Note 54 — Chapter IV · JUDICIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE AUDIENCIA; THE RESIDENCIA1

Anda had more than the usual number of residencias to supervise at the beginning of his term. Owing to some misapprehension on the part of his predecessor, Governor Raón, no residencia was required of La Torre, the teniente del rey who took over the government in 1764. Owing to the anarchical condition in Manila consequent upon the invasion of the British, and the ecclesiastical rule preceding that event, neither Arandía, Espeleta, nor Rojo had given residencia. The audiencia and Raón in acuerdo on October 26, 1768, voted that governors’ residencias should be dispensed with, and apparently believed that this action settled the matter. On November 9, 1770, the Council of the Indies disapproved of this stand, fined Raón (who had died the preceding July), and ordered Anda to take the residencias of Arandía (governor, 1754–1759), Espeleta (archbishop-governor, 1759–1761), Rojo (archbishop-governor, 1761–1764), Oidor Villacorta, and Governor Raón. These orders he complied with, conducting the investigations with his characteristic thoroughness, though Rojo and Raón were dead. Villacorta was imprisoned and heavily fined. The sentences against Arandía, Raón and Villacorta were moderated by the Council of the Indies on September 9, 1772.—A. I., 105–2–31.