On February 17, 1872, the three

martyred Priests, Fathers Mariano

Gomez, Jose Apolonio Burgos, and
Jacinto Zamora, better known for the
acronym GOMBURZA, were executed
by garrote by the Spaniards in
Bagumbayan in connection with the 1872
Cavite Mutiny.
The three priests incurred the hatred of
the Spanish authorities for leading the
campaign against the abusive Spanish
friars and fighting for equal rights among
priests. They fought on unresolved issues
about secularization in the Philippines
that resulted in a conflict among the
religious regulars and the church
seculars.
The Cavite Mutiny of workers in the
arsenal of the naval shipyard over pay

reduction owing to increased taxation

was magnified into a dangerous rebellion
and was seized by Spanish authorities as
an occasion to silence the proponents of
secularization.
The Spanish prosecutors bribed a witness
to testify against the three priests who
were charged with sedition and treason,
which led to their death by garrote.
Their execution left a profound effect on
many Filipinos, including Dr. Jose Rizal,
the national hero, who dedicated his
novel Noli Me Tangere to their memory.