ON MAY 14, 1900, there was a second battle between Capt. Vicente Roa y Racines and men belonging to the Eastern Division of the Liber Troop and the American soldiers in Agusan Hill (May 14, 2010, Sun.Star issue). When Gen. Nicolas Capistrano was told that Capt. Roa and most of his men were killed in that battle, he changed his plans and adopted guerilla warfare tactics, perhaps in a bid to prolong the resistance war.
He decided to leave his base in Maitum Plateau and moved to Malitbog, where he built a fortress in the steep ranges of Mt.Saray. Mrs. Capistrano and the children were sent to live in Kimaya in Jasaan. Capistrano left a detachment along the banks of Tagoloan River and this was attacked by the American Cavalry. After a fierce fighting, the men fled and went up to Saray.
Again, Capistrano ordered the evacuation of the Saray fortress when he learned that the Americans went up to Mt. Igligod, which was higher than Saray. He knew that the enemy could easily bombard his base from there. So in the late afternoon of December 15, 1900, Capistrano moved his forces to Siloo which is also located within the Malitbog area. Then he had a conference with his staff and reorganized his troops into guerilla units and were assigned in different places. A force was left in Siloo to defend it while Capistrano moved to Patak Ridge. Soon after he left, the Americans attacked the Siloo garrison, which was captured and burned.
Capistrano strongly fortified his new headquarters in Patak and for a time, the Americans lost track of him. But in the early morning of December 20, 1900, American soldiers suddenly appeared in a pass in Mt. Panampuan that was guarded by the group of Lt. Uldarico Akut. The pass was the gateway to the new fort in Patak Ridge. The enemy outnumbered the Filipinos and had superior arms. Cpl. Carlos Adan and his fellow guards fought bravely and they were able to let Akut escape to Patak. Three days later, a Bukidnon found Adan severely wounded and lying in a camote patch. The native took the soldier to his house where he died.
The new fortress in Patak Ridge was built on top of a steep precipice. Capistrano was confident that this would not be invaded by the enemy. One night, Americans were seen scaling the steep path to the fortress. There was an exchange of gunfire. After sometime, the men found hats, a pair of field glasses and blood below the precipice. Again, Capistrano decided to leave Patak and moved to a higher ground. He sent for his wife and children who were then lowered to a cave below a cliff. Years later, Mrs. Capistrano recounted that she will never forget the kind Bukidnon woman who cooked rice for them inside the cave. The general spent Christmas with his family in that cave.
A few days after Christmas, Capistrano moved his headquarters for the last time to Malaybalay. The site was along the Sawaya River. A barracks and a hospital was hastily built there for his men. But he and his gurads stayed on a cliff in Elihon near Linabo (this mountain is now known as Mt. Capistrano). He sent his family to Sugbungcogon and they remained there till the war was almost over.
After many indecisive skirmishes with the Americans, US Gen. William Kobbe sent a letter to Capistrano through Don Manuel Corrales, proposing a five-day truce and a peace conference with his officers in a place of his choice. Capistrano accepted the offer. He chose Gusa as the venue for the meeting on February 4, 1901. Kobbe then declared a truce from February 2 to 6, 1901.The first peace conference was held in the residence of Julian Gevero in Gusa on February 4, 1901. Capistrano came with his officers and were met by Major F. Case and his group. The latter read the proposed peace terms that Capistrano rejected after a brief consultation with his officers.
The general and his party left immediately for Malaybalay. While on the road, they noticed in the distance several flashing lights and suspected that the Americans were following them. Before proceeding to Elihon, he warned his men to be vigilant of a possible sneak attack by the enemy. The men did not listen and instead, they had a party to celebrate the end of the five day truce. At midnight, the Americans surrounded and attacked the Malaybalay camp. All of the captured officers were jailed in Cagayan and sent to Guam on exile. Undeterred, Capistrano divided what was left of his forces to Lt. Akut and a certain Douglas. But the Battle of Malaybalay dealt the final and crushing blow to the forces of Capistrano as shown in a report sent by Col. Godwin to Gen. Arthur MacArthur, Commanding Officer of the Division of the Philippines:
Americans -- Insurgents
Killed: 3 -- 78
Wounded: 14 -- 8
Captured: 0 -- 296
Surrendered: 0 -- 2,218 (estimated)
Rifles captured: 0 -- 272
Shotguns captured: 0 -- 98
Cannons captured: 0 -- 13
Letters from the wives of the captured men and other Kagay-anons were sent to the general begging him to surrender and end the war .On March 23, 1901, Emilio Aguinaldo was captured in Palanan, Isabela and when this news reached him, Capistrano wrote Kobbe and requested for a meeting with him. He came to the Gevero residence in Gusa with his most trusted aide, Lt. Akut on March 30, 1901. He discussed and later agreed with Maj. Case on the following terms of peace:
1. All men of the Liber Troop will lay down their arms in the plaza of Sumilao on April 7, 1901 at 8:00 a.m.;
2. The officers will retain their sidearms and the cavalry men their horses;
3. The Filipinos will take their oath of allegiance to the United States and the general need not participate;
4. No Filipino soldier will be prosecuted for actions taken during the war;
5. All the Filipino soldiers will be released immediately after their surrender in Sumilao.
In the late afternoon of April 6, 190, Capistrano was teary eyed as he gathered his men for the last time in Malaybalay, where he informed them that they were to leave for Sumilao immediately and about the terms of surrender that he negotiated with the Americans. He bade them farewell with these words:
"We have fought through the war together, defending our Fatherland. I have done my best as your chosen leader. God grant that our people will enjoy better freedom as a result of this war. You are now ready to return to your loved ones in peace and to work for the best interests of our people."
The yearlong war ended on April 7, 1901, the first anniversary of the Battle of Cagayan de Misamis. Capistrano surrendered with the remaining nine officers and 160 men. He officially turned over 187 rifles and 80 shotguns to the Americans but he secretly gave many weapons to his trusted men for safekeeping should these be needed in the future.
Years after, the Kagay-anons would described this war as the "Mahimayaong Kagubot" or the glorious war for they were proud to say that they waged war against a much stronger and powerful army from the West who came to their shores as their new colonial masters.