Anything Under the Sun
Iloilo fiasco (4)
Phelan suggested that military occupation was the necessity of the time, and as soon as order is assured, it would be withdrawn. The Ilonggo delegation simply smiled at this and said:
"We have fought for independence and feel that we have the power of governing and need no assistance. We are showing it now. You might inquire of the foreigners if it is not so".
The revolucionarios also said that their orders were not to allow the Americans to disembark, and that they were powerless to allow them to come in without express orders from Aguinaldo".
Melliza, who was a former oidor (justice) in Audiencia Real, opined that with respect to the Treaty of Paris, international law forbids a nation to make contract in regard to taking the liberties of its colonies.
In his report to Gen. Miller, Phelan wrote "At the conclusion of the meeting it was said that as this question (the landing of US troops in Iloilo) involved the integrity of the entire republic, it could not be further discussed here, but must be referred to the Malolos Government".
He further reported: "I told him (Melliza) that the city was in our power and that we could destroy it at any time x x x lawyer Melliza replied that he cared nothing about the city, that we can destroy it if we insisted. We will withdraw to the mountains and repeat the North Indian warfare. You must not forget that x x x"
Indeed, the Ilonggos did that. On February 4, 1899, the Fil-American War erupted in Manila. On February 14, Miller received orders from Otis to take Iloilo City, that is, after 44 days aboard at Iloilo Strait.
This enforced the American to send back to Manila the Iowa soldiers who complained of the hardships in being aboard the USS Pennsylvania ships for three months in Iloilo Strait like shortage of food and water, sickness, dirty quarters, heat and humidity.