Those Who Were Murdered at the Command and/or at the Directive of Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy? Supremo Gat Andres Bonifacio y de Castro, Ciriaco Bonifacio and Procopio Bonifacio setting aside Gregoria de Jesus’ rape by Colonel Agapito Bonzon and Colonel Ignacio Paua (Aguinaldo’s henchmen).- The Murder of Gat Andres Bonifacio y de Castro.... A party of Aguinaldos men led by Agapito Bonzón and José Ignacio Paua met with Bonifacio at his camp in Indang. Unaware of the order for his arrest, Bonifacio received them cordially. The next day, Bonzón and Paua attacked Bonifacios camp. Bonifacio did not fight back and ordered his men to hold their fire, though shots were nevertheless exchanged. In the crossfire, Bonifacio was shot in the arm, and Paua stabbed him in the neck and was prevented from striking further by one of Bonifacios men, who offered to be killed instead. A brother, Ciriaco, was shot dead, while his other brother Procopio was beaten senseless, and his wife Gregoria may have been raped by Bonzón. Bonifacios party was brought to Naik, where he and Procopio stood trial on charges of sedition and treason against Aguinaldos government and conspiracy to murder Aguinaldo. The jury was composed entirely of Aguinaldos men and even Bonifacios defence lawyer himself declared his clients guilt. Bonifacio was barred from confronting the state witness for the charge of conspiracy to murder on the grounds that the latter had been killed in battle, but after the trial the witness was seen alive with the prosecutors. The Bonifacio brothers were found guilty despite insufficient evidence and recommended to be executed. Aguinaldo commuted the sentence to deportation on 8 May 1897, but Pío del Pilar and Mariano Noriél, both former supporters of Bonifacio, persuaded him to withdraw the order for the sake of preserving unity. In this they were seconded by Mamerto Natividád and other bona fidesupporters of Aguinaldo. The Bonifacio brothers were executed on 10 May 1897 in the mountains of Maragondon. Apolinario Mabini wrote that Bonifacios death demoralized many rebels from Manila, Laguna and Batangas who had come to help those in Cavite, and caused them to quit. In other areas, some of Bonifacios associates like Emilio Jacinto never subjected their military commands to Aguinaldos authority. General Antonio Luna y Novicio-Ancheta, Colonel Francisco “Paco” Roman, Major Manuel Bernal and Captain Jose Bernal Colonel Francisco Paco Roman, General Lunas aide-de-camp. Colonel Roman (born Oct. 4, 1869 in Alcala, Cagayan), came to his defense but was shot to death. Captain Rusca also tried to assist the stricken general but was shot in the leg. He took refuge in the nearby church. As Luna fell on the convent yard, all he could say was Cow....ards! As...sas...sins! The following day, Luna was buried with military honors but the assassins went free. After Lunas death, Aguinaldo ordered all chiefs of brigades under Luna arrested. Some were killed like Major Manuel Bernal who was tortured first and his brother Captain Jose Bernal who was released but was later assassinated at Candaba, Pampanga Province, on June 16, 1899. Aguinaldo also ordered the disarming of two companies suspected of being pro-Luna. On the same day, the San Francisco Call also came out with the news of Lunas death, blaming Aguinaldo for the murder: On June 14, 1899, the New York Times reported Lunas assassination, described the fiery general as one of the most intelligent and turbulent of the Filipino leaders, and added that Aguinaldo was in mortal terror of him. On the same day, the San Francisco Call also came out with the news of Lunas death, blaming Aguinaldo for the murder. Dr. Delmar Topinio Taclibon, Bt., DKR, KRSS, BSCE, MBA, PhD.D.A.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Nov 2014 10:32:59 +0000
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