Gen. Makabulos was optimistic that he had the situation well in hand and allowed Gen. Tinio and the combined Novo - Ecijano troops at Dagupan to proceed northward to liberate Ilocos from the Spaniards .
Gen. Makabulos had taken over the Central Luzon Command the previous April .
Gen. Makabulos , who had taken over the Central Luzon Command the previous April , was optimistic that he had the situation well in hand and allowed Gen. Tinio and the combined Novo - Ecijano troops at Dagupan to proceed northward to liberate Ilocos from the Spaniards .