor-General Polavieja, who sought advice from Judge Advocate General Nicolas de la Peña

Decision of the Governor-General

• On December 28, G.H. Polavieja signed the decision sentencing Rizal to death
• The Military Court's sentence was approved
• Death by firing squad at seven in the morning on the 30th of the month in Bagumbayan
• The final letter was to Professor Blumentritt in German, containing his last farewell with a book

Rizal's Final Day

• 3:30 PM: Father Balaguer returned to Fuerza Santiago to discuss Rizal's retraction of anti-Catholic ideas
• 4:00 PM: Rizal's mother arrived. When she kissed him, the guard forcibly separated them which caused them to cry.
• Trinidad entered the cell to fetch her mother
• Rizal gave Trinidad the alcohol cooking stove containing his final farewell
• Father Villaclara, Father Estanislao March, and Father Rosell arrived after Doña Teodora and Trinidad left
• 6:00 PM: Don Silvino Lopez Tuñon and the Dean of the Manila Cathedral arrived
• Fathers Balaguer and March left, leaving Father Vilaclara with Rizal and Don Tuñon
• 8:00 PM: Rizal's last supper
• He told Captain Dominguez that he forgave his enemies, including the military judges who sentenced him to death
• 9:30 PM: Don Gaspar Cesteño, the fiscal of the Royal Audiencia de Manila visited
• The fiscal was convinced of Rizal's intelligence after a good conversation
• 10:00 PM: Father Balaguer sent Rizal a draft of retraction
• It was sent by anti-Filipino Archbishop Bernardino Nozaleda
• Rizal didn't sign it because he didn't like it
• Father Balaguer said he presented a shorter draft prepared by Father Pio Pi
• Rizal wrote his retraction with changes
• In it, he disavowed Masonry and anti-Catholic religious ideas
• This letter is a major debate among Rizal scholars
• Masons and anti-Catholics consider the document a fake
• Catholics claim it is a genuine document

December 30, 1896

• 3:00 AM: Rizal attended Mass, confessed and received communion
• 5:30 AM: Rizal had his last breakfast, then wrote to his family and his brother Paciano

Letters

• Letter to his family:
• Rizal asked for forgiveness
• He included his last instructions regarding his burial
• Letter to Paciano:
• Express thankfulness
• Apologized and asked him to tell their father how much he loved him and to ask for forgiveness

Josephine Bracken Visit

• 5:30 AM: Josephine Bracken, and Rizal's sister Josefa, arrived.
• Josephine said goodbye to Rizal in tears
• Rizal gave Josephine a signed copy of Imitation of Christ by Father Thomas a Kempis
• 6:00 AM: The soldiers prepared for the march
• Rizal wrote to his beloved parents

March to Bagumbayan

• 6:30 AM: Trumpets from Fuerza Santiago signaled the start of the march
• Four armed soldiers lead with Rizal between
• Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade, his defender
• Two Jesuit priests, Padre March and Padre Vilaclara
• Rizal wore a black suit, hat, shoes, and tie, with a white polo
• He was bound elbow to elbow, like in court, but more loosely so he could move his arm
• They marched from Fuerza Santiago to Plaza de Palacio, where many people waited
• They passed through a narrow Postigo Gate with barely anyone around
• He said it was a beautiful morning, like he was out for a walk
• They also passed Ateneo
• Rizal peacefully walked to his execution site between two lamp posts

Martyr

• Rizal said goodbye to Father Vilaclara, Father March, and his defender Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade
• A priest blessed him and had him kiss a crucifix
• Rizal requested to be shot facing the soldiers
• He was denied due to the commander's strict orders
• Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo, a Spanish doctor, checked Rizal's pulse
• Surprised to find it normal, proving Rizal was not afraid of death
• The drums sounded, and someone shouted "Fire."
• Rizal managed to turn to face the soldiers as he was shot
• He landed on his back, facing the rising sun

Death

• 7:03 AM: Time of death, at the age of 35, 5 months, and 11 days
• May have foreseen his death as he dreamed of dying on December 30, 14 years prior
• The Spaniards rejoiced and shouted "Long live Spain" as the execution meant victory
• They played a joyful Cadiz March
• The Spaniards did not know that Rizal's death became the foundation of a free nation
• His writings inspired Filipino nationalism
• They also paved the way for the Philippine Revolution
• He proved that "the pen is mightier than the sword."
• Rizal's last words:
• "I die just when I see the dawn break behind the clouds. If you need color to stain that dawn with, use my blood; shed it and gild the awakening beam."