Today in Philippine History: Death of Andres Bonifacio

MAY 10, 1897

Andres Bonifacio and his brother Procopio were taken to Mt. Buntis by Maj. Lazaro Makapagal and four other soldiers. A sealed order from Gen. Mariano Noriel was opened and read in front of them before they were shot (some accounts revealed they were hacked and bayoneted). The two were buried in a shallow grave marked by some leaves and twigs. Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo wrote in his memoirs that he ordered the execution after being convinced by Generals Pio del Pilar and Mariano Noriel to pursue the decision of the military court for a death sentence.

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Today in Philippine History: Baldomero Aguinaldo Confirms Bonifacio Sentence

MAY 8, 1897

Lt. Gen. Baldomero Aguinaldo acting as the Judge Advocate General, confirmed the decision of the War Council to commute sentence to Andres Bonifacio and his brother Procopio. They were charged and found guilty of recruiting soldiers and holding secret meetings without the approval of Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo’s government, planning to overthrow the government and kill the president, and bribing government soldiers to join their cause. He pardoned them from the death penalty but sentenced them to a punishment of exile in solitary confinement in an isolated place.

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Today in Philippine History: Procopio Bonifacio Testifies in Court

APRIL 29, 1897

Procopio Bonifacio, the younger brother of Katipunan Supremo Andres Bonifacio testified in the Military Court Martial under Emilio Aguinaldo’s government. Col. Pantaleon Garcia sat as Judge Advocate and Gen. Mariano Noriel presided the Council of War. Asked where he was captured and why his clothes have blood smears, he narrated his capture at the trench in Limbon and the blood came from his nose after a soldier struck it with the butt-end of a gun. The 24-year old Procopio was surprised with the treatment since he never resisted when they were arrested.

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