The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 21, July 1917 - April, 1918 Page: 265

                                
The Residencia in the Spanish Colonies

Zabalburi, after eight years of distinguished service, was dis-
missed in 1709 for having received the French papal delegate,
Tour6n, in the Islands. The latter had been conmanissioned by
the Pope, but had come without the authorization of the Council
of the, Indies. After his residencia had been taken, new charges
were brought by the fiscal, and it was, proved that he had been
guilty of favoritism in the bestowal of a contract for the careen-
ing of the galleon. He was fined 11,000 pesos, which was the sum
lost to the government through his act.31
Governor Bustamante was murdered in 1719.          His successor,
Governor Torre Campo, who came to the Islands in 1721, was or-
dered to investigate the cause of his death, but owing to the in-
fluence of the Jesuits, who seemed to have been responsible for the
death of Bustamante, the matter was delayed. The government at
Madrid was compelled to take the matter in hand, and, as a result,
the governor finally made a noncommittal report, accusing nobody.
The property of Bustamante was sequestrated on his death, but
the circumstances of his murder were so revolting that his case
was not prosecuted, and the remaining portion of his property was
sent to New Spain to his family.32
When Governor Valdez y Tam6n came to, give residencia on
the termination of his administration in 1739, he was charged by
the fiscal with having made away with 2,500,000 pesos belonging
to, the government. It was not proved. It is unbelievable that
any governor of the Philippines ever had a chance to, appropriate
that much money. Governor Obando, whose, administration from
1 750 to 1754. was a, perpetual struggle with, the audiencia and the
archbishop, was severely treated by the residencia, which was con-
ducted by his, enemies, the oidores. Governor Arandia, who was
said to, have amassed a fortune of 250,000 pesos during his ad-
mininstration from 1754 to 1759, leaving his wealth to. pious pur-
poses on his death, was fined 6,713 pesos in his residencia.3
Governor Ra6n, who had failed to properly execute the royal or-
ders relative to the expulsion of the Jesuits and the Chinese from
the Philippines, was heavily fined, his property was seized, and
84Torralba to King, June 23, 1716, A. I., 68-4-18.
"'Inventario de residencias, A. I.
33Ibid.

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