It is not clear whether Estévanez took part in the Carlist conspiracy against the Republic. However, immediately after the rebels had taken control of Burgos he published a large article which hailed the insurgents and dwelled on their patriotic stand against the background of such historical events like the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa. In mid-August he was among the city personalities who welcomed Franco in Burgos, yet there is no information on Estévanez assuming any position either in the local administration or in the Carlist wartime executive, despite the fact that Junta Nacional Carlista de Guerra partially resided in Burgos and many party leaders moved to the city, the informal capital of the Nationalist zone. Amidst the wave of rearguard repression Estévanez called for order and in press piece wrote that “let there be not a single individual who takes justice into his own hands! Justice yes, but by means of appropriate procedures and competent tribunals!”. It is likely that in September he contributed to release of Manuel Machado, few days earlier arrested in his office.