The Departure of Spanish Regime

THE REVOLUTION: THE LAST YEARS OF SPANISH REGIME
On May 1897, the Spaniards retook Aguinaldo's bailiwick of Cavite as the Magdalos suffered several setbacks. Aguinaldo was convinced of the Spanish Government's amnesty offer to end hostilities presented by Governor General Primo de Rivera.
Aguinaldo agreed to dissolve the revolutionary government based on his decision to go into voluntary exile to Hong Kong in exchange for an installment compensation of 800,000 Mexican pesos to him and his associates in the revolution as war idemnity. The negotiation was stipulated in the pact of Biak-na-Bato signed in December 15, 1897.

Back in Tanza, Cavite; Tirona and Lawyer Jose del Rosario fell on their knees before Spanish authorities seeking amnesty. Del Rosario was the lawyer whom Tirona endorsed to replace Bonifacio as Secretary to the Interior during the controversial Tejeros convention.
After receiving half of the 800,000 pesos indemnity, Aguinaldo sailed to Hong Kong where he tried to ally with the United States in its conflict with Spain in April 1898. Aguinaldo moved to Singapore and hid under the alias: Senyor Bouting to evade his associates who demanded that he secure the balance of the war indemnity agreed upon in the Pact of Biak na Bato. Aguinaldo's associates represented by Isabelo Artatcho earlier received half of the remaining 400,000.
In Singapore, the Americans informed Aguinaldo they were not interested to occupy the Philippines as the US is more interested to possess Cuba which is much nearer to their territory. The Cuba revolution against its Spanish colonizers sparked the Spanish-American war. The Americans blamed Spain for the sinking of USS Mainne in Cuba when it tried to evacuate US citizens.
The Americans instead sold 2,000 rifles and thousands of ammunitions to Aguinaldo for 50,000 pesos negotiated by Consul General Rousenville Wildman who also advised him to pursue the revolution back in the Philippines as Dictator.
Aguinaldo paid Wildman 67,000 pesos more in advance for an additional delivery of firearms but the goods never came.
Meanwhile, the British government which holds Hong Kong as its territory sought the American fleet to leave their jurisdiction to preserve its neutral stand in the American-Spanish conflict. This left US President Mckinley no choice but to relocate the American fleet to the Philippines and ordered Commodore George Dewey to invade the Spanish armada in Manila bay. On May 1, 1898; the US fleet inflicted heavy blows against Spain as it sank 12 of the thirteen Spanish warships killing nearly 200 of its soldier-crew.
American troops occupied the capital in Intramuros but did not allowed their Filipino allies to enter the walled city. On the other hand, the Spanish government moved to Iloilo.