MatangHari Blog

Who is Giron?

One of the basis of execution of Andres Bonifacio and his brothers was according to the recommendation of auditor general on his trial to their commander in chief Aguinaldo. The recommendation letter states that Bonifacio had the intention of overthrowing the government and killing the president. This is borne out by the testimony of their soldiers, Pedro Giron, Benito Torres, BIbiano Rojas, and others whose names need not be mentioned.

These are the very serious statement of Audito General Baldomero Aguinaldo dated May 8, 1897 in Marogondon . Surprisingly on the same letter said “ that Andres Bonifacio, with his brothers, Procopio and Ciriaco, often held secret meetings, with diego Moxica, Silvestre Domingo, and Santos Nocon, and that it was their design to overthrow the government and kill the President. When rumor of this evil intention reached the government, soldiers were sent to the place where Andres was staying”. It was clearly said that “When rumor of this evil intention” had no basis at all it is just a rumor and with the actuation of Aguinaldo’s soldiers firing at Bonifacio while he wanted to pacify the contention and by Stabbing of Instik Pawa its seems that the order was not just simple arrest but to get them dead or alive it was only Alejandrino pleaded not to kill the Supremo.

Judgement About Giron’s Claim that Bonifacio had “assembled”, the Court observes nothing in the records either, that would justify such an allegation, and excerpt for Giron, none of the witnesses started positvely that Bonifacio was indeed forming his own army.

While it is true that a total of twenty-eight frie arms were recovered from Bonifacio on April 26th , the firearms themselves tell us, however, nothing, First, only two remingtons were” Magdalo issues”. Second, Bonifacio, as a member of the Revolutionary Government (Director of Interiror), had the right to carry firearms and probably had men around him.

We cannot believe Giron’s story that Bonifacio gave him money to assassinate Aguinaldo. Giron, in the first place, had proven himself to be quite a slippery character; Constantino stated that when Bonifacio later sought to confront Giron: “ He was told that he could not confront Giron as the latter had been killed in Naik, but after Bonifacio’s death, Giron was seen in the company of the prosecutors.

The court, in sum, finds Pedro Giron’s testimony not credible and the Court believes that the transcripts themselves will bear it out. Plainly, the Court can not believe that the supremo would entrust money to another assassinate Aguinaldo. Aguinaldo, no doubt, enjoyed quite a following in Cavite, although Bonifacio may have refused to recognize him. Bonifacio was aware, and the Court presumes he was aware, that a plan to liquidate Aguinald0 would require something more elaborate than entrusting money to an assassin, It is also noteworthy that not one soldier corroborated Giron’s story. If Bonifacio had indeed entered into conspiracy in the scale Giron’s testimony suggested, it is strange that not one soldier as much as intimated conspiracy trial.

Stranger still is the fact that General Pio del Pilar and Colonel Modesto Ritual would now “corroborate” Giron.

As we said, while a single testimony is enough to just a conviction, the testimony must be credible by itself, otherwise a genuine corroboration is indispensible.