Why people came to EDSA in 1986 to save Juan Ponce Enrile and Fidel Ramos from getting killed

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Troops loyal to Ramos keeping vigil at Camp Aguinaldo: "Join us in this crusade for better government"

REVOLTS

Four Days that Ended an EraThroughout the as-tonishing four doysthat led to the down-fall of Ferdinand Mar-cos and the accessionof Corazon Aquino,Asiaweek Correspon-dents Antonio Lopez,

Lisa Beyer and Luningning Salazar kept up24-hour coverage of the fasl-breakingevenls. Their report:

The Atrium is a fashionable Makaticoffee-shop, one of the capital's most ir-repressible hubs of political gossip, newsleaks, rumour and intrigue. It was there onSaturday morning, Feb. 22, that JuanPonce Enrile, for many years one of Presi-dent Marcos's most loyal subordinates,Defence Minister and an architect of mar-tial law, got word that Marcos men werecoming to get him. Over a cup of coffeewith Deputy Prime Minister Jos6 Rono,Enrile was defending the beleagueredpresident. A call came from a third cabinetcolleague, Trade & Industry MinisterRoberto Ongpin: "Johnny, can you dosomething about my security men?They've all been rounded up." Ongpinhad l9 bodyguards. Enrile later recounted

the details of that afternoon to Asiaweek."So I called my office. [Ongpin's guards]had been found in a restricted marinebrigade area with firearms and were ar-rested." But by quizzing his intelligencemen, Enrile also learned that the swoophad been staged to provide phoney evi-dence of a coup and justify the arrest of

Preparing to attack Crame: No go

reform-minded officers in the "We Be-long" movement.

Enrile had to move fast. He was him-self a principal instigator of the move-ment. He returned to his luxurious homenearby, where soon afterwards his ownsecurity officers arrived in something of afluster. "We're getting constant inforrrra-tion that there's an order to round up allmembers of the movement," said Col.Gregorio ("Gringo") Honasan. Enrileassessed the odds, put on a bullet-proofvest, took up his Uzi sub-machine gun andthrew a few essentials in a bag. Then hereached for the phone. "Eddy," he said ina strained voice, "I have this problem andI'd like to know if you'll help." After thebrieiest moment, Lt.-Gen. Fidel Ramosreplied: "I'll be with you a hundred per-cent .' '

Thus was set the stage for the mostdramatic weekend in recent Philippinehistory. In that moment was sealed,though he did not know it and would nothave believed it, the fate of President Fer-dinand Marcos. The rebellion of Enrileand Ramos, at least initially, had less to dowith democracy and authoritarianism thanwith their own long-smouldering griev-ances. As Enrile tells it, the key element in

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Ramos's decision was the secret reinstate-ment of General Fabian Ver as armedforces chief of staff. Ver immediately puthis own men in key military posi-tions "without consulting the minister ofdefence, without consulting Gen. Ramos.The junior officers were terribly upset. "

The defence minister also called theArchbishop. Redoubtable, voluble JaimeCardinal Sin wields immense moral sua-

sion in the Philippines, and Enrile beggedhim to use it to intensify anti-governmentaction and rally support to the Enrile-Ramos bid to overthrow the president andhis loyal general. In the days that followedthe Catholic church played a pivotal rolein bringing Marcos down, with priests andnuns out in force and the propagandamachinery of the archdiocese fullyharnessed for the effort. Sin was moreconcerned with installing Corazon Aquinoas president and the military revolt was theanswer to his prayers. The orchestration ofecclesiastical and civilian opposition gave

birth to "people power."

^L n arrival at his office in the Defence(l H|"".TI J,ill'*.:f T3'*::1,1,$i1;guards break out brand-new M-16 Ar-malites, still wrapped in plastic, and anarsenal of mortars and Israel-made Uzisand Galils. He ordered his information of-ficer, lawyer Jose Flores, to call a press

conference in the social hall. At around6:45 p.fr., Enrile and Ramos metreporters. The defence minister was dress-

ed for a siege: latigue jacket, blue denimtrousers, sports shoes. Ramos, in a greybush jacket and chomping a cigar, lookedvery much at ease for a man committed toarmed insurrection against his chief . Enriledisclosed that he had been the man behind"We Belong" since its formation in 1982.

"I caused [it to be] organised because ...there was an attempt to eliminate us and as

a matter of self defence we had to [have] agroup that wanted to reform the armedforces. "

Ramos, too, had been involved.When the reform movement was em-boldened to make a public stand at theMilitary Academy in Baguio on Mar. 21,

1985, "I was encouraged" and openly toldthe president to "be conscious of the aspira-tions of our young people in the armedforces," he said. "But we got no real ef-fort to effect reforms." Marcos, saidRamos, ignored reports submitted by gen-

erals 4nd colonels. "He had plenty of timeto put the proper men in the right jobs, tostop graft and corruption in the armedforces, to stop political patronage ... andutilise efficiency." An irrevocable riftwidened between professional soldiers, ofwhom Gen. Ramos saw himself as theepitomy, and those under Gen' Ver,whose only merit was loyalty to Mar-cos. Added Enrile: "This division hap-

pened a long time ago because of discrimi-nation in promotions, assignments,

schooling privileges. I think it was in-evitable that this should come to pass,"

Honasan's men, in full combat gear

and trained for just such an eventuality,were speedily deployed. By nightfall' lightsglowed only'in the lobby, the hall, Enrile'soffice and the press room. Across thetwelve-lane E. De Los Santos Avenue atCamp Crame, headquarters of the inte-grated national police and the Philippine-onstabulary, there was equal vigilance.Half the reformers were PC men' Theconspirators said they had learned of a

Malacanairg plot to assassinate top opposi-

tion leaders. Ver, they said, had discussedthe seizure and murder of Ramon Mitra,Aquilino Pimentel, Neptali Gonzales,Homobono Adaza, Luis Villaluerte andRene Saguisag as well as business leadersDante Santos, Jose ConcePcion Jr.,Vicente Paterno and Vicente Jayme andsome clergymen including Jesuit lawyerJoaquin Bernas, president of the AteneoUniversity - as well as Enrile and Ramos.

"The plan was to kill us all and blameit on the communists," says Mitra, "thenMarcos would have used that as an excuseto declare a state of emergency, equivalentto martial law." "As far back as 1982,"said Enrile, "we were getting persistent

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Confronted by a determined crowd, an armoured personnel carrier retreats: "An endless stream of supporters"K. Chua - Asiaweek

reports that there were efforts to eliminateus. The information was that elementsfrom Mindanao were to be brought in todo the job. It was at that point we decidedas u g.oup to protect ourselves, and this iswhai is now known as the AFP reformmovement." Enrile himself was at anothermeeting in the palace a fortnight ago.

"Geneials were present. There was a planto arrest all the leaders of the oppositionand some members of the parliament. Italked to one [regional unified com-manderl from the south and I understandcertain hit men or hit lists directed againstUNIDO leaders have been prepared."

On cheating in the elections, Enrileadmitted "I am bothered by my consci-ence that we have done this to our people.

In my own region [Cagayan Valley in the

northl we cheated to the extent of 350'000votes. I believe the president did not win'I cannot in conscience recognise him as

Commander-in-Chief of the ArmedForces." He went on: "l'm appealing tomy brother-members of the cabinet toheed the will of the people expressed inthe election." Gen: Ramos added: "Thepresident of 1986 is not the same president

io whom we pledged our loyalty. It is clearhe's no longer the able and capable com-mander-in-chief because he has put hispersonal and family interests above the in-ierests of the people. ' ' The general appeal-ed to "fair-minded, dedicated, people-

oriented members of the armed forces and

the integrated national police to join us in

this crusade for better government."Enrile also revealed for the first time

that the assassination attempt on him on

the eve of martial law in 1972 was a set-upto justify it. "[This] is an act of contri-tion, to atone. Had I known that it wouldbe used to repress our people, I would nothave agreed. It was to be for a noble pur-pose - to stabilise a situation in our land.

But later it was corrupted. We do not havereal democracy here. It's a democracy ofmanufactured votes."

Saturday evening after the press con-ference, Enrile talked by phone with Cor-azon Aquino in Cebu, where she had just

finished speaking before some 50'000 atthe city's Fuente Osmefra, the third in a

series of nationwide rallies she had promis-

ed if cheated out of the presidency. She

asked Enrile: "What can I do for you?"'"Nothing, just pray for us," the defenceminister replied. Enrile also informed theAmerican and Japanese ambassadors andopposition leaders about his rebellion.C-aidinat Sin urged Manilans to take foodto Camp Aguinaldo, offer prayers andkeep vigil. Broadcasting, Sin called on thepeople i'to show solidarity and support inthis very crucial period, when our twogood friends have shown their idealism.Help them by your Presence."

I n Cebu, Aquino's aides, worried aboutI assassination. hid her in a monastery.

I rn. U.S. consul oflered an Americannaval ship docked in readiness to evacuate

American citizens. Aquino's aides rejectedthe gesture. One told Asiaweek: "hwouldn't look nice if our president is seen

seeking refuge in an American vessel." MP

Ramon Mitra's offer of sanctuary in his

native Palawan was also declined. Aquinodecided to fly to Manila the followingafternoon in a private Cessna plane despite

fears that it could be intercepted and shotMarcos and Ver confer: Argument

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down.After 10:00 p.m. Saturday night,

Enrile, interviewed on the Catholic radiostation Veritas, revealed that Ver hadagreed "not to attack us. I hope theyrespect that. If not, there might be blood-shed and Marcos will answer to the world... [as] butcher of his own soldiers andcountrymen. He cannot scare us anymore." He refused Marcos's offer ofclemency. "We are not alone in thisfight," Enrile reminded the president."We are ready to die for our country.Enough is enough, Mr. President, yourtime is up."

The first general to defect was Brig.-Gen, Ramon Farolan, Marcos's cus-toms commissioner, who arrived in battlefatigues. Then came Postmaster GeneralJ. Roilo Golez, a navy man. He toldAsiaweek he was disturbed by electionfraud and intimidation, and the walkoutby Comelec's computer tabulators. Hesuggested "a compromise transitiongovernment." General Romeo Espino,Ver's predecessor as chief of staff, arrived,as did Brig.-Gen. Manuel Salientes andeven movie & TV star Nora Aunor.

fter midnight, Marcos summonedthe media. "I call upon theminister of national defence and

the vice chief of staff to stop this stupidityand surrender." No warrant of arrest hadbeen issued, said Marcos, but they wereacting "as if they were part of an abortedcoup and assassination plot against thepresident and First Lady supposed to takeplace tonight." The president claimed"our men captured officers in the presi-dential command, who revealed the con-spiracy and we were able to neutralisethree-fourths of the force without blood-shed ... about two battalions." He saidcommanders had organised troops toeliminate the [Enrile-Ramosl forces, which"can easily be wiped out with artillery andtank fire." He presented the First Lady'sformer escort officer, a certain RicardoMorales, who confessed: "I am a partici-pant in a plot to attack Malacanang andsecure the president." He named as leaderEnrile's aide Col. Gregorio Honasan. Theconspiracy "was encouraged and sup-ported, perhaps financially, by the opposi-tion. I cannot believe that Minister PonceEnrile or Gen. Ramos are in this plot. Iwant to talk to them."

Countered Enrile: "The people wantchange of leadership. There are ways he

[Marcos] can depart peacefully and quietlyand enjoy his remaining years in retire-ment. It can be done in a civilisedmanner." Manila's ambassador to Thai-land, retired Lt.-Gen. Rafael lleto, offeredto mediate. Ramos told Ileto: "It is notabout the reformist movement, the army,but ryhether we, claiming to be a democra-tic republic, recognise the manifest will of

ASIAWEEK, MARCH 9, 1986

the people." Added Enrile: "l hope theman who has led this country for 20 yearswill perform one noble act, prevent blood-shed and recognise the winds of change."

By early Sunday morning, the crowd,now 40,000, was swelling and becomingrestive. Food was pouring in. "l probablygained weight," joked Enrile. "For thefirst time, the people are with the military.Before, we were viewed as enemies of thepeople. This is the resurrection of the arm-ed forces as the true guardian of the peo-ple. People out there are protecting us in-stead of we therh." About 3:30 that after-noon Enrile transferred his men from GHQto join Ramos across the highway in CampCrame. "We abandoned Aguinaldo be-cause it was too large to handle," he laterexplained. One of his lieutenants, how-ever, told Asiaweek: "Some marines arriv-

ed at eight this morning and we're not surethey're friendly." Aguinaldo's open ter-rain would have been harder to defend.Mid-afternoon, Enrile and Ramos madeformal demands that Marcos transfer thegovernment to Corazon Aquino in anorderly and peaceful manner.

Among the people-power thousandswas Freddie Aguilar, a well-known popsinger, who told Asiaweek' "The ministerand the general united us all in a non-violent way." Movie star Aunor, 32, aformer KBL campaigner who donatedshirts and cigarettes to the soldiers, said:"I believe in what they are doing." Retireddoctor Hector Tagle, 70, volunteered hisservices, "the least I can do to help mycountrymen." Said social worker Fernan-do Cruz, 39: "Most of us can't take uparms. I came out of gratitude to Gen.Ramos." Betty Yucon, 23, a pretty in-surance clerk, "baked cassava cookies.

It's my way of helping." Confessed PingMakalintal, 19, an accounting student: "lwas afraid to go out last night, but I feltguilty staying home, so here I am."

At 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Ramos andEnrile held their second press conference.Enrile revealed he had spoken to Marcosby phone, telling him "the matter is nolonger negotiable." Ramos told newsmen"so many oflicers of all four commands aswell as enlisted men have joined us, but wedo not know of any single man who hasjoined them [Marcos and Ver]." Militarycommanders of 40 provinces in all twelveregions and the four districts of Metro-Manila had pledged loyalty. "I think that'san indication of the popular support of thismovement. The new armed forces are beingsupported by people power." Ramos saidhe had l7 armoured tanks and two helicop-ters ready if Marcos-Ver troops attacked.Enrile expected the situation "to getlively" by nightfall. "We are not runningaway," Ramos declared, though he ac-knowledged two battalions of Ver's scoutrangers and one marine battalion underBrig.-Gen. Artemio Tadiar were ready toadvance lrom Camp Aguinaldo across thehighway and a column of armoured per-sonnel carriers from Fort Bonifacio was onits way down Ortigas Avenue on the right.

Salvador Laurel arrived, just in fromCebu. Unperturbed, he had come to "con-gratulate Minister Enrile and Gen. Ramosfor their great act of courage." The threethen retired to Ramos's curtained office.Venerable opposition leader LorenzoTanada, 87. came to promise mass actions,saying "we won't stop until we getthrough that barricade at Mendiola [thebridge in front of Malacafrangl." ReneSaguisag and Teodoro Locsin conferredwith Ramos and Enrile and decided to askAquino to go on the air later in the eveningto plead for non-violence. Ramos orderedleaflets dropped to Marcos loyalists:"What good is killing each other now? Letus join hands and together build a bettertomorrow ... be heroes without having todie ... show the world we believe in Godand we are a truly Christian country."

unday at 8:30 p.m., APCs advanc-ing from Fort Bonifacio were stop-

Y ped by civilians, who embracedsoldiers. But negotiations with Gen.Tadiar broke down and he issued anultimatum: his battalions would hit therebels' stronghold in 30 minutes if they didnot surrender. Ramos had earlier toldAsiaweek he and Enrile had sent "a high-level emissary to negotiate with Tadiar."Ramos, however, slept two hours - thefirst time in three days, an aide said -while Enrile had a bite to eat. Moresoldiers were pinning to their uniforms thereform movement's symbol: a small na-tional flag with the red uppermost. A col-onel told Asiaweek the two thousand

fl

col. Honasan: A "round-ujt;fr:)Y"'"-""

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Col. Santiago talking to marines loyal to Marcos: "Let us ioinhands"

printed were not enough for "an endlessstream of supporters lrom everywhere."

of the ultimatum, began saying the rosary.By the statue of old soldier Gen. RafaelCrame, a group of privates swapped warstories of Mindanao. Said Lt.-Col VirgilioBio: "Without the people out there wemight have been killed last night." AtGate U, the crowds sang "Bayan Ko" (MyCountry), while at Gate I a noise barragereverberated with the opposition signal oftwo auto-horn honks. At a makeshiftmedical station doctors and nurses handedout aspirin and nuns and priests passedaround biscuits. At Ortigas and EDSApeople lay down in front of two armouredvehicles. Marcos loyalists on them jokedwith youngsters who plied them with foodand flowers.

Downstiirs, white-robed nuns, told stand up for what they think is right'"

fire at their fellow men, their parents,wives and children, whose only fault is to

By radio Ramos told Marcos'ssoldiers: "You are being abused to pro-long the Marcos r6gime which is now in itsdying days." If you join us, he said, "youcan be sure of a life of decency ... ade-quate opportunities for your children andloved ones." He disclosed that some Mar-cos cabinet members "are being placedunder house arrest and we are very con-cerned about their fate." There was noway his accusations could be verified butthey helped break morale of governmentmen and loyalist troops.

The crucial moment was before dawnMonday, Feb. 23. Gen. Ramos had set

up a clandestine back-up radio stationafter saboteurs destroyed the 50-kw trans-

ences," said Col. Antonio Sotelo of theAir Force's l5th Strike Wing. Meanwhile,however, loyalist marines in three trucksand five amphibious jeeps had capturedthe logistics command inside Camp Aguin-aldo and were crossing E. De Los SantosAvenue to close in on Camp Crame. At5.45 a.m., marines fired teargas canistersat the crowd.

At 6.27 a.m. on rebel radio DZRB, TVcelebrity June Keithley announced that"Mr. Marcos and Bongbong have justtaken off from the Manila InternationalAirport." She added - also falsely - thatVer's wife and Imelda Marcos had left at 3

p.m. Monday afternoon and Marcosdaughters Imee and Irene the night before,leaving Gen. Ver "alone in Malacaiang."Keithley told loyalist troops: "You are notfighting for anything or anyone anymore." The report was replayed for fif-teen minutes and is credited with breakingthe determination of the attackingmarines.

Corazon Aquino called the station tothank the people for support "given notonly to me and Doy Laurel but to Gen.Ramos and Minister Enrile," and to urgethem to continue "peaceful, non-violentmoves." Quipped anchorwoman Keithley:"At least we know we are no longer in thebedroom" (a reference to a sedst cam-paign remark by Marcos). Before nineMonday morning, Enrile and Ramos em-erged to greet the crowds outside. Enrileannounced that "democracy has been re-stored to us. Henceforth, the armed forceswill not be loyal to any one man but to thepeople, the nation, the constitution, theflag." A roar went up: "Johnny, Johnny,Johnny!" Added Enrile: "Let us pro-secute the killers of Ninoy Aquino." Thepeople scre€rmed: "Ninoy, Ninoy, Ninoy!"

ut at 9.10 a.m. Monday Marcosappeared on Channel 4 to denyhe had fled. "I am taking the oath

tomorrow and I intend to stay as presi-dent." With him was Imelda Marcos,daughters Imee and Irene and grand-children. Gen. Ver argued on air with hiscommander-in-chief. "The air force is

ready to mount an attack. Fighters are fly.ing now." Marcos dismissed him with a

salute. Asked in the televised press confer-ence if he would declare an emergency, thepresident replied: "Now that you mentionit, I hereby declare a curlew from'sixtonight." That elicited howls of laughterfrom watching rebel soldiers. Marcos saidhe was authorising loyalist troops to seize

all televiqion and radio stations. Of theCrame crowds, he scoffed: "lf you are go-

ing to be frightened by 2,000 civilians thenlet's not talk about running agovernment." Suddenly, the TV screenswent blank. Rebel soldiers led by Col.Mariano Santiago had overrun the broad-casting station after a three-hour fight.

At midnight Gen. Ramos took a jogaround the perimeter with two guards butno sidearm. Back at headquarters at 2.03a.m., he lit up a cigar and reported that aHuey helicopter had been flown in bY

defecting air force Pilots. On hismahogany table were a book by Dr. FredSchwarz entitled You Can Trust the Com'munists (to be Communists), a bibleopen at Psalm 9l and a back issue of ,4sla-week with himself on the cover. At 3:00a.m. in the war room, he told huddledjournalists it would be "completely honor-able on your part to move down to thefirst floor. This building is not artillery-proof." He said an attack was expected bydaybreak (Monday morning) from loyalisttroops two km away on Santolan Road.On radio, he appealed to the people "tomeet the forces organised by Marcos andVer. But we don't expect Marcos troops to

mitter of church-owned Radio Veritas inMalolos, north of Manila. His foresightproved critical in turning the tide to therebels. At 5.10 a.m. Ramos reported "anoverwhelming military force has been as-

sembled and directed to move against us"'He warned "it will be blood on his [Mar-cos'sl hands if he does not do anything .'.to reverse the situation.... Please tell theworld it is Mr. Marcos who is now aboutto inflict violence, terror and vengeance

against our people here in Camp Crame."At around 6.20 a.m. seven Sikorskysbristling with rockets and cannon landedon the parade ground. The rebels bracedthemselves for a bloody attack. But the 17

pilots and gunners, sent by Marcos andVer to destroy the PC-INP headquartersbuilding housing Enrile, Ramos and theirtroops, got out and saluted. Wild jubila-tion ensued. "We followed our consci-

ASIAWEEK, MARCH 9. 1986