The Battle of Tres de Abril (Filipino: Labanan ng ikatatlo ng Abril, Cebuano: Sangka sa Ikatulo sa Abril, Spanish: Batalla del Tres de Abril) occurred in 3 April 1898, during the Philippine Revolution. It was fought in the city of Cebu, a month after the Revolt of Cebu began.
Battle
At 5 AM on 4 April, the rebels drove the Governor, General Montero, and his Spanish volunteers into Fort San Pedro and took control of Cebu City.[1]: 402 When the gunboat Maria Cristina opened fire, the rebels retreated to the Chinese quarter of Lutao.[1]: 402 On 7 April, 500 men of the 73rd Native Regiment and Spanish cazadores arrived under the command of General Tejeiro, and with the cruiser Don Juan de Austria, forcing the rebels to retreat to San Nicolas.[1]: 403 The Spanish continued their pursuit of the rebels on 8 April into the mountain region.[1]: 404
Aftermath
Leon Kilat was killed by his aide-de-camp, Apolinario Alcuitas, on April 8, 1898. The rebels then withdrew out of the city few weeks after he died. However, some of his generals, like General Maxilom, managed to capture some towns in the province such as Toledo and Balamban.
There is a commemorative monument for Leon Kilat on Kilat Street in Cebu City for the 3-day capture of Cebu City.
References
^ abcdForeman, J., 1906, The Philippine Islands, A Political, Geographical, Ethnographical, Social and Commercial History of the Philippine Archipelago, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons
