Disputing his suspension as Cagayan governor and the rebellion charges, Aguinaldo refused to surrender to authorities. Along with hundreds of loyal armed followers he hid in his hometown of Gattaran. On learning government troops planned to attack his hideout, Aguinaldo proceeded with his troops toward Tuguegarao. President Aquino sent Brig. Gen. Oscar Florendo, then armed forces chief of Civil Military Relations, to Tuguegarao to serve Aguinaldo with an arrest warrant. 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. Florendo was shot at close range in the hotel and later died of his wounds. Hours of standoff ensued between the two sides until nearly 1,000 government troops launched an attack to dislodge Aguinaldo's forces from the hotel; government forces prevailed after more than 100 of Aguinaldo's men surrendered and about 90 were captured. During 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. Following this melee, Aguinaldo fled with about 90 fighters for mountains in the north.