Aguinaldo has long been blamed for the death of the Bonifacio brothers. However, it was a military court during a time of war that sentenced the Bonifacio brothers. Aguinaldo had recommended a lesser punishment of exile but was later convinced to affirm the execution.
| AGUINALDO | BONIFACIO | OTHER OPINIONS |
| The guilty verdict and death sentence of the Bonifacio Brothers was a decision of the Council of War. The Bonifacio brothers were found guilty after a trial and sentenced to capital punishment. It was the decision of the Council of War. Aguinaldo affirmed the decision. | There have been issues on how Bonifacio was executed. Lazaro Makapagal, the only eyewitness, had two accounts of the incident. Every film that has tackled his death has staged the execution (and the surrounding events) in a different way. Most of these films show Aguinaldo as the one who commanded the execution. | Hilarion M. Henares, Jr. was privy to the conversation between his grandfather, Manuel L. Quezon, and Aguinaldo during his grandfather’s birthday on July 21, 1940. In Henares's letter to historian Ambeth Ocampo dated July 2, 2010, Henares shares that during that night, his grandfather brought up the subject of who was responsible for Bonifacio and Luna’s deaths. Quezon explained that it was the Americans who were responsible for spreading the lies with the aim of denigrating Aguinaldo and the revolution. |
| In principle, Aguinaldo had forgiven the Bonifacio brothers and considered commuting their life sentence to banishment. However, Aguinaldo was convinced by Gen. Mariano Noriel and Gen. Pio del Pilar that in order to maintain peace and unity the decision of the Council of War should be followed. Hence, he approved of the Council of War’s sentence of capital punishment. | A controversial interview of Emilio Aguinaldo by Spanish journalist Jose Barroso (correspondent of El Imparcial) on December 26, 1897 in Calumpit quoted Aguinaldo casually saying he ordered Bonifacio's execution. “It is quite true that the Katipunan instilled in us another desire — that of independence — but that desire was unattainable, and moreover it was in opposition to our sentiments. It served as the banner of Andres Bonifacio, a cruel man whom I ordered shot and with his death the Katipunan disappeared.” | Analyzing Aguinaldo’s decisions (from commutation to allowing the sentence to be implemented) may be attributed to four aspects of his character, as a: (1) friend and a Mason Brother to Bonifacio, (2) Politician, (3) Military commander, and (4) Patriot. Aguinaldo’s initial decision to commute the Bonifacio Brothers’ sentence to banishment instead of death revealed his soft spot. It showed a Miong who is a friend and not a President and military commander. The decision to banish could be seen as a kindness extended to a founder of Katipunan, a brother Mason, and a friend who initiated Aguinaldo into the Katipunan. The banishment may also be seen as a political move. It could signal that Aguinaldo was open to reconciliation and was somehow accommodating the Bonifacio brothers. Aguinaldo’s decision to follow the advice of his generals was nothing personal. It had nothing to do with the accusation that Aguinaldo harbored ill will towards Bonifacio for being indirectly responsible for the death of Crispulo Aguinaldo, Miong’s brother. As a military strategist and the president, it was imperative for him to carry out the court’s decision. To heed the advice of Aguinaldo’s two generals and affix his signature to the death penalty decision rendered by Court of War to Bonifacio, was a major and life-changing decision for Aguinaldo. While others see this as a treacherous act, ironically, this can be viewed as the most heroic and selfless decision Aguinaldo has ever made. He acted in the best interest of the country, putting aside the possible negative implications about his character. We must remember that Aguinaldo was a military man and a frontliner at the battlefield, a strategist who won many battles. It is also important to consider Aguinaldo’s political background prior to the Katipunan, he served the community as a cabeza and Capitan Municipal, making him well versed in politics. As such, it is doubtful that Aguinaldo was unaware of the possible consequences of his decision to allow the execution. He knew that his decision will haunt him forever — his loyalty and heroism to be questioned endlessly and the continuing criticisms. Aguinaldo did not mind if such will make him unpopular or even hated. This was because he knew it was the right decision given the circumstances — it was a decision for the best interest of the country. To sacrifice one's personal political agenda is a selfless and heroic act. - Dr. Emmanuel Calairo |
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