Antonio de Morga as Lieutenant-General

Before starting the expedition to Maluco, Governor Dasmarinas had sent “San Felipe” and “San Francisco” to Nueva España.

Both of them had to return because of heavy storms.

• The “San Felipe” returned to the port of Sebu
• The “San Francisco” returned to Manila

Nueva España suspected that there were troubles in the islands because of their non-arrival.

This was very shortly known in España, by way of India, letters having been sent to Venecia [Venice], through Persia.

Immediately they set about appointing a new governor.

In the first year of the government of Gomez Perez Dasmariñas, the need of an Audiencia was felt by many.

This was because:

• all the power vested in one man.
• there was no one to whom they could apply for remedy for certain cases. [47]

Bishop Fray Domingo de Salazar felt this most keenly.

He had disputes with the governor.

The governor allowed him to go to España despite his old age so that he could be rid of him.

But he sent Fray Francisco de Ortega of the Augustinian order with him to defend Dasmarinas.

Both reached España, and each spoke as his interests demanded.

The bishop requested:

• the reëstablishment of the Audiencia
• the foundation of other bishoprics in the Filipinas, besides that of Manila
• other things which he thought beneficial to the spiritual and temporal welfare.

He was opposed by Ortega.

But the authority and piety of the bishop were of such weight.

He was favorably received by his Majesty and the Council. All his petitions and propositions were considered and discussed at length.

The office of lieutenant-assessor in judicial matters had been filled by Licentiate Pedro de Roxas since the suppression of the Audiencia.

• The Council resolved in 1593 that it should be upgraded into lieutenant-general.

The lieutenant-general would have authority to hear cases of appeal not exceeding the value of 1,000 Castilian ducados in judicial matters.

Licentiate Pedro de Rojas was promoted as alcalde of Mexico.

Doctor Antonio de Morga was appointed by his Majesty to take his residencia as lieutenant-general of the Filipinas.

The death of Dasmarinas and other events were only known with the arrival of Don Juan de Velasco in November 1593 in the galleon “Sanctiago”.

It had been sent to the islands the year before by Viceroy Don Luys de Velasco, with the necessary supplies.

Doctor Antonio de Morga embarked in the port of Acapulco, in the galleons “San Felipe” and “Santiago,” with everything under his charge.

He set sail March 22, 1595 and arrived under fair weather in the port of Cabit, June 11.