Rizal's Trial and Execution

9 Questions

What code did Rizal supposedly violate as the principal author of rebellion?

Article 230

Rizal was allowed to issue a manifesto disavowing the armed revolt.

False

Who did Rizal choose as his defense counsel?

Luis de Taviel de Andrade

Rizal's death sentence was pronounced on La Fe de ____

Dios

What evidence is presented to show Rizal's involvement in the masonry?

Letter of award as an honorary member of the Central Grand Lodge

What was the purpose of Rizal's settlement project in Borneo?

Rizal's settlement project in Borneo aimed to ask for cooperation from the Philippine Committee to establish services for his country.

The compass given to Rizal was gifted by Father Sanchez in ______.

Dapitan

The High Council of the Katipunan intended to establish Rizal as the supreme leader.

True

Match the following individuals with their statements:

Martin Constantino = Other soldiers were also members of the Katipunan. Aguedo del Rosario = Rizal was the Honorary President of the Katipunan.

Study Notes

Trial and Execution of Rizal

The trial and execution of Jose Rizal were discussed in detail by Miguel Bernard, highlighting the proceedings and pieces of evidence.
Rizal's case involved:
- Principle author of rebellion (Article 230, Article 229 paragraph I of the Penal Code)
- Illegal Associations (Article 119 paragraph 2 of the same Code)

Defense Counsel

Rizal chose Luis de Taviel de Andrade as his defense counsel from a list of 106 officers presented to him.

Trial Proceedings

The trial proceedings were at a deliberate speed.
Rizal was arrested on board ship on his way to Spain and endorsing the case to a juez instructor named Rafael Dominguez.
Gov. General Ramon Blanco instructed Dominguez to begin the judicial process "with all possible speed".
The Auditor General de Guerra, Nicolas de la Peña, gave his final action on December 17.

Injustices in the Trial

There were several injustices in the trial, including:
- Rizal was not allowed to confront his accusers.
- He was not allowed to choose his defense counsel freely.
- The right to issue a manifesto disavowing the armed revolt was denied.
- The trial was done in haste, with a disregard for substantive justice.

Evidence

The evidence presented against Rizal included:
- Poems, such as "A kundiman" and "Himno a Talisay"
- Letters, including an unsigned letter to the editor of the Hongkong Telegraph, and letters from Antonio Luna and Marcelo H. Del Pilar
- Material evidence, including a compass, which was irrelevant to the crime of rebellion and illegal association
- Inconclusive evidence, including testimonies of witnesses and official dossiers

Flaws in the Procedure

The procedure had several flaws, including:
- The witnesses did not make their statements in open court.
- The prosecutor and the defendant were shown extracts of the testimonies of the witnesses, but the judges never saw them.
- Most of the testimonies were hearsay.

Character, Background, and Activities

The prosecution considered Rizal's character, background, and activities, including his novels and other writings.

Issues

The issues surrounding Rizal's trial and execution included:
- Rizal as head of the Katipunan
- The Liga Filipina as a subversive organization
- Pio Valenzuela's visit to Dapitan
- The plan to escape from Dapitan
- Rizal's Borneo project