MANILA -- Thirty-two years ago, a unique kind of revolution called “People Power” erupted in the Philippines that toppled the 20-year regime of President Ferdinand E. Marcos without resistance - and stunned the whole world.
I was one of the reporters who covered the historic event when a group of rebel soldiers led by Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Lt. Gen. Fidel V. Ramos, chief of the Philippine Constabulary and concurrent vice chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), declared their breakaway from the Marcos government during a hastily called press conference at the Social Hall of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on the afternoon of February 22, 1986.
The Enrile-Ramos defiant outcry against Marcos was beamed live on television worldwide by the foreign-based Manila correspondents.
Marcos, who was in Malacanang, was shocked upon learning that his two former close allies had not only abandoned him totally, but virtually challenged his government.
There were intelligence reports that Marcos had issued an order to arrest Enrile after the Presidential Security Command (PSC) reportedly uncovered a coup plot by the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) closely identified with the defense minister.
This prompted Enrile to take action before it was too late. Ramos sided with Enrile in the fight against Marcos’ authoritarian regime.
“Enough is enough, Mr. President,” Enrile’s voice thundered during the press conference that was attended by dozens of media people, both local and foreign.
Enrile and Ramos told Marcos that he had lost moral authority to govern the 56 million Filipinos at that time.
Marcos tried to downplay the uprising by appearing on television, telling Enrile and Ramos to stop this foolishness.
But they have burned their bridges.
I monitored the event going on at Camp Aguinaldo. Here is my diary of that historic event:
February 22
At about 3:30 p.m. of Saturday, Feb. 22, 1986, Col. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, Col. Eduardo Kapunan, and Maj. Wong arrived at the residence of Minister Enrile in Makati, Metro Manila. They informed Enrile of the latter’s pending arrest.
After Enrile called up Ramos for support, the defense minister went straight from his Dasmarinas home to his office in Camp Aguinaldo.
Earlier that day, Finance Minister Roberto Ongpin had called to inform him that his security men were arrested the night before. The government’s effort to cut down publicity gave rise to suspicions that a crackdown was in the offing. The arrest of Ongpin’s bodyguards was ominous.
At their house in Alabang, the Ramos’ family received news that Enrile was about to be arrested.
Soon after, Enrile himself was on the phone, saying “Eddie (Gen. Ramos’ nickname), the time has come. Are you with me?” Ramos had earlier promised Enrile that the entire Constabulary and Integrated National Police, now Philippine National Police, would support the defense minister.
Ramos stayed calm despite private thoughts that he too was in imminent danger of being arrested.
Two hours later, Ramos packed an overnight bag and kissed his wife, Ming, and their daughters goodbye.
Ramos’ security escort headed by M/Sgt. Abel Modequillo, armed themselves with assault rifles and a bandolier of bullets for any eventuality as they continued to monitor the critical situation.
Gen. Ramos told his security escorts to prepare to move to Camp Aguinaldo. They took a circuitous route to avoid being detected by the PSG.
At 6 p.m., Ramos arrived in Camp Aguinaldo and met Enrile.
At that moment, the die was cast as Minister Enrile and Gen. Ramos announced their breakaway from the Marcos regime.
They initially holed up at Camp Aguinaldo before they decided to move to Camp Crame, the PC/INP headquarters across the Epifanio delos Santos Ave. (EDSA), to take their defensive position in case Marcos forces would launch an attack.
By this time, Jaime Cardinal Sin, the outspoken and popular archbishop of Manila, upon hearing of the breakaway, went on air over Radyo Bandido and called on the people to proceed to EDSA to protect the Enrile-Ramos breakaway group.
In just a matter of hours, tens of thousands of people from all walks of life, including priests and nuns, went to EDSA to respond to the call of Cardinal Sin.
Butz Aquino, brother of slain opposition Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr., organized a group and also went to EDSA.
Thus, the People Power was born, as millions of people joined the four-day peaceful revolution at EDSA that forced Marcos to step down, and restored freedom and democracy in the country. (PNA)
