MANILA – The turning point of the four-day historic People Power Revolution in February 1986 occurred when elements of the 15th Strike Wing of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) defected to the Enrile-Ramos camp on the third day of the uprising, tilting the balance of firepower to the rebel soldiers.
It was an unexpected turn of events as then Col. Antonio Sotelo, commander of the 15th Strike Wing, led his officers and men in defecting en mass, bringing with them a total of five choppers, including some UH-1H Huey helicopters and some T-28 “Tora-Tora” planes.
Sotelo aboard a Sikorsky helicopter gunship, flying with several choppers armed with air-to-ground rockets, 20-mm cannons, and M-60 caliber machine guns, was ordered to attack Camp Crame where rebel forces of Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile and Constabulary Chief Lt. Gen. Fidel V. Ramos were holed up for a final stand against government forces loyal to then President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
For several minutes, there was tension all over Camp Crame when the helicopter gunships circled overhead, everybody was preparing for an air strike.
However, instead of attacking, the pilots landed the helicopter at the camp’s playground and declared their allegiance to the Enrile-Ramos forces.
All were jubilant and many cried – apparently tears of joy when they saw Sotelo, smiling and waving to the crowd as he stepped out from the helicopter.
The defection of Sotelo and his men was a big blow to the Marcos forces.
Other units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines followed suit, breaking the stand-off in favor of the rebel forces.
However, prior to the tense moment before the defection, rebel troops thought they were about to be attacked as they prayed and through the intercession of the Blessed Mother for protection while manning their battle stations come what may.
However, there was a sigh of relief when the saw the choppers landed without firing a shot and Sotelo was smiling, waving his hands to the rebel forces.
The crowd cheered as the rest of the gunships landed one by one.
“We followed our conscience. I think I have not really done much in my life. For once, I wanted to make a decision for my country,” Sotelo said.
Then, two PAF F-5 fighter planes thundered overhead at Edsa where millions of people gathered for what is now known as People Power that ousted Marcos from power he ruled for two decades.
Marcos and his family fled Malacanang Palace and were flown by US plane to Honolulu, Hawaii as Corazon Aquino was sworn in as President of the Republic of the Philippines. (PNA)
