One of the only few actions against Spanish colonials forces in Mindanao, the victory brought about by the Zamboangueño Ethnolinguistic Nation, after their capture of Fort Pilar several weeks later, paved way for the foundation of the short-lived Republic of Zamboanga.

When the Philippine Revolution spread to Mindanao, General Vicente Alvarez organized an army of Christian Filipinos, Tribal warriors, and Muslim Krismen and fought the Spaniards for freedom’s sake.

One of the two ships owned by a gunrunner based in Sandakan that supplied arms, ammunition and food to the Spanish forces in Tawi-Tawi, Jolo and Basilan and Zamboanga, ran aground near the Mariki Island because of a sudden storm.

By March 1898, General Alvarez decided to temporarily withdraw his forces from the battle scene leaving a few men within the vicinity to keep vigil over the Spaniards inside the fort.

Realizing their vulnerability to the attack coming from the revolutionary forces, the Spanish troops withdrew and regrouped inside Fort Pilar where they could make their last stand.

By May 10, the Spanish personnel inside the fort were surprised to see their fortress surrounded on all sides by the force headed by Captain Ramos along the delta and Major Calixto whose men were already posted across from the aqueduct along the beach.

The exchange of fires between the Spanish troops and revolutionary forces resumed despite the fact that the Spaniards were no longer in a position to make use of the cannons mounted on the breastwork.

On May 17, General de los Rios finally gave up the fight and admitted the defeat of the Spanish forces when a white flag was hoisted above the breastwork.

De los Rios, turned over his saber, the symbol of Spanish sovereignty to General Alvarez in a colorful and elaborate surrender ceremonies held in that morning.

On May 23, 1898, the Spanish departed for Manila aboard the S.S. Leon XIII, Governor-General de los Rios succumbing along the way to a mortal wound he received in one of the rebel assaults.

[1]: 532 After the siege, the Republic of Zamboanga was formed, but the duration of this revolutionary state came just short when Americans, after their victory in the Spanish–American War began to occupy Fort Pilar itself in December 1898, and was effectively disestablished in March 1903.