Week 12 - 1986 People Power Revolution PDF

1986 People Power Revolution Timeline Assassination of Senator Benigno Also known as the 1986 presidential Archbishop Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal of “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. at the Manila snap elections, President Marcos was the CBCP issued a statem...

1986 People Power Revolution Timeline Assassination of Senator Benigno Also known as the 1986 presidential Archbishop Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal of “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. at the Manila snap elections, President Marcos was the CBCP issued a statement regarding International Airport. contested by Corazon C. Aquino. the electoral fraud. 14 Oct. 1983 9 Feb. 1986 21 Aug. 1983 7 Feb. 1986 13 Feb. 1986 The “Agrava Fact-Finding Board” was Walkout of COMELEC computer formed through Presidential Decree No. tabulators from the PICC due to issues 1886. of electoral discrepancies. Timeline Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Both Marcos and Aquino was Deputy Chief of Staff Fidel V. Ramos inaugurated as president in Malacañan announced their defection from the and San Juan, respectively. By the The 1987 Philippine Constitution was Marcos government. evening, Marcos had fled the country. ratified through a plebiscite. 22-25 Feb. 1986 25 Mar. 1986 22 Feb. 1986 25 Feb. 1986 2 Feb. 1987 Thousands of Filipinos flooded EDSA to Through Proclamation No. 3, President take part in the historic People Power Aquino issued a “Freedom Constitution” Revolution of EDSA. that functioned as an interim charter.  Events leading to People Power Martial Law was terminated by Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos on January 17, 1981 through Proclamation No. 2045. This was based on several factors: o Peace and order was restored in the country after the “leftist-rightist rebellion”, contained by the Philippine Constabulary (PC) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). o Political reforms were instituted after the ratification of the 1973 Philippine Constitution which gave way to the reorganization of the local government. o Economic growth was achieved because of land reform, reliable infrastructures, increased Gross National Product, and improved credit standing. o Educational reforms were accomplished through a reorientation of the curriculum to cater to the needs of the economy. Events leading to People Power The Martial Law period became a tool to silence the administration’s critics and political opponents: o 70,000 people were detained for being “enemies of the state” o 34,000 people were tortured in various military facilities o 3,240 people became victims of “salvage” or extrajudicial killings Events leading to People Power The president declared economic success during that period, but National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) presented the drawbacks of the expenditures. o National debt grew to P395.51 billion primarily because government relied on foreign loans to fund for its agricultural and industrial projects. o Claims of electoral fraud in the 1978 parliamentary elections which favored Pres. Marcos’ party, Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), convinced opposition to take drastic measures for political reform.  Assassination of Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Sen. Benigno ”Ninoy” S. Aquino, Jr. was one of the staunch critics of Pres. Marcos. With the declaration of Martial Law, the president ordered arrest of political opponents such as Senators Aquino, Jovito R. Salonga and Jose W. Diokno. Aquino was sentenced to death by firing squad in 1977 because of his alleged ties with NPA and the communists. In 1980, the senator was allowed by the president to travel to the US for bypass surgery after suffering a heart attack in his prison cell.  Assassination of Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Sen. Aquino and his family stayed in the US for 3 years, where he continued his political tirades against the Marcos administration. In 1983, Aquino decided to return to the Philippines due to the worsening political situation in the country. On August 21, 1983, Senator Aquino was shot shortly after alighting from China Airlines flight no. 811. On the tarmac of the Manila International Airport, the senator’s body lay dead together with another who was identified as Rolando Galman, an alleged Communist/NPA agent declared by the government later as the assassin. Fernando Commission Public outrage because of the assassination pushed the president to create a commission that conducted a formal investigation about the event. Formed on August 24, 1983. Members included: Chief Justice Enrique Fernando, former Chief Justice Roberto Conception (who refused the appointment), retired Justices Ruperto Martin, Guillermo Santos and Felix Antonio. The commission was dissolved after receiving public disapproval and criticism. Presidential Decree No. 1886 The Agrava Fact-Finding Board The president created a multi-sectoral fact-finding board on October 14, 1983 called the Agrava Fact- Finding board (Agrava Board/Commission). Board was composed of: Justice Corazon G. Agrava – representing the judiciary and women sector Hon. Amado C. Dizon – representing education Hon. Ernesto Herrera – representing labor Hon. Dante Santos – representing business Hon. Luciano Salazar – representing the bar and the professional sector. Report of the Fact-Finding Board In October 1984, the Agrava Board submitted two separate reports – a minority opinion prepared by Justice Agrava and a majority opinion prepared by the other four members of the investigative body, with the latter’s only difference was the implication of more military officers including Chief of Staff Fabian C. Ver. Both reports included that the Aquino assassination was a military conspiracy, thereby rejecting the military version which involved Galman as a Communist/NPA perpetrator.  Rolex 12 and Omega 12 President Marcos’ 12 trusted military advisers: Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile Philippine Constabulary chief Maj. Gen. Fidel V. Ramos National Intelligence Security Authority chief Maj. Gen. Fabian Ver Lt. Col. Eduardo ”Danding” Cojuangco, Jr. Army chief Maj. Gen. Rafael Zagala Constabulary vice chief Brig. Gen. Tomas Diaz  Rolex 12 and Omega 12 Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Espino Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Jose Rancudo Navy chief Rear Admiral Hilario Ruiz ISAFP chief Brig. Gen. Ignacio Paz Metrocom chief Brig. Gen. Alfredo Montoyo Rizal Province constabulary head col. Romeo Gatan  Rolex 12 and Omega 12 The more appropriate name for the mentioned should be “Omega 12” because President Marcos reportedly gave them inscribed Omega watches as gifts.  Aquino- Galman Double Murder Case After the Agrava Board had submitted their reports to the president, the accused individuals were subjected to a court trial. The “Aquino-Galman Double Murder Case” was assigned to First Division of the Sandigangbayan (the graft court of the Philippines). On December 2, 1985, the said court acquitted all of 26 accused individuals and effectively confirmed the culpability of Galman.  US Stand on the political unrest in the Philippines Senator Aquino’s assassination in 1983 forced the public to overtly display its dissent against the Marcos administration. The US subtly conveyed to the current government the need for reforms through its Ambassador to the Philippines Stephen Bosworth. Bosworth stressed the importance of reliable democratic and free-market systems in the country. This means the government had to observe clean elections and abolish crony capitalism. The US also advised that the Philippine military needs changes for it to effectively implement its counterinsurgency program. 1986 Snap Elections The mounting political opposition and pressure from the US prompted the president to call for a snap election – a move that aimed to disprove public perceptions that he had lost the Filipino people’s mandate.  1986 Snap Elections February 7, 1986, incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos of Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) faced Corazon C. Aquino of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP- Laban). The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and National Citizen’s Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) presented different results. The former proclaimed Marcos as the victor while the latter declared Aquino as the winner. In the end, Marcos had the upper hand because COMELEC results were affirmed by the KBL-dominated Batasang Pambansa. 1986 Snap Elections The 1986 elections proved to be one of the most controversial in Philippine history primarily because it had widespread incidents of vote buying and electoral fraud. Report to the President of the United States of America The US Observer Delegation and Center for Democracy at Washington D.C. also submitted its report about the events that transpired during and after the February 7 elections. The report was presented to the president of the United States and the US Congress.  Report to the President of the United States of America The report highlighted specific cases that prove that the proceedings of the elections were marred with fraud, such as the use of government funds for partisan purposes, harassment and intimidation of voters and poll watchers, outright falsification of the certificates of canvass, and the manipulation of election results. Certain alarming events were also mentioned such as the walkout of programmers from the COMELEC Quick Count Center at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) and the conduct of the official canvass of votes at the Batasang Pambansa which was controversial because of the assembly. CBCP Statement One of the most important sectors that opposed the Marcos administration were the religious groups. The Church (laity, seminarians, priests, nuns) were already vocal critics even before the assassination of Senator Aquino. Please check out their statement here: http://cbcponline.net/post-election-statement/  1986 People Power Revolution At around 6:00 in the evening of February 22, 1986, one of the most unexpected events transpired within Camp Aguinaldo. The Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and AFP Deputy Chief of Staff Fidel V. Ramos held a press conference to announce their resignation from the Marcos administration. Both explained that their move was triggered by the fact that Pres. Marcos, most especially after the controversies of the snap election, put his personal interest to the fore of leadership and that their continued service to him meant betrayal to the Constitution, the country, and its people. 1986 People Power Revolution Several hours after the press conference – 11:00 in the evening – Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin addressed the Filipino people through Radio Veritas to amass public support for Minister Enrile and Deputy Chief of Staff Ramos who feared for a retaliation by military forces loyal to the president. That evening, the people showed their solidarity by conglomerating at EDSA where Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame was located. 1986 People Power Revolution The 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution was a peaceful demonstration of the people’s strength on solidarity against an authoritarian government. The revolution, composed of Filipinos from various sectors of the society, was a political movement sustained not only by the unwavering patriotism of its participants. The following days after February 22, 1986, would witness the swelling of demonstrators at EDSA, various prayer vigils conducted before Marine tanks, and further defections by military men. 1986 People Power Revolution The events of the peaceful revolution culminated in Corazon Aquino’s installation as the 11th President of the Philippines on February 25, 1986 at the Club Filipino in San Juan City. At around 10:00 in the morning, she and Salvador H. Laurel (as vice president) took their oaths before Senior Supreme Court Justice Claudio Teehankee and Justice Vincente Abad Santos. An hour later, President Marcos had his own inauguration ceremony at Malacañan in Manila. He was sworn into office by Chief Justice Ramon C. Aquino. 1986 People Power Revolution By the evening of the same day, news spread that the Marcoses had fled the country after taking advice from Washington DC. People rushed to Mendiola to take part of the historic dismantling of the Marcos regime. Large crowds swarmed through Malacañan grounds while some protesters looted what was left by the former inhabitants of the Palace. The departure of President Marcos remains a symbolic reminder of the downfall of a dictatorship which the nation had to endure for more than a decade. Summary The assassination of Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. on August 21, 1983 and the snap elections on February 7, 1986 were important turning points that led to the EDSA People Power Revolution. The investigation of the Aquino assassination and the conduct and results of the snap election, were marred by controversies that angered the Filipino people. The defection of Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Deputy Chief of Staff Fidel V. Ramos from the administration on February 22, 1986 caused the demise of President Marcos’ full and absolute control over the military. It also caused his most trusted ally, the AFP Chief of Staff Fabian Ver, to protect Malacañan from military men who wanted the president to go down. Summary The February 22-25, 1986, EDSA People Power Revolution was a gathering of Filipinos from different sectors of the society. It was a peaceful revolution where demonstrators conducted prayer vigils in front of tanks and guns which threatened their safety. The revolution ended with Pres. Marcos and his family fleeing to the US to seek asylum.