Today in Manhunting History -- May 24, 1898: Arming Aguinaldo

After Aguinaldo spent the night aboard Admiral Dewey's flagship [see May 19], the next morning he was provided with close to a hundred rifles, some cannons, and ammunition courtesy of Dewey, who encouraged him to “go ashore and start your army.”  Four days later, on 24 May, Dewey allowed a steamer from Hong Kong filled with thousands of rifles and ammunition to reach Aguinaldo at Cavite. 

Years later, when the young Filipino became the target of a massive U.S. strategic manhunt, Dewey explained that he requested Aguinaldo’s return to the Philippines “as it was possible that he might have valuable information to impart at a time when no source of information was to be neglected.”  Moreover, he told Congress, “we had a common enemy [in Spain], and of course I wanted his help.”   Consequently “my policy was to avoid any entangling alliance with the insurgents, while I appreciated that, pending the arrival of our troops, they might be of service.”

News of Aguinaldo’s return spread like wildfire through the Philippines.  Aguinaldo moved quickly to consolidate his political power, proclaiming himself dictator on 24 May to rule during the initial stages of the renewed insurgency. He reassembled the insurgent forces, and began operations around Manila at the end of May.  His troops proceeded to capture much of the Cavite region and lay siege to Manila, taking more than 2,000 Spanish prisoners.  By the end of June, central Luzon was in Filipino hands.  Aguinaldo’s army numbered about 30,000 men, exclusive of small hit-and-run groups that operated as far south as the Moro islands.