In 1593, the governor Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas led a Spanish expedition from Manila to capture the fort at Terrenate, in the Moluccas.

On the second day after the governor had sailed from Manila, the fleet reached the island of Caca, 24 leagues from the capital and just off the coast of Luzon.

Governor Pérez Dasmariñas had brought with him to the Philippines a royal order directing him to choose a temporary successor to serve in the event of his death.

In particular, both the governor's son Luis Pérez Dasmariñas and conquistador Captain Estevan Rodríguez de Figueroa expected the appointment.

The papers had been deposited in the Augustinian monastery in Manila, but the prior, not trusting Rojas, had secretly removed the document.