ON MAY 10, 1897, Andres Bonifacio, the Father of the Philippine Revolution and founder of the Katipunan, and his brother Procopio were executed in the mountains of Maragondon, Cavite by General Emilio Aguinaldo’s men for being guilty of treason and sedition. This occurred after the death sentence was commuted to indefinite exile by Aguinaldo.
Since the time the Katipunan was discovered, the rivalry between the Magdalo and the Magdiwang factions of Katipunan in Cavite led to a series of reverses. This prompted the Magdalo faction to invite Bonifacio to Cavite to settle their differences and remain united.
On March 22,1897, an assembly was called at Tejeros, Cavite. Bonifacio presided the conference to establish the Republic of the Philippines. In the election, Gen. Aguinaldo was elected President, Mariano Trias, Vice President, and Bonifacio as Secretary of the Interior.
Bonifacio, who acceded to the wish to establish a new government, was hurt and felt insulted when Daniel Tirona, one of Magdalo questioned his new position noting it was not proper for a person without a lawyer’s diploma to occupy it.
Notedly, orphaned at the age of 14, Bonifacio had to take on the task of caring for his younger brothers and sisters, being the eldest of six children. He quit schooling to look for ways to support his family.
Hence, evoking his authority as the Supreme head of the Katipunan, he declared the proceedings void. Bonifacio moved to Naic, Cavite and started to form his own government and army.
Bonifacio, with his family and men, left Naic for Indang on his way to return to Montalban. Aguinaldo sent men to arrest him, but Bonifacio resisted arrest and was wounded in the process.
He faced a trial for acts inimical to the existence of the new government and was given the death sentence by a military tribunal which was commuted to indefi nite exile.
Bonifacio died at the age of 33.
