How did Macabebe scouts help U.S. forces capture Emilio Aguinaldo?

In the Philippine-American War, the Macabebe scouts played a critical role in the 1901 capture of Emilio Aguinaldo by serving as the primary deception force in an audacious mission led by U.S. Brig. Gen. Frederick Funston.

To execute the operation, Funston and a small group of officers posed as prisoners of war, while the Macabebe scouts disguised themselves as Filipino rebels. This column marched into Aguinaldo’s secret headquarters in Palanan, northern Luzon, under the guise of delivering reinforcements.

Because the scouts were indigenous troops who had previously served the Spanish regime and transferred their loyalty to the United States, their presence helped maintain the ruse. Aguinaldo, believing the force consisted of his own reinforcements, welcomed them, only to be stunned when the group revealed their true intent and demanded his surrender.1