1990 Hotel Delfino siege

The Siege at Hotel Delfino (Filipino: Pagkubkob sa Hotel Delfino, Ilocano: Sitio ti Hotel Delfino) in Tuguegarao, Cagayan in the Philippines, took place on March 4, 1990. A private army estimated at 300 men[6] seized the hotel under the command of former Cagayan governor Rodolfo "Agi" Aguinaldo. He was suspended as Cagayan's governor in January based on a radio announcement he made at the start of a Dec. 1-9, 1989 coup attempt against President Corazon Aquino; it is said Aguinaldo pledged to send tanks and troops to support rebel forces in Manila led by Lt. Col. Gregorio Honasan.[7] A week before his attack on the hotel Aguinaldo was indicted on charges of rebellion and murder relating to the failed Dec. 1-9 coup effort.

Siege at Hotel Delfino
DateMarch 4, 1990
Location
Tuguegarao, Cagayan, Philippines
Result Suspended Cagayan Governor Rodolfo Aguinaldo and his forces escape into the mountains
Government-Insurgents   
 Philippine Republic Reform the Armed Forces Movement
Commanders and leaders
Corazon Aquino Rodolfo Aguinaldo
Strength
About 1,000 soldiers[1] 200[2][3][4] - 300[1][5] followers
Casualties and losses
10 killed
12 wounded

Two years earlier, Col. Honasan led a coup attempt on August 28, 1987 that also failed. Soon after that Aguinaldo—then a lieutenant colonel in Cagayan's provincial military forces—bluntly stated another coup attempt would follow if the President "does not make reforms fast".[8]  Aguinaldo resigned from the military to run for Cagayan governor in 1988, he won that post in a landslide.[9] Though harshly criticized for human rights abuses while serving in the regime of Ferdinand Marcos, Aguinaldo gained renown and popularity beyond Cagayan for his ardent fight against communist insurgents during Marcos' rule.[10]

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 hometown of Gattaran. On learning government troops were planning to attack his hideout, Aguinaldo proceeded with his troops in a convoy toward Tuguegarao. Brig. Gen. Oscar Florendo, armed forces chief of Civil Military Relations, was dispatched to Tuguegarao by President Aquino to serve Aguinaldo with an arrest warrant.[11] 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.[12] Though he was thought to have been a long-time friend of Aguinaldo,[6] Florendo was shot at close range in the hotel by one of Aguinaldo's men and later died of his wounds.[12] Following hours of standoff between the two sides, nearly 1,000 government troops[6] launched an attack to dislodge Aguinaldo's forces from the hotel; the government prevailed after more than 100 of Aguinaldo's men surrendered and about 90 were captured.[7] In this siege at least a dozen others were killed in or around the hotel; scores of civilian supporters of Aguinaldo were arrested; and a truck with assault rifles, mortars, and crates of ammunition was captured.[9] During this melee, Aguinaldo fled with about 90 fighters for mountains in the north.[12][6]

References
  1. Yabes, Criselba (March 5, 1990). "Manila Ends Hostage Standoff". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  2. Bautista, Nona (March 4, 1990). "Government troops beat back rebel attack". United Press International. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  3. Drogin, Bob (March 5, 1990). "Rebel Clash Puts Aquino in New Crisis". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  4. Johnson, Bryan (March 5, 1990). "Governor creates new crisis for Aquino". The Globe and Mail.
  5. Schmetzer, Uli (March 5, 1990). "Ousted governor declares war with Aquino". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  6. Yabes, Criselda (1990-03-05). "MANILA ENDS HOSTAGE STANDOFF". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  7. "Government troops beat back rebel attack". UPI. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  8. Tribune, Steve Le Vine, Special to The. "PHILIPPINE RENEGADE OFFICER SAYS U.S. SHOULD `LET US STRUGGLE`". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  9. "Rebel Clash Puts Aquino in New Crisis : Philippines: The battle leaves a dozen dead, including a general. The renegade governor who supported December coup attempt escapes arrest". Los Angeles Times. 1990-03-05. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  10. "Col. Rodolfo Aguinaldo". FLIPZI's. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  11. Times, Special to The New York (1990-03-05). "14 Die as Philippine Troops Fight Rebel Governor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  12. Tribune, Uli Schmetzer, Chicago. "OUSTED GOVERNOR THREATENS AQUINO". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
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