Today in history: Oppositionists and the State Department

The opposition vice-presidential candidate summarizes events

(Above) A news clip, February 6, 1986.

Salvador H. Laurel (1928-2004) wrote, in his diary, on February 13-17, 1986:

We met with State Department people (Claude Buss and Guy Pauker). Then came Reagan’s special envoy, Philip Habib, on February 17. Speaking for CCA and myself, I told him, “We will never give up the fight to dismantle the dictatorship. We will go on and on until FM steps down and obeys the true mandate of the people.” He said he would talk to FM –that same afternoon.

We concentrate on the foreign press for coverage.

On these days, in Chronology of a Revolution:

February 13

President Marcos took a virtually irreversible lead over opposition candidate Cory Aquino in the Batasan's official canvass of votes. This, despite efforts of opposition MPs to point out defects in almost all certificates of canvass opened by Speaker Nicanor Yniguez. Statistical improbabilities were also cited.

February 14

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) issued its strongest statement ever, warning that a government which "assumes or retains power through fraud" would have "no moral basis." President Marcos's lead widened to 1.5 million votes, with only 1.1 million votes remaining uncanvassed.

Marcos called a meeting of senior generals – Ver, Ramos, Josephus Ramas of the Army, Vicente Piccio of the Air Force, Brilliante Ochoco of the Navy, and Prospero Olivas of the Metropolitan Command. They discussed the disciplining of military reformists and arrest of their leaders; the arrest and assassination of opposition leaders – Neptali Gonzales, Ramon Mitra, Homobono Adaza, Luis Villafuerte, Aquilino Pimentel, Rene Saguisaag, Joe Concepcion, Dante Santos, Ting Paterno, Jaime Ongpin, Vicente Jayme, among others; the declaration of a state of emergency; and the arrest and liquidation of Enrile.

February 15

The Batasang Pambansa formally proclaimed Marcos winner of the February 7 elections; all 50 opposition Members of Parliament walked out in protest. Trade Minister Roberto Ongpin, speaking for the economic technocrats, assured Marcos of support if he undertook military, political, and economic reforms; Marcos signed an agreement to that effect. Philip Habib arrived in Manila.

February 16.

At a "victory rally," Corazon Aquino called for coordinated strikes and the boycott of crony media, 7 banks, Rustan's department store, and San Miguel Corporation in a civil disobedience campaign aimed at overthrowing Marcos. Marcos announced that Ver had resigned as AFP chief of staff and NISA director-general and that Lt. Gen. Ramos would serve as chief of staff. The White House grudgingly admitted that the election "was marred by fraud and violence perpetrated largely by the ruling party" and instructed Habib to work out a compromise with Cory Aquino.

February 17

Marcos extended Ver's term to the end of February to allow him to wind up his affairs. Habib met with Marcos, then with Cory. Cory bluntly refused anything less than Marcos's removal from office. She announced that she would go around the country to sound her call for civil disobedience and non-violent protest actions; her first stops, Cebu and Davao, the coming weekend. (Habib also met privately with Ramos and Enrile over the next few days.)

Crony banks, corporations, and media were hit hard by the boycott. Deposit withdrawals were reportedly heavy not only in the seven banks in Cory's boycott list but also in banks either partly or wholly owned by known Marcos cronies. Nestle pulled out its ads from government TV Channel 4 and newspaper Bulletin Today. San Miguel-A shares went down to as low as P11.50 per share, while B shares went down to P14.50 per.

The financial fiasco extended to the beverage industry. Beer quaffers suddenly shifted to gin or hard drinks. Restaurants, eateries and cafes refused to serve San Miguel beer as well as Coca Cola, Sprite and Royal True Orange. A small number also stopped drinking Pepsi Cola, Seven-Up and Mirinda, thinking that these softdrinks were also under the control of a crony.

See our Timeline of Martial Law which comprehensively covers events from 1965 to 1986 too.