THE COURT-MARTIAL OF THE BONIFACIO BROTHERS Immediately upon the arrival of the prisoners in Naic, the investigation began.
Conducted by COL. JOSE LIPANA – judge advocate & COL. JOSE ELISES – fiscal( prosecuting attorney). On the 3rd day (MAY 1), the investigation was transferred to that town on account of the approaching Spanish attack launched by GOVERNOR GENERAL FERNANDO PRIMO DE RIVERA(MARQUES DE ESTELA) successor of GENERAL POLAVIEJA.
Judge Advocate LIPANA recommended the trial of the accused on the following charges:
(1) TREASON (2) CONSPIRACY TO ASSASINATE PRES. AGUINALDO and (3) created a COUNCIL OF WAR composed of GENERAL MANUEL NORIEL, as PRESIDENT; COL. TOMAS MASCARADO, COL. MARIANO RIEGO DE DIOS, COL. CRISOSTOMO RIEL, COL. ESTEBAN YNFANTE, SULPICIO ANTHONY, and PLACIDO MARTINEZ.
MAY 5 – trial held with Placido Martinez as Defense attorney for Haring Bonifacio and Teodoro Gonzales for Procorpio.
MAY 6 – The Council of War declared the Bonifacio brothers guilty as charged and recommended the penalty of death. President Aguinaldo referred to Judge Advocate General Baldomero Aguinaldo who after a thourogh review, approved the verdict.
MAY 8 1897 – President Aguinaldo (out of compassion) issued an order commuting the death penalty to banishment to an isolated place. He also enforced the court decision on the accused soldiers of Bonifacio to be assigned to army headquarters as servants for 1 year.
GENERAL NORIEL and PIO DEL PILAR rushed to Pres. Aguinaldo, imploring him to withdraw the order for “ to keep Bonifacio alive is to endanger the cause of the revolution”. Other prominent persons (not Cavitenios) such as CLEMENTE J. ZULUETA and FELICIANO JOCSON of Manila and GENERAL MAMERTO NATIVIDAD of Nueva Ecija, exerted pressure on Aguinaldo to implement the Death sentence. Convince by their arguments, Pres. Agunaldo cancelled the Commutation Order.
EXECUTION OF THE BONIFACIO BROTHERS