This Country Will Be Great Again Ferdinand Marcos

THE PHILIPPINES Under FERDINAND MARCOS

For more than 20 years (Dec. xxx, 1965 � Feb. 25, 1986) Ferdinand Marcos ruled the Philippines. He promised to make the nation great again in his countdown speech of Dec xxx, 1965.

His political venture began with his election to the House of Representatives in 1949 as a Congressman from Ilocos. He became Senate President in 1963. He was married to Imelda Romualdez from Leyte.

He ran for President as Nacionalista in 1965 ballot and won over Macapagal. Elected with Marcos as Vice-President was his NP running mate Fernando Lopez.

THE Outset MARCOS TERM (1965 � 1969)

In his first term Marcos tried to stabilize the financial position of the government through an intensified revenue enhancement collection. He also borrowed heavily from international financing institutions to back up a large-scale infrastructure works projects were built. He improved agricultural output to make the country self-sufficient in nutrient, peculiarly in rice.

Marcos likewise tried to strengthen the foreign relations of the Philippines. He hosted a 7-nation acme conference on the crisis in S Vietnam in October, 1966. In support for the U.S. armed services efforts in South Vietnam, he agreed to ship Filipino troops to that war zone.

THE SECOND TERM OF MARCOS (1969 � 1972) In November 1969 Ferdinand Marcos and Fernando Lopez were re-elected. They defeated the Liberal Party ticket of Sergio Osme�a, Jr. and Senator Genaro Magsaysay. In winning the election, Marcos accomplished the political distinction of being the first President of the Democracy to be re-elected.

The well-nigh of import developments during the 2nd term of Marcos were the following:

The 1971 Constitutional Convention The Congress of the Philippines called for a Constitutional Convention on June i, 1971 to review and rewrite the 1935 Constitution. Three-hundred twenty delegates were elected. The convention was headed first past former President Carlos P. Garcia and later by former President Diosdado Macapagal.

The Convention'south image was tarnished past scandals which included the bribing of some delegates to make them "vote" confronting a proposal to prohibit Marcos from standing in ability nether a new constitution. This scandal was exposed past Delegate Eduardo Quintero. For exposing the bribery attempt, Quintero found himself harassed by the government.

The first Papal Visit to the Philippines On Nov 27, 1970, Pope Paul VI visited the Philippines. It was the commencement time that the Pope had visited the only Catholic nation in Asia. Huge crowds met the Pope wherever he went in Metro Manila. The Pope left on Nov 29.

The Ascension of Pupil Activism

Students protests on the prevailing atmospheric condition of the state saddled the 2d term of Marcos in office. Big throngs of students went out into the street of Manila and other urban centers to denounce the rampant graft and corruption, human rights violation, high tuition fees, militarization and abuses of the military, the presence of the U.S. War machine bases and the subservience of the Marcos Administration to U.Due south. interests and policies.

The most violent pupil demonstration took place on January 1970 when thousands of pupil demonstrators tried to storm the gates of Malaca�ang. 6 students were killed and many were wounded. This event came to be know every bit the "Boxing of Mendiola".

The radical student groups during this menstruation were the Kabataang Makabayan (KM) and the Samahang Demokratikong Kabataan (SDK). The communists took reward of the situation and used the demonstrations in advancing its interests. The nearly prominent of the educatee leaders of this time were Nilo Tayag and Edgar Joson.

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW PEOPLE'Southward ARMY (NPA)

Because of the perceived deplorable status of the nation, the communist move subdued past President Magsaysay in 1950'southward, revived their activities and bedlam for reform. A more radical grouping, the Maoists, who believed in the principles of Mao-Tse-Tung (leader of China) took over the communist movement. They reorganized the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and created a new communist guerilla army called the New People's Ground forces (NPA).

The communists took reward of the growing discontent with the Marcos. Administration to increment the number and force. As a strategy, they actively supported a number of anti-Marcos groups. They infiltrated several student organizations, farmers, laborers and fifty-fifty professionals. The NPA gradually increased its ranks and spread to other parts of the country equally far as Mindanao.

THE RISE IN ACTS OF VIOLENCE

In the early on 1970's many of the acts of violence were inspired by the communists. Some, however, were believed to have been planned by pro-Marcos and other terrorist incidents rocked Metro Manila. The bloodiest was the Plaza Miranda Bombing on the dark of August 1, 1971 where the Liberal Political party had a political rally. Eight persons were killed and over 100 others were hurt. Amidst the senatorial candidates injured were Eva Estrada Kalaw and several of its superlative officials.

Marcos blamed the communists for the tragic incident. He suspended the writ of habeas corpus to maintain peace and other. The suspension was lifted on January 11, 1972. Hundred of suspected subversives among the ranks of students, workers and professionals were picked up and detained by the regime.

THE PROCLAMATION OF MARTIAL LAW

On September 21, 1972, Marcos declared Martial Law. This marked the get-go of the Marcos dictatorship. Annunciation 1081 placed the entire country under the military machine. Information technology was signed on September 21, 1972 and appear to the nation in the evening of September 23, 1972. His master reason for declaring Martial Law as "to save the Republic" and "to reform social club". He explained that the growing violence in the nation, caused by the leftists and the rightists elements had come to certain magnitude that required martial constabulary.

It was believed that the true reason why Marcos alleged martial was to perpetuate his rule over the Philippines. The 1935 Constitution express the term of the President to no more than eight consecutive years in office.

The constitution did non say how long martial constabulary should last. The constitution left much about martial constabulary to the President'southward own judgment.

Marcos extended the flow of Martial Law beyond the terminate of his term in 1973. He abolished the Congress of the Philippines and over its legislative powers. Thus, Marcos became a one-human being ruler, a dictator. Marcos described his martial law government as a "constitutional absolutism".

Although the courts remained in the judiciary, the judges of all courts, from the Supreme Court down to the lowest courts, became "casuals". Their stay in role depended on the wishes of the dictator.

Under the martial constabulary Marcos overlooked the constitution. For instance, he violated the provision which guaranteed the Bill of Rights (Article 3). Upon his orders, the armed services picked up and detained thousands of Filipinos suspected of subversion. Among them were his critics and political opponents namely Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr., Francisco "Soc"Rodrigo, Jose Due west. Diokno and Jovita R. Salonga. Hundreds of detainees were tortured past their captors. Some disappeared and were never found again. Many were held in military detention camps for years without trial.

As a result of the foregoing measured, the crime rate in the country was reduced significantly. People became law-abiding. Only these good gains did not final long. After a twelvemonth of martial law, crime rates started to soar. By the fourth dimension Marcos was removed from ability, the peace and lodge state of affairs in the country had become worse.

This communist insurgency trouble did not end when Marcos declared Martial law. A authorities study in 1986 showed that the NPAs already numbered over 16,000 heavily-armed guerillas. The NPAs waged a vigorous war confronting regime forces They staged ambuscades and engaged in terrorist activities such as bump-off of local officials who were known to be engaged in decadent activities. The NPA killer squads were called Sparrow Units. They were feared in the areas under their control. They also imposed taxed in their territories.

To fight the growing NPA threat, Marcos increased the military machine to over 200,000 men. He as well organized Civilian Home Defense Forces in the rural areas threatened by the NPAs . Several NPA leaders were captured like Jose Ma. Sison, declared founder of the communist Party in the Philippines; Bernabe Buscayno, the NPA chief, and Victor Corpus, a renegade PC lieutenant.

The rampant violation of human rights of the people in the rural areas suspected of existence NPA sympathizers, the injustices committed past some government officials and powerful and influential persons, and the standing poverty of the people were used as propaganda of the NPA in attracting idealistic young people. Even priests and nuns who were witnesses to the oppression of the Marcos dictatorship bring together the NPAs. One of the priests who joined the NPA was Father Conrado Balweg of the Lodge of the Divine Word (SVD). He became a rebel folk hero to the ethnic tribes in the Cordilleras in Northern Luzon. As of July 1993, Balweg claimed to reports: "I am yet in charge".

POLITICAL PARTIES DURING THE MARCOS REGIME

In the early years of martial law, political parties were suspended. Political parties resumed but with the election for the Interim Batasang Pambansa on Apr 7, 1978. Information technology was the starting time national election under Martial constabulary.

The 2d electoral practise was the election of local officials held on January 30, 1980. As expected, political parties resurfaced. Those who supported President Marcos formed the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) which became in fact anew political party. Its members were from the ranks of the Liberal and Nacionalist parties. The KBL dominated all the elections held during the Marcos era.

New political parties emerged to fight the KBL. 1 such group was the Lakas ng Bayan (LABAN) founded in 1978 past the opposition group headed past onetime Senator Benigno Due south. Aquino, Jr. LABAN had a 21-man ticket in Metro Manila for the 1978 IBP elections. The KBL candidates headed by Imelda R. Marcos prevailed in the elections.

Aside from LABAN, the other partied organized were the Mindanao Alliance, the Partido Demokratiko ng Pilipinas (PDP), Bicol Saro, Pusyon Bisaya and Pinaghiusa in Cebu. Later on these small political parties united themselved into one umbrella system that came to be known every bit the United Nationalist Democratic System (UNIDO) headed by quondam Senator Salvador H. Laurel. The UNIDO had its first balloter exercise in the 1984 Batasan elections. The great bulk of the 60 or and so opposition lawmakers who were elected in 1984 were UNIDO candidates.

Economic CHANGES Nether MARCOS

To hasten the economic evolution, President Marcos implemented a number of economic programs. These programs helped the land to enjoy the menses of economical growth I the mid-1970'south up to the early 1980's.

The farmers were given technical and fiscal aid and other incentives such as "price back up". With the incentives given to the farmers, the land's agricultural sector grew. Every bit a result, the Philippines became self-sufficient in rice in 1976 and even became a rice exporter.

To help finance a number of economic development projects such every bit soil exploration, the institution of geothermal ability plants, the Bataan Nuclear Found, hydro-electric dams, the structure of more roads, bridges, irrigation systems and other expensive infrastructure projects, the authorities engaged in foreign borrowings.

Foreign capital was invited to invest in sure industrial projects. They were offered incentives including tax exemption privileges and the privilege of bringing out their profits in foreign currencies. I of the nearly important economic programs in the 1980's was the Kilusang Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran (KKK). This programme was started in September 1981. Its aim was to promote the economical evolution of the barangays by encouraging the barangay residents to engage in their own livelihood projects.

The government's efforts resulted in the increase of the nation'due south economic growth rate to an average of half-dozen pct to seven percent from 1970 to 1980. The rate was but less than 5 pct in the previous decade. The Gross National Product of the state (GNP) rose from P55 billion in 1972 to P193 billion in 1980.

Another major contributor to the economic growth of the land was the tourism industry. The number of tourists visiting the Philippine rose to 1 1000000 by 1980 from less than 200,000 in previous years. The land earned at $500 1000000 a year from tourism. A big portion of the tourist group was composed of Filipino balikbayans under the Ministry of Tourism's Balikbayan Programme which was launched in 1973.

Another major source of economic growth of the country was the remittances of overseas Filipino workers. Thousands of Filipino workers establish employment in the Center Due east and in Singapore and Hongkong. These overseas Filipino workers not only helped ease the land'due south unemployment problem simply too earned much-needed foreign exchange for the Philippines.

Strange-RELATIONS POLICY UNDER MARCOS REGIME

In 1976 President Marcos announced to the Filipino people his policy of establishing relations with communist countries such as the People'south Commonwealth of Chine (june 9, 1975) and the Soviet Union (June 2, 1976).

Relations with the The states was modified. It was no longer based on the "sentemental ties" but on mutual respect for each other's national interest. Thus, the military and economic agreements betwixt U.South. and the Philippines were amended to reflect this new relationship. In the amendments to the RP-U.South. War machine Bases Understanding of 1947, the U.S. best-selling the sovereignty of the Philippines over the American war machine bases in the country (Subic and Clark). These bases would have a Filipino commander and would fly the Philippine flag. IN addition, the U.S agreed to pay rentals to the Philippines for the utilise of the bases.

Marcos established closer ties with the Asian countries. The Philippines became a leading member of the 3rd-World � the collective name for the developing countries at that fourth dimension. The Philippines actively participated in such world conferences every bit the United Nations Briefing on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) coming together held in Nairobi, Republic of kenya, in 1976 and in the International Meeting on "Cooperation and Development held by the heads of 21 nations in Cancun, United mexican states, in 1981.

Marcos took his adjuration of office on June 30, 1981 at the Luneta Park for a six-year term ending in 1987. On that occasion Marcos announced the institution of a "New Republic of the Philippines".

The lifting of Martial Law

Subsequently implementing the program of development, Pres. Marcos issued Proclamation NO. 2045 on January 17, 1981, lifting Martial Law. Martial Law lasted for eight years, 3 months and 26 days. Mr. Marcos lifted Martial law to show to the Filipinos and the world that the situation in the Philippines was already back to normal. The regime had already been operation smoothly under the 1973 Constitution. Despited the lifting of Martial law, however, Marcos remained powerful and practised authoritarian rule.

The Presidential Election of 1981

Marcos called for a presidential ballot to be held on June sixteen, 1981. In this election he had Alejo Santos of the Nacionalista Party every bit opponent. Quondam Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. was and so living in exile abroad and could non run for presidency. The Liberal Party did non accept part in the election. It was a runaway victory for Marcos who obtained 88% of the full votes cast. It was believed that Marcos won in the 1981 election because he was in full control of the situation.

Marcos took his oath of role on June 30, 1981 at the luneta Park for a six-year term ending in 1987. On that occasion Marcos announced the establishment of a "new" Republic of the Philippines.

THE RETURN AND ASSASINATION OF BENIGNO Due south. AQUINO, JR.

When martial law was proclaimed, the beginning pol to be arrested by the military on order of Ferdinand Marcos was Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Aquino, a popular pol, spent nearly eight years in a military detention cell at Fort Bonifacio.

In 1980, Marcos allowed Aquino to leave the land to enable him to undergo an emergency heart bypass performance in the United States. When Aquino decided to come home in 1983, the government tried to cease him, claiming that there were some people who wanted to impale him. He was asked to postpone his return. Only Aquino persisted, and past using fake travel documents, he was able to wing back to the Philippines.

When the Red china Air Lines jetliner carrying him landed at the Manila International Airport at about 10:00 p.m., on August 21, 1983, soldiers boarded the airplane and took him abroad. Every bit Aquino and his military escorts were going downward a stairway, a shot was heard, followed later by more shots. Subsequently a while, Aquino laid dead on the airport tarmac. Nearby laid the body of Rolando Galman. Galman was pointed equally Aquino's "assassinator."

The bump-off of Aquino was reported to have awakened the Filipinos to the evils of Marcos every bit a dictator. Millions of Filipinos who sympathized with Aquino bereaved family, joined the funeral march to mourn for the death of an intelligent leader and to limited their feelings against Marcos.

The bump-off transformed Ninoy Aquino into an "idol". The battlecry "Ituloy ang laban ni Ninoy!" and "Ninoy, hindi ka nag-iisa" were heard from anti-Marcos demonstrators that erupted in Metro Manila and other city in the country.

The demonstrations were participated by dissimilar sectores, namely students, workers, farmers, businessmen, professionals and religious (nuns, priests and seminarians).

Many militant and cause-oriented groups were the August Xx-One Motion (ATOM), Justice for Aquino, Justice for All (JAJA), Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN).

The Aquino assassination gave Marcos a bad image abroad, Public opinion in the United States went against Marcos. President Reagan of the United States cancelled his state visit to the Philippines.

On October 14, 1983, President Marcos issued PD 1886 creating a five-man independent body to investigate the Aquino bump-off. Headed by Mrs. Corazon Juliano Agrava, a retired Courtroom of Appeals Justice, the investigation body came to be known as the Agrava-Fact-Finding Lath (AFFB). The other members of the board were businessman Dante Santos, labor leader Ernesto Herrera, lawyer Luciano Salazar, and educator Amado Dizon.

The members of the AFFB, however, identified 25 armed forces men and a civilian as participants in the plot. Those identified include AFP Chief of Staff General Fabian C. Ver, Jam. General Prospero Olivas of the PC Metropolitan Command (METROCOM) and Gen. Custodio.

President Marcos referred the two reports to the Sandiganbayan for trial. The trial began in Feb. 1985, and was presided over past Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Manuel Pamaran. This trial became known as "Trial of the Century".

On December 2, 1985, the Sandiganbayan handed down its determination. The tribunal ruled that the 26 defendant were innocent and that information technology was Galman who was hired by the communist who killed Aquino.

THE DECLINE OF THE Economy

As the investigation and trial of the Aquino Assassination was going on, the Philippine economy was having hard times. There was a boring down of economic activities caused largely by high toll of oil. The Philippine traditional exports such as sugar and cocunut oil were experiencing a cost decline in the world market. The government was forced to infringe more money from the Imf to help proceed the economic system going. The strange debt of the Philippines reached $26 billion. A big portion of the annual earning of the state was allocated to the payment of annual interest on loans.

The tourism industry suffered a peachy decline after the Aquino Assassination. The moving ridge of anti-Marcos demonstrations in the country that followed drove the tourists abroad. In add-on, the political troubles hindered the entry of strange investments. Foreign banks also stopped granting loans to the Philippine government. Foreign creditors started demanding payment of the debts which were already by due.

Without an adequate supply of strange exchange, the industry sector could no longer import raw materials needed in product. Many factories had to close shop of cut their product because of the difficulty of obtaining raw materials. Many workers were laid off.

Marcos tried to launch a national economic recovery program. He nogotiated with strange creditors including the International Bank for reconstruction and Evolution, World Bank, and the International monetary fund (Imf), for a restructing of the country's foreign debts � to requite the Philippines more time to pay the loans. Marcos launched the Sariling Sikap, a livelihood programme, in 1984. He ordered the cut in government expenditure to be able to save money for financing the livelihood program.

Despite the recrovery program, the economy connected to refuse. A negative economic growth was experienced in the state beginning in 1984. The failure of the recovery programme was due to the lack of credibility of Marcos and the rampant graft and corruption in the government. Many officials went on stealing the people's money by millions through anomalous transactions. Marcos himself spent large sums of government funds to assist the candidates of the KBL to win.

THE SNAP Election OF 1986 As the economy continued to decline, the IMF, World Depository financial institution, the United States and the land'south foreign creditors pressured Marcos to institute reforms as a status for the grant of additional economic and fiscal help. Rumors then spread about the possibility of a snap presidential election.

The rumors turned to be true because in Nov 1985, Marcos announced that at that place would exist a snap presidential election. Marcos said that he needed a new mandate from the people to carry out a national economic recovery program successfully. The Batasang Pambansa enacted a police scheduling the election on February 7, 1986.

The divided opposition had the trouble of choosing a candidate to fight Marcos. In that location were several opposition leaders who aspired to run for president, one of them being erstwhile Senator Salvador "Doy" H. Laurel who was nominated in June 1985 past the UNIDO to be its presidential candidate in whatever time to come presidential election. But none of them could unite the opposition.

A majority of the opposition and other anti-Marcos groups proposed instead that Mrs. Corazon C. Aquino be fabricated the common opposition candidate for president. Due to a growing nationwide clamor for her to pb the opposition, Aquino agreed to run if Marcos would call for an ballot and at least 1 million people would sign a petition urging her to run for president. After the announcement of snap election by Marcos, the Cory Aquino for President Movement (CAPM), organized by Joaquin "Chino" Roces, was able to solicit more than than one 1000000 signatures nationwide asking Mrs. Aquino to run against Marcos.

Upon the communication of Jaime Key Sin, the Archbishop of Manila, one-time Senator Salvador Laurel of the UNIDO Party decided to cede his presidential appetite for the sake of unity of the opposition past agreeing to run every bit Corazon Aquino'due south vice-presidential candidate.

The campaign period was from Dec. xi, 1995 to Feb. 5, 1986. The two rival political camps had their slogans and symbols. The LABAN Political party of Cory Aquino had yellow as the symbolic color while the KBL of Marcos had red. The Aquino'' campaign slogan was "Tama na, Sobra na, palitan na!" The Marcos slogan was "Marcos pa rin!" Aquino had her "L" sign while Marcos had his "V" sign.

Corazon Aquino campaigned on the effect of ending the Marcos dictatorship and the restoration of liberty, justice and commonwealth. She charged Marcos with impoverishing the nation by allowing his family and cronies to rob the Filipinos of their wealth though illegal transactions. She also denounced the gross violations of human being rights of the Marcos regime. She promised to give justice to the victims of harassment and abuses by the government officials.

President Marcos defendant Mrs. Corazon Aquino of being a communist herself and said that her husband, Ninoy Aquino, was one of the founders of the Communist Party of the Philippines. He warned that an Aquino victory would pave the way for communist rule in the Philippines. Marcos as well criticized Aquino for her lack of experience in government.

IN the election campaign, Marcos said that he favored the retention of the U.S. War machine Bases. On the other manus, Mrs. Aquino said whe would let the U.Due south. Military stay until 1991 when the Military Bases Agreement (MBA) expired.

Mrs. Aquino too accused Marcos of beingness responsible for her married man's assassination. She besides disclosed that Marcos was a fake World War Two hero.

THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1986

On February 7, 1986, ballot twenty-four hour period, about 20 1000000 registered voters cast their votes in som 86,000 election precincts throughout the country. It was the about historic in the history of the 3rd republic. It was reported to be the "most controversial and confusing election" ever held in the Philippines, the "most internationally publicized election", and the "nigh fraudulent election" in the Philippine history.

Marcos resorted to massive vote ownership to ensure his victory. KBL leaders in many areas used armed goons to terrorize the voters. There were instances of ballot box snatching. Flying voters were used. Election returns were falsified or contradistinct.

And so widespread was the adulterous that the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in a statement issued a week after election, strongly condemned the acquit of the ballot. The CBCP described the election every bit "unparalleled in its fraudulence".

The Batasang Pambansa convened itself to make an official canvas of the election returns and to proclaim the winners. Based on the certificates of the canvass submitted to it by the Comelec registrars of 143 provinces, cities, and election districts, the Batasan on February. xv, 1986 proclaimed Ferdinand Marcos and Arturo Tolentino equally the duly elected president and vice-president , respectively. The official Batasan tabulation showed that Marcos obtained 10,807,197 votes as against Aquino'south 9,291,715 votes.

The Batasang Pambansa, which was controlled by the KNL, went on with the canvassing amongst the objections of the opposition members. The opposition MPs pointed out that there were irregularities in almost of the certificates of sheet.

The fraudulent ballot Feb. 7, 1986 destroyed the image of President Marcos and his government abroad. Based on the reports of strange newsmen and on what they saw on boob tube, many people in the Philippines and abroad felt that Marcos was not the legitimated President of the Philippines. They believed that it was Corazon Aquino who won the presidency. As a consequence, except for the Soviet Union, not one foreign state congratulated Marcos.

The fraudulent ballot weakened American support for the Marcos Government. Later on receiving the report of Senator Lugar who headed the U.S. election observer team in the Philippines, President Reagan said that "the fraudulent election casts doubts on the legitimacy of Marcos' re-election.

Mrs. Corazon Aquino, believing that she won, refused to accept the ballot of Marcos. So did the Cosmic Church and many other groups which issued strong statements condemning the fraudulent election. On February. xvi, 1986, Corazon Aquino launched a civil disobedience nationwide at Luneta.

The Philippines on the Eve of the EDSA Revolution

On the eve of the revolution, President Marcos was already a demoralized and beleaguered dictator. The international community of nations was convinced that there was fraud in the Feb seven snap election and that he was a president who no longer had the mandate of the people. At that moment, influential members of the U.S. Congress were already urging Marcos to footstep downwards and over the presidency to Mrs. Corazon Cojuanco Aquino.

In the country, particularly in Metro Manila, political tension was rising to new heights. The Aquino civil disobedience movement speedily gained heights and strengths. Students and teachers in many colleges and universities boycotted their classes to protest the fraudulent. Feb 7 ballot. Worker's groups planned for a general labor strike throughout the nation.

In the face of these events which threatened his dictatorial government, Marcos began to issue warnings. He threatened to use his actress-ordinary powers to crush the strike motility. And he gave indications to impose martial police again. In fact he had already prepared a plan code named "Everlasting". The program chosen for sending out soldiers loyal to his regime into the streets of Metro Manila to spread terror and violence. They would be in civilian wearing apparel and would pretend to be Aquino followers. This would exist used by Marcos every bit an excuse to impose martial law once again in the country. Like what he did in 1972, Marcos would accept the military arrest and detain the leaders of the opposition, including those amidst the clergy and in the armed forces who opposed him. But before he could carry out his programme, the EDSA Revolution of 1986 broke out.

Plans for a Military machine Coup De'etat

While the anti-Marcos sentiment in the country was growing, a grouping of immature officers in the Armed forces of the Philippines were making their own plans to overthrow the Marcos dictatorship. These officers were the leading organizers and members of a group known as the Reform the AFP Movement (RAM)

This movement was started in March 1985 past a group of officers who were graduated of the Philippine Military University. Its main aim was to piece of work for reform in the armed forces. But like the other branches of the regime, the AFP was riddles with graft and corruption, favoritism and other anomalies that demoralized the decent members of the military. RAM wanted the restoration of professionalism in the war machine so that the AFP could regain its honour and pride. A reformed AFP, the movement's organizers believed, would be able to fight more effectively the growing communist threat in the Philippines. Government minister of Defense Juan Ponce Enrile secretly sympathized with RAM. The members of the RAM came to be know as reformists.

The RAM.s pleadings for reforms were ignored by Marcos and the AFP Chief of Staff, General Fabian Ver. They were harassed past the dictator and the war machine. Because of this the Reformists decided to force a coup de'etat was made by the organizers who were shut to Juan Ponce Enrile. Information technology was headed by Col. Gregorio Honasan, the chief security officer of Enrile. Merely the Coup effort did non take off because it was discovered past Ferdinand Marcos. Several plotters were arrested. Marcos then appear that the military rebels planned to set on Malaca�ang and to take over the government.

When the RAM realized that Marcos had discovered their plot they sought pass up at the Ministry of National Defense building at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. Enrile took control of the military rebellion. General Fidel Valdez Ramos, the AFP vice-chief of staff and PC chief, sided with Enrile and the reformists and took over command of the Philippine Constabulary Headquarters in Camp Crame which is located beyond Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) from Camp Aguinaldo.

OUTBREAK OF THE 1986 REVOLUTION

Enrile and Ramos announced to the nation in a press conference in Camp Aguinaldo that they were breaking away from the fold of the Marcos Dictatorship and that they supported Corazon Cojuangco Aquino. This announcement was fabricated in the early evening of February 22, 1986.

They said that the Marcos did not win the Feb 7 snap Presidential election and therefore did non have the mandate of the people.

When Marcos learned about the defection of Enrile and Ramos, he immediately went on nationwide radio and TV to announce that he had discovered and failed the RAM'due south plot to overthrow the government. He demanded that Ramos and Enrile surrendered. He so promised to look into the grievances of the Reformists. Merely Enrile and Ramos defied Marcos' orders. The 2 insubordinate leaders said that the event was no longer the reforms but the legitimacy of Marcos' rule. They called on Marcos to resign and warned him not to order whatever attack on Camp Crame and Aguinaldo for they were prepared to defend the camp. Marcos ordered Full general Fabian Ver to subdue the rebellion and recapture the two camps.

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Source: https://www.oocities.org/collegepark/pool/1644/marcosera.html

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