TRANSCRIPT OF RECORD OF THE CASE

Note: For the convenience of the reader, we have changed the indirect to direct form of
discourse, the testimony given by Dr. Rizal in his own behalf.

On November 20, 1896, there appeared before the Honorable Court and his Secretary, the
accused, and after he had been admonished to tell the truth, declared:

Jose Rizal Mercado y Alonso, of age, single, a physician, resident of Calamba, province of
Laguna, had never before been indicted.

Q-Do you know Pio Valenzuela? Is he a relative, a friend, an enemy or in any way a suspect?
A-In Dapitan I knew a physician by the name of Don Pio, who brought me a patient for
examination. I never knew him before, nor saw him again. He was friendly to the members of
my family, as they received from him during the voyage together, a present of traveling
medicine-test.

Q-Do you know Martin Constantino Lozano? Is he a relative, a friend, an enemy, or in any way a
suspect?
A-I do not know any person by that name, although if I see him, I might recognize him.

Q-Do you know Aguedo del Rosario?

A-I do not know any one by that name, but I might know him personally.

Q-Do you know Reyes Tolentino?

A-No, I do not know him.

Q-Do you know Antonio Salazar?

A-I know some one with the surname Salazar, who is the owner of Bazaar "Cisne", where I have
my shoes made-to-order. I do not know him personally, nor if his name is Antonio.

(Santos, E. de los, Proceso del Dr. Jose Rizal Mercado y Alonso, pp. 5-14.)

Q-Do you know Jose Dizon?

A-I have heard an engraver by that name, but I do not know him personally.

Q-Do you know Moises Salvador?

A-I knew Moises Salvador in 1890 in Madrid. We are not related but at that time, we treated
each other as countrymen, nor am I suspicious of him.

Q-Do you know Domingo Franco?

A-No, I do not, know him.

Q-Do you know Irineo Francisco?

A-No, I do not know him.
Q-Do you know Deodato Arellano?
A-Yes, I know him because when I came to Manila in 1887, he came to congratulate me on my
"Noli Me Tangere". That in 1890 I had some differences with Marcelo H del Pilar, brother-in-
law of Deodato Arellano, who did not speak well of me and even manifested pleasure when he
heard that I was deported to Dapitan, hence I am suspicious of him.

Q-Do you know Lieutenant Ambrosio Flores, President of the Masonic Regional Council of the
Philippines?
A-I do not know him personally nor by his name.

Q-Do you know Teodoro Plata?

A-I do not know him personally nor by his name.

Q-Do you know Ambrosio Salvador?

A-Yes, because his son Moises Salvador introduced me to him.

Q-Do you know Bonifacio Arevalo?

A-Yes, because one Sunday I ate dinner in his home, but since then, I did not see him again.

Q-Do You know Tirnoteo Paez?

A-Yes, I -knew him since 1892, as he was introduced to me by Pedro Serrano, and hence I had
some intimacy with him, but later when I was in Dapitan I learned that he was against me.

Q-Do You know Francisco Cordero?

A-No, I do not know him, neither personally nor by name.

Q-Do You know Estanislao Legaspi, who lives at No. 36 Encarnacion street 2 District Of
Tondo?
A-No, I do not know him personally nor by his name, but I remember having seen his signature
in one of the letters addressed to Marcelo H. del Pilar or from some other person.

Q-Do you know the brothers, Alejandro and Venancio Reyes, who had a tailoring shop tit the
Escolta street, Manila?
A-I knew a fellow collegian whose surname was Reyes, who had a tailoring establishment at the
Escolta, where I had a suit of clothes made but I had no intimacy with him.

Q-Do you know Arcadio del Rosario?

A-Yes, I knew him while still young in Manila and then in Madrid, where I had some dealings
with him.

Q-Do You know Apolinario Mabini?

A-No, I do not know him neither personally nor by name.

Q-Do You know Pedro Serrano?

A-Yes, I knew him in Manila in 1887 and later in Europe I had some intimacy with him, but
subsequently I learned that he was working against me, hence I am suspicious of him.
Q-Besides, bringing you a patient at Dapitan, what other purpose had the trip of Pio Valenzuela
there, and what matters had you taken up?
A-The physician Don Pio told me that there will be an uprising and that I should be careful of my
involvement in it while in Dapitan. I told him that the time is not opportune to attempt such
venture; that there was no unity among the diverse elements in the Philippines, nor were there
arms, warships, nor was there sufficient intellectual progress among the people, nor were there
sufficient means for resistance; that they should take Cuba for an example, where in spite of their
great means and the help of a great Power and were already accustomed to fight, yet they could
not achieve their purpose, and that whatever be the result of their struggle, Spain would be
benefited by extending concession to the Philippines, for which in my opinion, we should wait.

Q-Was there ever established a Filipino Association in Madrid, and what was its purpose and end
in view?
A-A Filipino Association, whose name I do not now recall, was organized in Madrid. Its
existence was a short one and its aim was to look after the moral well-being of the Filipino
colony there.

Q-What was the relation between the aforesaid Association and the newspaper, La Solidaridad?
A-They were independent from each other; that Marcelo H. del Pilar labored so that La
Solidaridad and the Association could be managed by said Marcelo; that the declarant being of
determined opposition in their fusion against the wishes of the aforesaid Marcelo, he left the
management of the Association and went to Paris.

Q-What was the political tendency of the said Association?

A-None. Its political aim was entrusted to La Solidaridad, directed by Marcelo H. del Pilar.

Q-Have you entrusted any person or worked for the establishment of Masonic lodges in the
Philippines?
A-I wish to assure you that I had not the least intervention whatsoever, in the Masonry of these
Islands.

Q-Did you draw up the by-laws of the association, entitled, Liga Filipina; and to what purpose
did you distribute said by-laws and for what object?
A-In 1891 when I arrived at Hongkong, I lodged at the home of Jose Basa, and in our various
conversations, he told me that the Masonry was having a great success in the Philippines, though
the Masons were complaining of its maladministration. Persuaded by Jose Basa, I drew up the
by-laws of the association, named Liga Filipina, under the rules which govern Masonic practices.

Q-For what purpose and object was the Liga Filipina organized?
A-The object of the association was to secure the unity among the different elements of the
country, with the end of encouraging commerce and establishing a sort of Cooperative
Associations.

Q-What were the political aims of the Liga Filipina?

A-At the moment I cannot recall any political aim having been provided for in any articles of its
by-laws, which I gave to Jose Basa, nor the person to whom it was sent.
Q-Did you write any one to take active interest in the bylaws of the Liga"?
A-It is possible that I had written to some person, but I can not remember it at this moment.

Q-Do you recall the purpose of your round trip to Tarlac on June 27 and 28, 1892, in company
with Pedro Serrano?
A-I do not recall the date, but it may had been on June 30th or July lst, when on taking the train
at Malolos for Tarlac, I met Pedro Serrano with. a young man, who was introduced to me as
Timoteo Paez. They were with me in my trip of sightseeing of the new railroad line and in the
provinces the railroad line terminating at Tarlac.

Q-Was it at your instance that a gathering was held at the house of Doroteo Ong-jungco, before
or after your trip to Tarlac?
A-I attended said gathering but it was not held at the instance of my initiative. It took place some
days after my aforementioned trip to Tarlac. Timoteo Paez told me that some Filipinos desired to
see and greet me personally, to which I acceded, and so we attended together the said gathering.

Q-What did they talk about in said meeting?

A-They talked about the Liga Filipina and the Masonry and I remember that Pedro, Serrano
spoke, proposing the fusion of the Liga with the Masonry. I tried to adjust and settle some of the
complaints, which I believe had been accepted as we separated cordially.

Q-What were more or less, the tenor of your address at the gathering held at the house of
Doroteo Ong-jungco?
Were they somewhat, like the following: "I told them that it seemed to me that the Filipinos are
becoming discouraged that they did not aspire to be worthy of freedom-being always subjected
to the abuses of the authorities, as I told General Despujol in one of my interviews with him. I
believe that the abuses were due to the discretional powers exercised by the Governors, and that
means must be found to remedy them. In spite of the counsels of some of my friends not to come
to Manila, in the fear of some harm from my enemies, I came to see closely the bull, and at the
same time to arrange the differences which exist among the friends of the propaganda. The
disunion among the Filipinos in Europe, I was able to settle amicably. In spite of everything,
Marcelo H. del Pilar is still my good friend. Afterwards, I spoke about the importance of the
Liga, which was to be established in accordance with the by-laws I had drawn up. The by-laws
should be made known to all. By means of the Liga, the arts, industries and commerce will
advance and the country being rich and the people united, they will achieve their own liberty
even their own independence."
A-I agree that I might have said what has just been stated, in the gathering held at the house of
Doroteo Ong-jungco, as I had said it several times, but I am not sure whether in said meeting I
repeated them. With respect to the discouragement and disunion among the Filipinos, I could not
have stated it, seeing that the Masonry had penetrated and propagated more than had been
expected. Likewise, I could not have said that I secured the unity of the Filipinos in Madrid,
since on the contrary, there were almost duels fought among them.

Q-Is it true, that before the adjournment of the meeting held at the house of Doroteo Ong-jungco,
there was an election of officers of the Liga, of which the following resulted provisionally
elected: Ambrosio Salvador, President and Deodato Arellano, Secretary? And that the witness
recommended to President Salvador to be more active and that the members be more united and
harmonious with each other?
A-Yes, the above occurrence had taken place, except with reference of the election of Deadato
Arellano as Secretary, as I had not even the least idea that Arellano would attend such a meeting.

Court suspended session for continuance.

In Manila on November 21, 1896, appeared Jose Rizal, expressing conformity with the above
proceedings, making, however, some little rectification in some details. After having been
admonished by the Court to tell the truth, he was asked:

Q-Have you attended the meeting held in June or July 1892 in the house of Estanislao Legaspi,
located on Encarnacion street, Tondo district, where you were introduced by Juan Zulueta and
Timoteo Paez?
A-During my stay in Manila sometime in those dates, I frequently ate at different houses, and
probably I might have gone to Estanislao Legaspi's place, but I do not recall any detail about his
person, the house or the gathering. With respect to Legaspi's surname, I remember it as
pseudonym appearing on some letters addressed to Jose Basa at Hong kong.

Q-Did you take the initiative in the organization of the Liga Filipina, which took place in the first
months of 1893?
A-I, do not know anything about the organization of the Liga, nor did I take. initiative for its
purpose, nor did I have anything to do with said association.

Q-Do you know Andres Bonifacio, President of the Supreme Council of the Katipunan, and have
you anything to do with him?
A-I do not know any one by that name. This is the first time I have heard of it. Neither do I know
him personally even if he attended the gathering held in the house of Doroteo Ong-jungco, where
many Were introduced to me, but which I neither recall their names nor their appearances.

Q-How do you explain the appearance of your pictures among the members of the said
association?
A-With respect to my picture, I had it taken in regular size while in Madrid. Probably they have
obtained some reprint of it. As to my name being used as a war cry, I ignore its motive, since I
have not given any reason for it. I consider it as an unqualified abuse. I was informed by my
family that they use to collect funds in my behalf. Besides informing the Military Commandant
at Dapitan of this fact, so that he could inform the Governor General thereof, I also asked my
family to tell people that I was not begging for charity, as I had enough means with what I earned
in my profession, and with what I won in the lottery, I had sufficient for all my needs.

Q-Have you been informed of the plot to arrange your escape from Dapitan?
A-I have heard rumors to that effect, but I have not been informed directly about it. I could not
have accepted it, nor leave Dapitan in that way, unless I was forcibly taken away without my
consent.
Q-Are there any important persons in the Islands who sympathize and support your ideas?
A-I do not know of any important person who sympathizes or assists in favor of my ideals, either
ostensibly or secretly. On the contrary, I have received proofs against them.

Q-Do you know Jose Ramos and Doroteo Cortes, and what is your relation with them?
A-In my first return from Europe, I had some dealings with Jose Ramos in Manila, but in my
second return from Europe, I had not seen nor spoken to Jose Ramos. With respect to Doroteo
Cortes, I knew him by sight when I was a student, but I never spoke to him. I even believe, he
does not like me much, believing that I was responsible for his deportation.

Q-If you happened to have escaped from Dapitan, were you going to Japan to join Doroteo
Cortes and Marcelo H. del Pilar there, to interest that Government to extend aid to the
Philippines?
A-I know nothing of such thing. Those who have spread such rumors, undoubtedly ignore the
antagonism which exists between Doroteo Cortes and myself, which precludes our working
together in any enterprise.

Q-What steps have you already taken for the establishment of a Filipino colony in Sandakan?
A-It was not a Filipino colony that I propose to establish at Sandakan, but to reside with my
family in that English colony, as I have manifested to Governor General Despuiol in my letter
addressed to him from Hongkong, and also when I spoke to him at my arrival at Manila.

Q-Showing you this note found among your papers, which refers to deviation of a compass with
relations to Dapitan, will you explain the purpose of said note?
A-This note was furnished to me by Father Sanchez, (S.J.) when he gave me the said compass as
a gift while I was in Dapitan, and the above referred note, according to my recollection, was an
observation made by Father Cirera.

Note: At this stage of the hearing the Court ordered adjournment, to which the accused
acquiesced.