PRISONER OF THE SPANISH COLONIAL GOVERNMENT AND TRIAL

Prisoner On-Board
SS Colon
Rizals Diary
Writ of Habeas Corpus and Arrival in Manila
Preliminary Trial with Colonel Francisco Olive
The Trials Arraignment and the Trial of Jose Rizal

PRISONER ON BOARD

The Isla de Panay reached Malta on September 30, 1896 and Jose Rizal was advised by
the steamship officials to stay in his cabin.
The steamship reached Barcelona, Spain on October 3, 1896.
o At this point, Jose Rizal was already a prisoner for three days.
On October 6, 1896, Rizal was advised by a military sergeant to pack his things. After an
hour, he was transferred into a boat accompanied by military officials.
o Rizal was brought to Eulogio Despujols headquarters. The military commandant
facilitated a short interrogation and interview session.

SS COLON

Jose Rizal described the ship as full of soldiers and officers and their families.
The prisoners guard told him that they were ordered to prohibit anyone to enter his
cabin or even talk to him.
In this situation, Rizal was not just a prisoner; he was also a prisoner incommunicado.
o Incommunicado a situation/condition in which a person id prohibited to
communicate/relate with other individuals.
As a prisoner, he was forbidden to walk around the periphery of the steamship. He was
locked up in his cabin.
One of his guards told him that majority of the Filipinos blamed him for the outbreak of
the Philippine revolution.
Nevertheless, he still hoped that he would be proven innocent on the accusations of
subversion and rebellion.
o Jose Rizal believed that he would be given the chance to clear his name against
the rumours propagated by the Spanish government authorities and friars.
o He was also confident that justice was on his side
o Rizal had already predicted his fate upon returning to Manila.
RIZALS DIARY

On October 11, 1896, the Spanish authorities confiscated Jose Rizals diary.
The diary was thoroughly scrutinized for incriminating statements which could be used
as a proof for his involvement in anti-government movements.
The diary was brought back to him a few days after its confiscation.

WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS FROM SINGAPORE

Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor and Sixto Lopez, who were both in London, sent a telegram to
Hugh Fort requesting him to file a writ of habeas corpus to rescue Rizal from the Spanish
authorities.
After the SS Colon anchored on the shores of Singapore, Fort immediately filed for the
privilege of writ of habeas corpus before the Singapore Court.
The motion was denied by Lionel Cox, Singapore Chief Justice, explaining that the
Spanish steamship was carrying Spanish soldiers based in the Philippines.

ARRIVAL IN MANILA

Jose Rizal was discreetly transferred to Fort Santiago. He was still in the status of being
incommunicado.
While Rizal was detained in the SS Colon, the Spanish authorities brutally tortured
Filipino reactionaries such as Paciano Rizal.
While in Fort Santiago, Jose Rizal made a pen-and-ink sketch of Christs Agony in the
Graden. The sketch was placed on a piece of cardboard. It was sent to his family in
Calamba.

PRELIMINARY TRIAL WITH FRANCISCO OLIVE

His preliminary trial began exactly 17 days after he arrived in Manila. The trial was
facilitated by Colonel Francisco Olive, a military judge advocate.
The purpose of his trial was to inform him of his case, possible legal punishment/s and
charges.
Questions asked during the preliminary trial.
o He was asked if he attended a meeting held at the residenceof Estanislao
Legaspi.
 o If he knew Andres Bonifacio, Pio Valenzuela, Martin Constantino Lozano, Aguedo
Del Rosario, Reyes Tolentino, Antonio Salazar and among others.
Questions asked during the preliminary trial:
o If there was an established Filipino society in Madrid
o If he had something to do with the Filipino movement in Madrid as well as in La
Solidaridad.
o The main purpose of the existemce of La Liga Filipina.

THE TRIALS ARRAIGNMENT

The arraignment marked the beginning of the military investigation on the complaints
charged against Dr. Rizal.
Rizal never questioned the jurisdiction of the court. Note that Rizal was not a military
official to be tried in the military court.
Rizal pleaded not guilty on the political charges pressed against him.

TRIAL OF JOSE RIZAL

The trial occurred at Cuartel de Espaa, military building December 26, 1896.
Like all other civilian and military proceedings, the accused was accompanied by two
soldiers. His arms were tied with a rope. The military proceeding was also attended by
Jose Rizals common-law wife Josephine Bracken.
Jose Rizals 12 point defense:
o he should not be linked with the Philippine rebellion because he was advised Pio
Valenzuela not to organize the revolution,
o his political ideology did not correspond with the main goals of the revolutionary
movement,
o he did not communicate, in any means with the subversive elements,
o his name was used by the revolutionary members without his knowledge,
o his name was used by the revolutionary movement; he could have escaped while
in Dapitan through a boat.
o if he was the revolutionary organizations leader, why was he not consulted by
those involved in the revolution.
o he admitted that he wrote the constitution and by-laws of La Liga Filipina but
insistead that the movement was only a civic organization,
o La Liga Filipina did not bring nay incriminatory effects against the Spanish
colonial government,
o he was not aware that La Liga Filipina was reorganized nine months after its
disintegration,
o the comments in his letter were written out of anger because his family was
maltreated and abused by the Spanish authorities in Calamba,
o his exile in Dapitan was very fruitful, productive, and extraordinary, and
o why would he deliver a speech inciting the people to revolt when Filipinos new
he was very much against the revolution.