Teniente Guevarra

"But to be a subversive is worse than being a heretic and killing three tax collectors who know how to read, write, and sign their names."

- Teniente Guevarra Teniente Guevarra, full name Miguel Guevarra, was an elderly lieutenant of the Guardia Civil and a close friend of Don Rafael Ibarra. Holding a deep respect for the man, he later made efforts to protect Don Rafael's son Crisostomo after the latter came home from Europe.

Hidden Enemies
A lieutenant of the guardia civil, Guevarra befriended the wealthy Don Rafael Ibarra. Over time, he came to understand that Rafael had numerous enemies, jealous that he was the richest man in the province of Laguna. After Rafael was imprisoned for killing a Spanish tax collector, Guevarra did everything in his power to have him freed, such as hiring a lawyer and contacting the Governor-General. By the time he had cleared Rafael's name, however, he had died in prison.

When Rafael's son Crisostomo returned home from Europe soon after, Guevarra attended the party hosted for him by Capitan Tiago. While there, he almost entered a fistfight with Padre Damaso after debating with him regarding the natives. After Crisostomo left, he caught up with him and warned him of his own hidden enemies, sharing the story of how Rafael died.

Guevarra's worst fears came true as Crisostomo was implicated in a revolt in the following months. He was later present at Capitan Tiago's house as the numerous people conversed about Crisostomo's fate. There, he refuted the people's accusations of Crisostomo collaborating with bandits, angrily claiming that he had only trusted the wrong people.

Trivia

 * In a draft of Noli Me Tangere, Guevarra is named Capitan Ramon, and is alcalde of Sta. Cruz aside from being a lieutenant of the Guardia Civil.