Antonio Luna’s

ASSASSINATION
Who really ordered Luna’s murder?
 Who really ordered Luna’s Murder?

While the investigation were supposedly made concerning Luna’s death, not
one person convicted, Later, Pedro Janolino said that it was he who was
verbally ordered by Aguinaldo to conduct the assassination of Luna at
Cabanatuan.
Is Aguinaldo a hero or a
traitor?
• History books blamed Aguinaldo
as the mastermind in the death
of General Antonio Luna. Luna
suffered over 30 wounds from
bolos, bayonets, and bullets.
Was the death of Luna under the command
and order of Aguinaldo?
1. General Antonio Luna, lieutenant commander
of the Filipino Army has been assassinated by
order of Aguinaldo.
He was stabbed to death by a guard selected by
Aguinaldo to kill him.
Investigation of the incident proved that Luna had
been killed and General Otis, the American
Governor-General, had authentic information
regarding the death of the “insurgent general.”
Was the death of Luna under the command
and order of Aguinaldo?

2. Another information says that Ney, a guard

of Aguinaldo, by order of General Aguinaldo
purposely insulted Luna and forced a quarrel.
One report says that Luna was shot before Ney
stabbed him.
Was the death of Luna under the command
and order of Aguinaldo?

3. Pedro Paterno, one of the Filipino

leaders who believed that Aguinaldo
ordered the killing of Luna.
The assassination, he recalled, was
similar to the fate of Bonifacio in
Cavite province.
Both Luna and Bonifacio were rivals
of Aguinaldo for the leadership of the
Filipinos.
4. General Luna was exceedingly
unpopular among the Filipinos
troops on account of his stubborn
and dictatorial manners, and very
little regret was expressed at his
death. Luna and Aguinaldo were
unable to agree to the manner of
conducting the campaign against the
Spanish authorities and it is said that
Aguinaldo was afraid he would be
assassinated by Luna’s orders.
On the other hand, those who believed that it was not Aguinaldo who
ordered the death of Luna, but it was Luna’s fault and men who
assassinated him expressed the following views:

1. Emilio “Jun” Abaya

• Former Transportation secretary and

great grandson of Aguinaldo had to
defend his great grandfather. He said
that Luna was not assassinated on
order of Aguinaldo.
On the other hand, those who believed that it was not Aguinaldo who ordered the death of Luna, but
it was Luna’s fault and men who assassinated him expressed the following views:

2. Professor Xiao Chua / Michael

Charleston “Xiao” Briones Chua
• Professor Xiao Chua of De La Salle University
noted that there is no valid evidence to support
the claims that Aguinaldo had Luna killed.
According to Professor Chua, there are various
accounts on Luna’s death, including one by
Pedro Janolino, Aguinaldo’s men from Kawit who
was one of the people who killed Luna.
On the other hand, those who believed that it was not Aguinaldo who ordered the death of Luna, but
it was Luna’s fault and men who assassinated him expressed the following views:

3. Antonio Abad

Antonio Abad who interviewed Pedro Janolino

said that it was he who killed Luna by self-defense.
This was the statement of Janolino.
“When Antonio Luna was coming down the stairs,
nakita niya na galit na galit si Antonio Luna. Sino ang
nagpaputok?” asked Luna. According to the interview
with Janolino, Janolino was so afraid that Luna might
kill him and his men that they killed him first.
Is Aguinaldo still be considered a hero or a traitor?
It is not easy to dismiss Aguinaldo’s role in Philippine history given the controversies
surrounding his leadership. If one looked at it, he has roles in the making of the Philippine
flag, the production of the national anthem, and his role in the revolution against Spaniards
and Americans. But just like other men, he had also some mistakes, and the mistakes must be
taught and analyzed by every Filipino. Let us learn from the mistakes of Aguinaldo.
It is dangerous to make conclusions based on the movies. Every young Filipinos must
revisit the primary source to say that Aguinaldo is a hero or a traitor after critically analyzing
and evaluating the primary source document, instead of just basing the conclusions from the
movies.
Professor Chua finally explained that he does not personally consider Aguinaldo a
hero. “I consider him a great Filipino, not a hero”.
1. He was verbally ordered by Aguinaldo to conduct the assassination of
Luna.

2. He is a Filipino leader who believed that Aguinaldo ordered the killing

of Luna.

3. Former Transportation secretary and great grandson of Aguinaldo. He

said that Luna was not assassinated on order of Aguinaldo.

4. He was exceedingly unpopular among the Filipinos troops on account

of his stubborn and dictatorial manners, and very little regret was
expressed at his death.