On February 4, 1899, the war broke out between the government of Aguinaldo and the American occupiers, after the murder of a Filipino soldier by an American guard crossing the San Juan Bridge. Aguinaldo led the Philippine troops against the superior forces of the occupiers. Despite successive defeats, the retreating struggle continued, as it withdrew with its troops to the north of Luzon.
On March 23, 1901, he was captured by US forces in Palanan, Isabela province, thanks to a ploy devised by General Frederick Funston in which the Americans pretended to surrender.
Given the alternative of being summarily executed or renouncing military action and accepting US sovereignty, Aguinaldo yielded and signed the surrender on April 1, 1901.
