1986 SNAP ELECTION
RISE OF CORAZON AQUINO
- As Marcos' health continued to worsen, so did the state of the nation. The Philippine economy plunged. As a result, pressure forced Marcos to call for presidential snap elections. It was Ninoy's widow, Cory, who was chosen by the opposition as their presidential bet.
- The elections were held on February 7, 1986, and were marred with reports of cheating and fraud.
- The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) declared Marcos as the winner, but the National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) had a contradicting final tally. With no one conceding, both "winners" took their oath of office but Aquino undoubtedly had the nations' massive support.
- Following her husband's assassination in 1983, Aquino became active and visible in various demonstrations and protests held against the Marcos regime.
- In the last week of November 1985, Marcos surprised the nation by announcing that he would hold a snap presidential election in February 1986.
- Reluctant at first, Aquino was eventually persuaded by the Lakas ng Bayan (LABAN) party to be their leader on 1986 Presidential Snap Election
EDSA PEOPLE POWER I
- It was on February 22, 1986 that then Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile and Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Fidel Ramos renounced the rampant cheating and fraud in the elections and withdrew their support for the Marcos Administration.
- Military tanks and armored vans started to move toward the camps. The barrage of government troops found themselves face-to-face with an overwhelming human chain of civilians.
- Hope remained afloat when military helicopters manned by the 15th Air Force Strike Wing, led by Maj. Gen. Antonio Sotelo, defected and joined the opposition. Also around this time, June Keithley of Radio Bandido reported that Marcos had left Malacanang causing the crowd in EDSA to rejoice.
- Shortly thereafter, Marcos went on-air over government Channel 4 to announce that he would not step down. The broadcast was suddenly cut off. Rebels under Col. Mariano Santiago had apparently captured the station.
- In the morning of February 25, Corazon C. Aquino was inaugurated as President of the Philippines at Club Filipino.
THE RISE OF NINOY AQUINO
- former Senator of the Philippines
- formed the leadership of government opposed to Pres. Ferdinand Marcos
The Restoration of Democracy in the Philippines
Despite having threats directed to his life, Aquino still decided to return to the Philippines. He planned to ask Marcos to step down in order to avoid political destabilization. However, he was assassinated at the airport by allegedly Rolando Galman
While he was in prison, he suffered a heart attack and was brought to Dallas to have a bypass operation. During his stay in America, he gave lectures about the corruption of the Marcos government at the Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology
He was arrested and imprisoned by the Marcos regime for 7 years and 7 months. He was brought to the Military Commision No. 2 and was sentenced to death by Firing Squad.