Summary
Highlights
The video opens with Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. declaring his return to the Philippines despite the risks, including potential assassination. He is seen arriving at Manila airport, surrounded by security. A reporter, Tony O'Neal, covers his arrival. Shortly after disembarking, Aquino is fatally shot. The official narrative claims a communist assassin, Rolando Galman, but eyewitnesses and the subsequent investigation suggest military involvement.
Aquino's funeral draws hundreds of thousands of Filipinos, marking a significant political protest against Ferdinand Marcos. Tony O'Neal investigates the US support for Marcos and the controversial spending of his wife, Imelda Marcos, on lavish projects like the Film Center, while many Filipinos live in poverty at 'Smoky Mountain'. Imelda defends her actions, stating she brings respect to the Philippines.
An independent fact-finding board is created to investigate Aquino's assassination. Evidence emerges that contradicts the official story, with a ground engineer testifying to seeing a military man fire the fatal shot. The board implicates General Fabian Ver, Marcos's military chief of staff. Meanwhile, a reform movement within the armed forces emerges, expressing concerns about corruption and the military's effectiveness against communists.
Under international pressure, Marcos announces snap elections. Corazon Aquino decides to run for president. The election is plagued by widespread fraud, ballot snatching, and intimidation by Marcos's forces. Despite initial returns showing Aquino ahead, Marcos declares himself re-elected amidst accusations of massive vote manipulation. International observers, including US Senator Richard Lugar, note the fraud.
Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and General Fidel Ramos break away from Marcos, taking refuge at Camp Aguinaldo. They appeal for public support. Cardinal Sin calls on Filipinos to go to EDSA, the main highway, to protect the rebel soldiers and prevent bloodshed. Thousands respond, forming human barricades against Marcos's loyalist troops and tanks. The military is torn, with many soldiers unwilling to fire on their own people.
As the People Power Revolution gains momentum, Marcos's support crumbles. His air force defects, further weakening his position. The US, through Ambassador Stephen Bosworth, urges Marcos to leave power peacefully. Eventually, Marcos and his family are airlifted out of the Malacañang Palace. Corazon Aquino is sworn in as the new president, bringing an end to the Marcos regime and ushering in democracy. Tony O'Neal observes the historic transition.