On July 22, 1898, Aguinaldo, in the hopes of establishing the revolutionary government in Visayas sent General Riego de Dios and Justo Lukban to assist in the revolts.

As early as 1 August, the provincial governor of Masbate, Don Luis Cubero y Rojas, planned to leave the island following increased threats of a Pulajanes attack.

Don Luis Cubero and the remnants of his 1,000 strong army fled the capital on 19 August 1898, soon afterwards, the Pulajanes burned the town to the ground and looted each house before later returning to their bases in Uson.

In the bay of the Masbate, the revolutionary forces had a brief encounter with the Spanish squadron consisting of five gunboats and a brigantine that resulted to the sinking of the Filipino ship Bulusan.

Pedro Quipte, the leader of the Pulahan, did not return to Masbate after Riego de Dios commissioned him to deliver the instruction to the captain of Isabe who was in Cataingan to hide the ship from the enemies.