Achutegui and Bernad. Aguinaldo and the Revolution., Document No. 108).
“Office of the President and Headquarters of the Army, May 8, 1897
Whereas the Judge Advocate General’s report and request are to confirm the decision of the Council for capital punishment on Andrés and Procopio Bonifacio;
Whereas the decision was reached after proving the treachery of Andrés and Procopio Bonifacio, recruiting soldiers to overthrow the government and bribing government soldiers to join him;
Whereas Andrés and Procopio [Bonifacio] were the ones found guilty while their soldiers only followed their orders obediently, punishment should be meted only to them, and the soldiers, for obeying them, [46a] should be reprimanded severely. Considering the present situation of this land and the fact that the guilty ones are true sons of this country; following likewise the merciful policy of the government never to draw a blood uselessly; with the approval of its department secretaries.
I hereby pardon Andrés Bonifacio and Procopio Bonifacio from the death penalty, and instead grant the punishment of exile in an isolated place, where they will be held in solitary [confinement] watched by prison guards and will not be allowed to speak to each other or to other people; to Benito Torres, Nicolás Guzman, Rafael Non, Narciso Tiolo, Julian Aguila, Cayetano Lopez, Bibiano Rojas, Domingo Declaso, Domingo San Juan and Gervacio Santiago, the penalty will be [47] assignment to Army Headquarters as servants for one year.
The arms and other properties confiscated by the government troops are to become government property for use in time of war and for the benefit of the government. Let the request of the Judge Advocate General be granted regarding copies of statements needed for further investigation.
Let the criminals be informed of this decision, as likewise the prosecutor and the defense counselors.
As agreed, we all sign.
(Sgd.) BALDOMERO AGUINALDO
(Sgd.) EMILIO AGUINALDO