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The siege at Hotel Delfino ( Filipino: ''Pagkubkob sa Hotel Delfino'', Ilocano: ''Sitio ti Hotel Delfino'') in
Tuguegarao Tuguegarao ( or ), officially the City of Tuguegarao ( ibg, Siyudad nat Tugegaraw; itv, Siyudad yo Tugegaraw; ilo, Siudad ti Tuguegarao; fil, Lungsod ng Tuguegarao ), is a 3rd class component city and capital of the province of Cagayan, Phili ...
,
Cagayan Cagayan ( ), officially the Province of Cagayan ( ilo, Probinsia ti Cagayan; ibg, Provinsiya na Cagayan; itv, Provinsiya ya Cagayan; fil, Lalawigan ng Cagayan), is a province in the Philippines located in the Cagayan Valley region, coverin ...
in the
Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...
, took place on March 4, 1990. A private army estimated at 300 men seized the hotel under the command of suspended Cagayan governor Rodolfo "Agi" Aguinaldo, a fierce critic of the administration of President
Corazon Aquino Maria Corazon "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino (; ; January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009) was a Filipina politician who served as the 11th president of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992. She was the most prominent figure of the 1986 People ...
and the Communist insurgency in the Philippines. The incident was an offshoot of the 1989 Philippine coup d'état attempt that Aguinaldo publicly supported, which led to his suspension and arrest. The standoff ended violently after several hours, leaving 14 people dead, including a high-ranking general who tried to arrest him.


Background


Rodolfo Aguinaldo

Rodolfo Aguinaldo was born in
Laoag Laoag, officially the City of Laoag ( ilo, Siudad ti Laoag; fil, Lungsod ng Laoag), is a 1st class component city and capital of the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 111,651 people. ...
,
Ilocos Norte Ilocos Norte, officially the Province of Ilocos Norte ( ilo, Probinsia ti Ilocos Norte; tl, Lalawigan ng Ilocos Norte), is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region. Its capital is Laoag City, located in the northwest corner ...
in 1946. He graduated from the
Philippine Military Academy The Philippine Military Academy ( fil, Akademiyang Militar ng Pilipinas / es, Academia Militar de Filipinas) also referred to by its acronym PMA is the premier military academy for Filipinos aspiring for a commission as a military officer of ...
in 1972 and served in the
Philippine Constabulary The Philippine Constabulary (PC; tl, Hukbóng Pamayapà ng Pilipinas, ''HPP''; es, Policía de Filipinas, ''PF'') was a gendarmerie-type police force of the Philippines from 1901 to 1991, and the predecessor to the Philippine National Po ...
(PC). During this period, he was accused of torturing dissidents during the Martial Law period in the 1970s and 1980s. Among those who positively identified him were
Etta Rosales Loretta Ann P. "Etta" Rosales (born August 17, 1939) is a Filipina activist, teacher and politician who has served three terms as the party-list representative of the Akbayan Citizens' Action Party to the Philippines' House of Representatives f ...
, who later became one of his colleagues in the
11th Congress of the Philippines The 11th Congress of the Philippines ( Filipino: ''Ikalabing-isang Kongreso ng Pilipinas''), composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives, met from July 27, 1998, until June 8, 2001, during the 31-month presidency of Joseph ...
and Chair of the
Commission on Human Rights A human rights commission, also known as a human relations commission, is a body set up to investigate, promote or protect human rights. The term may refer to international, national or subnational bodies set up for this purpose, such as nationa ...
and
Satur Ocampo Saturnino "Satur" Cunanan Ocampo (born April 7, 1939) is a Filipino politician, activist, journalist, and writer. As party president and first nominee, he led the party-list group Bayan Muna in three successful elections in 2001, 2004, and 200 ...
, future representative of the
Bayan Muna Bayan Muna () is a party-list in the Philippines, a member of the leftist political coalition Makabayan. The motto of the party is ''"New Politics, the Politics of Change"'', against "traditional, elitist, pro-imperialist politics". Its platform i ...
Partylist. As one of the most active military officers involved in the counterinsurgency efforts against the
Communist rebellion in the Philippines {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Communist rebellion in the Philippines , partof = the Cold War and the Insurgency in the Philippines , image = Communist hotspots in the Philippines.png , caption ...
, he led an operation that led to the capture of
Jose Maria Sison Jose Maria Canlas Sison (February 8, 1939 – December 16, 2022), also known by his nickname Joma, was a Filipino writer and activist who founded the Communist Party of the Philippines and added elements of Maoism to its philosophy – which w ...
, leader of the
Communist Party of the Philippines The Communist Party of the Philippines ( fil, Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas) is a far-left, Marxist-Leninist-Maoist revolutionary organization and communist party in the Philippines, formed by Jose Maria Sison on 26 December 1968. It is des ...
in
La Union La Union (), officially the Province of La Union ( ilo, Probinsia ti La Union; Kankanaey'': Probinsyan di La Union;'' Ibaloi'': Probinsya ne La Union;'' pag, Luyag/Probinsia na La Union; Tagalog'': Lalawigan ng La Union),'' is a province in th ...
in 1977. In 1981, Aguinaldo was assigned to
Cagayan Cagayan ( ), officially the Province of Cagayan ( ilo, Probinsia ti Cagayan; ibg, Provinsiya na Cagayan; itv, Provinsiya ya Cagayan; fil, Lalawigan ng Cagayan), is a province in the Philippines located in the Cagayan Valley region, coverin ...
as assistant provincial PC commander, marking the start of his association with the province. Aguinaldo later joined the
Reform the Armed Forces Movement The Reform the Armed Forces Movement, also referred to by the acronym RAM, was a cabal of officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) known for several attempts to seize power in the Philippines during the 1980s and 1990s. In 1986, som ...
(RAM) that was founded by alumni of the
Philippine Military Academy The Philippine Military Academy ( fil, Akademiyang Militar ng Pilipinas / es, Academia Militar de Filipinas) also referred to by its acronym PMA is the premier military academy for Filipinos aspiring for a commission as a military officer of ...
such as Colonel
Gringo Honasan Gregorio "Gringo" Ballesteros Honasan II (, born March 14, 1948), is a Filipino politician and a cashiered Philippine Army officer who led unsuccessful coups d'état against President Corazon Aquino. He played a key role in the 1986 EDSA Re ...
, Eduardo Kapunan and Victor Batac in the early 1980s, citing disillusionment with the regime of President
Ferdinand Marcos Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. ( , , ; September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was a Filipino politician, lawyer, dictator, and kleptocrat who was the 10th president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He ruled under martial ...
for its handling of the communist rebellion. When the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution broke out, Aguinaldo led RAM forces in seizing control of media outlets in
Quezon City Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populatio ...
from the Marcos government, paving the way for the overthrow of Marcos and the assumption of power by his rival,
Corazon Aquino Maria Corazon "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino (; ; January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009) was a Filipina politician who served as the 11th president of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992. She was the most prominent figure of the 1986 People ...
. For this, he was promoted to provincial PC commander in Cagayan. However, Aguinaldo and other RAM members grew disillusioned by the Aquino government's emphasis on opening negotiations with the communists and the release of Sison and other party members and dissidents. As such, Aguinaldo joined attempts by the RAM to overthrow President Aquino, starting in the coup attempt on August 28, 1987 that saw him briefly seize control of the
Cagayan Valley Cagayan Valley ( ilo, Tanap ti Cagayan; fil, Lambak ng Cagayan), is an administrative region in the Philippines, located in the northeastern section of Luzon Island. It is composed of five Philippine provinces: Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, ...
regional military headquarters in Tuguegarao, bluntly stating later that another coup attempt would follow if the President "does not make reforms fast". Aguinaldo was stripped of his command and placed under investigation but resigned with the rank of lieutenant colonel before any significant action could be taken against him. He then ran for Governor of Cagayan in the 1988 local elections, successfully winning on a populist platform against more established rivals who were ironically supported by RAM's political patron
Juan Ponce Enrile Juan Valentin Furagganan Ponce Enrile Sr., (born Juanito Furagganan; February 14, 1924), also referred to by his initials JPE, or Manong Johnny, is a Filipino politician and lawyer known for his role in the administration of Philippine dicta ...
, by a landslide. During this time, he was accused of becoming a provincial warlord who built an independent economic base from logging, smuggling and gambling and used their revenues as well as defense funds and weapons caches to establish a private army of twelve hundred
Negrito The term Negrito () refers to several diverse ethnic groups who inhabit isolated parts of Southeast Asia and the Andaman Islands. Populations often described as Negrito include: the Andamanese peoples (including the Great Andamanese, the On ...
tribesmen and surrendered NPA guerrillas.


Events

On December 1, 1989, RAM under Col. Honasan launched its second attempt to overthrow the Aquino government. Governor Aguinaldo went on the air over
DZRH DZRH (666 AM) is a radio station owned and operated by Manila Broadcasting Company, which serves as the flagship station. The station's studio is located at the MBC Building, Star City, Vicente Sotto St., CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pas ...
in the morning, declaring support for the coup. Five hundred of his men attempted to reach
Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populated ...
but were blocked in
Nueva Ecija Nueva Ecija, officially the Province of Nueva Ecija ( tgl, Lalawigan ng Nueva Ecija , also ; ilo, Probinsia ti Nueva Ecija; pag, Luyag/Probinsia na Nueva Ecija; Kapampangan: ''Lalawigan/Probinsia ning Nueva Ecija''), is a landlocked province ...
. After the coup failed, Aguinaldo was suspended as governor in January 1990 based on his radio announcement. A week before his attack on the hotel Aguinaldo was indicted on charges of rebellion and murder relating to the failed coup. Disputing both his suspension as Cagayan governor and the rebellion charges, Aguinaldo refused to surrender to authorities. Along with hundreds of loyal armed followers, he went into hiding in his adopted hometown of
Gattaran Gattaran, officially the Municipality of Gattaran ( ibg, Ili nat Gattaran; ilo, Ili ti Gattaran; tl, Bayan ng Gattaran), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cagayan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population o ...
while civilian supporters tried to prevent his arrest by forming human barricades at the provincial capitol. On learning government troops were planning to attack his hideout, Aguinaldo proceeded with his troops in a convoy toward Tuguegarao on March 4. Brigadier General Oscar Florendo,
Armed Forces of the Philippines The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ( fil, Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas) are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of three main service branches; the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy (including the Marine Corps). The ...
chief of Civil Military Relations, and
Interior Secretary The United States secretary of the interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior. The secretary and the Department of the Interior are responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land along with natur ...
Luis Santos were dispatched to Tuguegarao by President Aquino to serve Aguinaldo with an arrest warrant, but were caught off-guard by the speedy arrival of Aguinaldo's forces. After Aguinaldo's men seized control of Hotel Delfino where the general was staying, Florendo was taken hostage along with more than 50 other hotel guests while Santos managed to escape. Aguinaldo was initially receptive, holding a press conference with Gen. Florendo in the hotel lobby despite claiming to have suffered a wound from an ambush by government forces while on the road. However gunfire erupted a few hours later at the nearby Balzain Bridge, sparking heavy fighting across the city that culminated with government troops storming the hotel. Florendo was then killed in the ensuing crossfire. The fighting left 14 people dead and wounded twenty, while Aguinaldo fled to the mountains with a militia three hundred strong.


Aftermath

Florendo's body was returned to Manila after the incident and was buried with full military honors at the
Libingan ng mga Bayani Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB, , ) is a national cemetery within Fort Andres Bonifacio (formerly Fort William McKinley) in Metro Manila, Philippines. First established in May 1947 as a fitting resting place for Philippine military personnel fro ...
on March 10. Aguinaldo spent the next three months in hiding until he finally surrendered at the Cagayan provincial capitol but was later released on bail. While on the run, he took responsibility for Florendo's death, calling it a ″terrible mistake″, although the actual killer of Florendo was never definitively identified. He later won reelection by a landslide in the 1992 elections, despite attempts to disqualify him from running. He was eventually acquitted of wrongdoing by the
Supreme Court A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
, which adopted a legal doctrine, later named after him, that a public official cannot be removed for administrative misconduct committed during a prior term since his re-election to office operates as a condonation of his past misconduct. The ruling was subsequently applied to similar cases involving elected officials until it was reversed by the Supreme Court in 2016. Aguinaldo stayed on as Governor until 1998, when he successfully ran and won as representative of Cagayan's 3rd congressional district, serving until his assassination by communist rebels in Tuguegarao, shortly after losing his reelection bid in 2001. The Hotel Delfino remains a functioning hotel run by the Ting family, members of which have served as mayors of Tuguegarao for several decades, including at the time of the siege.


In popular culture

The incident is featured, albeit with some inaccuracies, in the climax of Aguinaldo's 1993 biopic ''Aguinaldo: The True-to-Life Story of Gov. Rodolfo Aguinaldo of Cagayan'', starring
Lito Lapid Manuel "Lito" Mercado Lapid (; born October 25, 1955) is a Filipino actor and politician serving as a Senator since 2019, and previously from 2004 to 2016. He started his political career in Pampanga, serving as vice governor from 1992 to 1995 ...
as Aguinaldo and
Ramil Rodriguez Rene Morena Rodriguez (August 22, 1944 – April 29, 2014), better known as Ramil Rodriguez, was a veteran actor in the Philippines. He was a matinee idol in 1960s and one of the famous Sampaguita Pictures Stars '66. In 1966, he was proclai ...
as an unnamed
Department of the Interior and Local Government The Department of the Interior and Local Government ( fil, Kagawaran ng Interyor at Pamahalaang Lokal), abbreviated as DILG, is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for promoting peace and order, ensuring public saf ...
Secretary who serves as a composite of Florendo. Aguinaldo himself appears at the beginning of the film to make an opening statement and is shown taking the oath of office at the ending of the film. Some scenes were shot in Tuguegarao itself, including at the Hotel Delfino and the Balzain Bridge.


References

{{Philippine coups Rebellions in the Philippines Political history of the Philippines Presidency of Corazon Aquino March 1990 events in Asia History of Cagayan