He was well known for being one of the main responsible for the repression of the Asturian Revolution of 1934, in which he used brutal methods that were denounced to the government of Alejandro Lerroux. When the Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936-1939 he joined the side of the rebels and in May 1937 he was appointed by Francisco Franco as Head of Security at the Generalist Headquarters in Salamanca.