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An Unknown Tragedy in Cavite

The document discusses the Cavite Mutiny of 1872, which was not merely a mutiny but part of a failed separatist revolution involving Filipino soldiers and liberals. Following the revolt, the Spanish military enacted 'juez de cuchillo' to terrorize civilians, leading to widespread fear and suppression of dissent. Emilio Aguinaldo, a witness to the events, recounted the chaos and terror inflicted by the Spanish forces during this period.

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31 views3 pages

An Unknown Tragedy in Cavite

The document discusses the Cavite Mutiny of 1872, which was not merely a mutiny but part of a failed separatist revolution involving Filipino soldiers and liberals. Following the revolt, the Spanish military enacted 'juez de cuchillo' to terrorize civilians, leading to widespread fear and suppression of dissent. Emilio Aguinaldo, a witness to the events, recounted the chaos and terror inflicted by the Spanish forces during this period.

Uploaded by

jovictorres
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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JUEZ DE CUCHILLO – THE SPANISH VENGEANCE AFTER THE CAVITE REVOLT

OF 1872

The “Cavite Mutiny of 1872” has been part of our history for more than a century now
but the story of its beginnings and consequences that climaxed with the death of the
three Filipino priests Frs. Mariano Gomes. Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora (popularly
known as GomBurZa) has not been fully told.
To make things clear, the so-called Cavite mutiny was part of a planned uprising. Jesuit
historian John Schumacher may have been right with his conclusions especially with the
fact that the “mutiny” was not a mutiny but part of a failed separatist revolution instigated
by the liberals along with the Filipino soldiers of the Spanish military. Documents,
among them the letter of Governor-General Rafael Izquierdo to the Overseas Minister in
Spain, did not even mention that the Cavite incident was a “motin” or a mutiny but as an
insurrection. Rizal naively referred to it as an algarada or riot. And with the three priests
openly associating with the liberals before the start of the incident, it was no surprise
that the Spaniards, at first, suspected them of being part of the entire plot then when the
revolt erupted, arrested the trio, charged them with sedition and executed them.
One seldom-mentioned event that happened was the Spanish military action that was
enforced immediately after the rebellion was suppressed. This was to terrorize the
civilians especially in Cavite where the entire episode began. (It was for this reason that
I believed that the mutiny in Fort San Felipe had a bigger plan that just involved the
military.) The Spaniards may have been aware of the involvement of civilians of the
surrounding towns.)
The Spanish action was called “juez de cuchillo” or literally “justice by the sword” and
during those times it was a way for the Spanish military to terrorize civilians for during
those hours it was implemented, everyone was a suspect and can be killed by the
soldiers.
One of the witnesses and survivor of that action was Emilio Aguinaldo, who was three
years old when the Cavite revolt happened. He later described that horrifying day in his
memors, Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan.”
“Makaraan ng ilang araw na ako’y gumagaling sa aking karamdaman ay sumiklab
naman ang himagsikan (Note: Aguinaldo called it a “himagsikan” or revolt) ng mga
“Infanteria de la Marina” sa Arsenal ng Kabite noong gabi ng ika-15 ng Enero… Dahil sa
ganitong pangyayari biglang nagulo at naligalig ang mga bayan sa paligid-ligid ng
dagatan ng Maynila at Kabite. At kinabukasan, kumalat ang balitang darating at
daragsa ang mga hukbo ng “Carbineros” at “Artilleria” na galing Maynila upang pairalin
ang “Juez de Cuchillo” (pupugutan ang ulo ang taong mararaanan). Sabihin pa, dahil
sa takot ng taong bayan ay walang kahuliphip na kaguluhan ang naghari noon sa
bayan-bayan. Ang halos lahat ng tao’y nagpanakbuhan upang mangagsipagtago sa
mga sulok ng bayan nang mailagan ang panganib at kasawian ng buhay at kabuhayan.”
Aguinaldo described the arrival of the soldiers (makapal na kawal at “Caballeria”) as
“umuugong ang madagundong na pagdaraan ng hukbong galing Maynila.”
So far, there is no recorded number of the victims of that terror act by the Spaniards.
But it apparently cowed the civilians from doing anything more drastic connected to the
incident in the arsenal.
A “Juez de cuchillo” was a solution for the Spaniards to dissuade or put an end to any
mass actions against them. During the Philippine Revolution, Governor-General
Ramon Blanco was urged to impose a juez de cuchillo on towns that were suspected to
be strongholds of the Katipunan. But, fortunately for the Filipinos, it wasn’t done. The
revolution was already too widespread for such an action by the Spanish military.

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