Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition Series 3):
October 11, 1719
Spanish Governor-General Fernando Bustamante was assassinated on October 11, 1719 by supporters of the Archbishop of Manila, Francisco de la Cuesta whom Bustamante sent to jail.
Fernando Manuel de Bustillo Bustamante y Rueda (May 30, 1663 - October 11, 1719) was born in Valle de Toranzo on May 30, 1663.
He served as the 37th Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines from 1717 to 1719. He was also called the "Mariscal" (marshal) because he was the first field marshal to govern the islands. Bustamante was alcalde mayor of Trascala, in Nueva España (Mexico) and was appointed governor by royal provision on September 6, 1708. He arrived in Manila on August 9, 1717.
As governor-general, he was severe in his judgments. After learning that some people with charges used the church for asylum, Bustamante appealed to Archbishop de la Cuesta to surrender them to the civil authorities or allow them to be taken. Invoking the immunity of sanctuary, the Archbishop refused to heed him.
Governor-General Bustamante released Jose Torralba, the former acting-governor accused of embezzlement. He made Torralba an oidor of the Real Audiencia or judge of the Supreme Court.
Archbishop dela Cuesta opposed Torralba's appointment and informed him of his excommunication and ecclesiastical censures. As judge in the Supreme Court, he avenged himself by issuing warrants against his enemies, who sought church asylum and the moral support of the Archbishop.
Under orders of the governor to recover government inventories and official records held by Antonio de Osejo, a notary public who took refuge in the church, soldiers stormed the Manila Cathedral, which violated the right of sanctuary.
The Archbishop had a habit of protecting corrupt government officials. Bustamante, who wants to run a clean government clashed with Archbishop de la Cuesta.
He ordered him arrested and imprisoned in Fort Santiago together with the Dominican friars and other clerics. Angered by the action of the governor-general, supporters of the Archbishop together with Franciscan, Dominican and Augustinian friars headed to San Agustin Church shouting "Long live the Church, Long live the King."
At the Palacio del Gobernador, the mob of laymen and servants of Christ encircled Bustamante who pulled the trigger of his gun, but it failed to fire.
The crowd attacked him, while he defended himself with a bayonet but was overwhelmed. He was stabbed and maltreated on the way to the common jail. His son rushed to help him but was also killed.
The people then released Archbishop de la Cuesta and other religious officials. Archbishop de la Cuesta became the acting governor-general for two years.
(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved
Photo credit: wikipedia.org
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