Ordóñez was the illegitimate child of captain Diego de Irigoyen he had with María Isidora Bermúdez, a woman of African descent.

Ordóñez launched a rebellion against the government of Miguel González Saravia y Colarte [es] on 16 January 1823, capturing various cities across the country, and declaring the independence of Granada, against the ideas of Nicaraguan annexation to the Mexican Empire.

This chaotic situation is evidenced by the existence of simultaneous Governing Boards in León, Granada, Managua and El Viejo.

The second, also known as the Revolutionary Government Junta was presided over by Ordóñez and was also made up of Raimundo Tiffer, Ignacio Marenco, Solano Castrillo, Manuel Sandoval and Nicolás de la Rocha Zapata.

Once installed in Guatemala, Ordóñez became Inspector General of Arms for Central America and a member of the Federal Government's War Advisory Board.