On this day 124 years ago, on March 27, 1901 (February 8, 1901 in the lunar calendar), the United States captured the leader of the resistance movement in the Philippines. Aguinaldo boarded the American gunboat after his capture On March 27, 1901, the fearless Filipino leader Emilio Aguinaldo was captured by the Americans. He was captured less than two months after the surrender of the rebel leader in Iloilo Province. This encouraged Washington and gave it hope that the long resistance movement in the Philippines would finally come to an end. The plan to arrest the rebel leader was masterminded by General Frederick-Funston. He disguised himself as a prisoner of the rebels, deceiving Aguinaldo and exposing the location of his command. Aguinaldo was a prominent nationalist leader even before the American takeover of the Philippines in 1898, when he led an uprising against 400 years of Spanish rule.