Bonifacio, a victim of a power-hungry elite

Andres Bonifacio, the Father of the Philippine Revolution, died not in the hands of the Spanish colonial forces on May 10, 1897. The Katipunan’s Supremo was killed along with his brother Procopio by their fellow revolutionaries, those who were on the side of Emilio Aguinaldo, after a mock trial.

Bonifacio and his brother were victims of politics. Aguinaldo, for me, was the prototype of a “trapo,” or a traditional politician.

Aguinaldo, the famous leader of Katipunan’s Magdalo faction, wanted the upper hand in the fight for independence from the Spanish Empire.

I think he wanted the power to enable him to defend the interests of his Ilustrado family, relatives and associates if ever they win the revolution.

The Ilustrados cringed at the thought of seeing Bonifacio, a member of Magdiwang faction, ascending to the top since he was poor.

Had Bonifacio become the president of the First Philippine Republic, he would possibly confiscate the properties of the landed elites and distribute them to the masses. We don’t know.

After the Bonifacio brothers were found guilty of sedition and treason despite insufficient evidence, they were recommended to be executed.

Aguinaldo behaved like Pontius Pilate. He commuted the death sentence to deportation, but his order was defied by other Magdalo members, so the execution pushed through for the sake of unity.

The presidency of Aguinaldo was short-lived as the US replaced Spain as the new colonial power.

Aguinaldo did run for president of the Philippine Commonwealth opposite Manuel Quezon, but the latter defeated him.

During the Japanese occupation, Aguinaldo collaborated with the new Imperial forces.

New generation of Filipino politicians are like Aguinaldo. They shift alliance to the ruling party.