Chapter 31
Ninoy’s Assassination at Tarmac
One major event that stirred the collective
consciousness of Filipinos from its long stupor came on a Sunday of August 21,
1983 at tarmac. It was Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino’s assassination. Event was so
fast that Ninoy was right away dead few seconds after he disembarked down from an airplane that carried him from
Taiwan using ‘Marcial Bonifacio’ name in his passport. The mastermind might had
grinned ear to ear learning the success of the conspiracy. The thrill though
died its natural death. The plot killing the returning popular opposition contributed
more harm than good. The otherwise
repercussion boomeranged later
development validated.
“Who could have done this was definitely a nut
miscalculating the tragic incident creating more damage than good facilitating
the beginning of an end of Lakay Apo’s reign,” Major de la Rosa thought
realizing how an ambitious but gullible man he was once falling into the trap
of the deep abyss of the Wolves of RSM contributing making all those mess as an officer of highly politicized institution with all those
ramifications treating him to rollercoaster ride. He was elated nonetheless
recuperating surviving the nightmare from Mt. Sungcal saga. He abhorred tough going
back dreaming that nightmare now that he is wide awake savoring the sweetness of freedom. But how about this Ninoy’s incident? Of
course, he was not privy on this incident.
“What another scandal to the institution he
had been an active member. Could it be an end of my career as military
officer?” he thought. But why he is so affected given the nature of
assassination all over the globe none among
suspects were caught.
“Why would I indeed,” he said to himself
learning assassins ran free after delivering their goods.
The tragedy ushered in new political development as Filipinos were
engulfed by hatred polarizing further from those the Powers-that-be forcing
later the two important military figures Min. Juan Ponce Enrile and Gen. Eddie
‘Steady’ Ramos later swayed to the peoples’ cause. Sealing the fate of this
separation was the Catholic Church titular head His Eminence Cardinal Jaime L.
Sin breaking the backbone of Marcos’ iron fist fast approaching its impending
end already secured in pages of history.
It ushered in the crossroad not how to end but when to end. This developed as Uncle
Sam was just waiting in the wings when would the opportune time to drop him.
1985 declared that Marcos’ was already a
terminal cancer and it was necessary to address the issue as it might eat up
other vital organs creating further complications
Rolando Galman was the culprit as hired
assassin. That if the news concocted by military circulating around if at all
to be believed. But of course, the claim was just one of the ride-ons as many
others joined riding the fun. Various groups and individuals even distributed
leaflets revealing why Ninoy’s life was terminated. One crazy retiree military
guy even bragged his personal delivery of huge bounty getting the services of
the killer himself! But no. It was a sick joke no one bought the story’s
credibility! Fiesta would soon ensued how this guy did the dirty job killing
Ninoy given his height and trajectory of the bullet which most unlikely unless
he brought a ladder or a chair firing that fatal shot on Ninoy. Like Agatha
Christie’s classic, all persons anything to do with Ninoy were considered
suspects – military, Imelda, Cojuangco, Uncle Sam, communists and yes Marcos.
“What about that American guy who was with
Ninoy all the way from US,” nasty thought played in his mind though most
unlikely to account his participation.
“But who knows, just who knows given how
Uncle Sam plays around influencing world politics,” Taklin further thought.
Lupito Kashiwara’s expose would have make
it solving the crime. As his narratives were run by Philippine Free Press, his charges implicating the military was the
closest. He knows as he accompanied his brother in law all the way from US and
was right there seated at Ninoy’s right in an airplane and went with him
disembarking at the tarmac too hearing only those shots, the last sound he ever
heard. Corazon J. Agrava’s two reports incidentally would corroborate his
observation.
Marcos and Ninoy had been best of
buddies. Respect had been there between
the two. It is no secret even to the President that Madame Imelda had crush on
Ninoy back then. Even when Ninoy in Boston, he would call right away his friend
in Malacanang everytime he runs out of money. True enough few minutes after
each call, $1,000.00 or more becomes
handy saving bad times for Ninoy. Showing further his sincerity giving benefit
of doubts for those who perceived otherwise, he with four others as members –
Dante Santos representing business sector, Ernesto Boy Herrera, labor, Amado C.
Hizon and Atty. Luciano Salazar. It took one year thorough investigation
involving 20,000 pages of testimony from 193 witnesses before coming out with
two reports – one for majority and another for minority.
The Minority report chaired by Chairman
Agrava herself confirmed that Aquino’s Assassination was a military conspiracy but
cleared Gen Fabian Ver. The report however noted that “Marcos intimidated and
pressured members of the Board persuading not to indict Ver, his first cousin and most trusted
General,” Major de la Rosa learned.
The Majoirty report on the other hand
indicted many AFP officers – Gen. Luther Custodio, Gen. Prospero Olivas, Heada
of AVSECOM, Gen. Ver also included. There was a plan actually for the group to
convene on Nov. 3, 1983 but Marcos made the thing happened by accusing the
Communists killing Ninoy – decision on the promptings of Rodulfo Salas, Sec.
Gen. of Phil. Communist Party. “Ninoy
befriended but subsequently betrayed his Coomunists comrades,” Major de la Rosa
further learned.
No one actually testified who fired the
fatal shot. But Rebecca Quijano saw a man
running towards Aquino and his escorts point
a gun at the back of his head then sound of gunshot ensued felling
Ninoy’s body dead. The post mortem conducted later validated. “True he was shot
at close range bullet exiting at the chin downward angle supporting Quijano’s
testimony. The bottom line of it all – the assassin was wearing military
uniform!” Taklin concluded his reading Agrava report. Disturbing him however
were later development creating a mess what otherwise subduing natural trend
toward possible disclosure of the suspect.
Timeline was dizzying but Taklin didn’t
mind. 25 men inlcuidng generals and Colonels and one civilian were charged in
1985 by SandiganBayan, s Spcial Court; 16 were found guilty and sentenced to
life imprisonment in another investigation after Marcos. Brig. Gen Luther
Custodio, Arnulfo de Mesa, Constable Rogelio Moreno and gunman MSgt. Pablo Martinez
. . . . were indicted. An appeal redu ing to 22 years was made claiming that
the assassination was orderd by business partner Eduardo Cojuango Jr. Marcos
business partrner surprisingly cleared by Aquino family. 16 defendants were
finally convicted by Sandigan Bayan and sentenced to lie imprisonment.
Fortunately MSgt Pablo Martinez was later released from National Bilibid Prison
after Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered his release for humanitarian reason
as he was already in his 70s age.
Enthusiasm was however dampened when he recant his earlier declaration
implicating Eduardo Cojuangco as the master mind. His parting shot however just
the same reveal his double-speak of the issue:
“If you are listening Madame Cory Aquino, please
forgive
me for the sin I did (have done-words he used) in the past!”
“Need to say more,” Taklin convinced of his
analysis to put closure on the issue.
. . . . . . . . .
Filipinos have been treated to all sorts of
killings. Ninoy’s death was just the latest. Murder has been there everywhere from Luzon,
Visayas and Mindanao. Election is abnormal if there are no killing. Ambushes were once fad of the
time at Mindanao right during Martial Law.
“What is happening to our country General
question of then Vice President Emmanuel Pelaez” tells it all the real status
of senseless killing in the country himself would have been added as another
fertilizer. Nothing new except however this one involving high profile
politician possible occupant of Malacanang after Marcos. Ninoy himself was
aware of that.
“Marcos would simply not kill me or I’d be
transformed into a hero like Martin
Luther King; same with Communists liquidating me or I become another hero of
the people,” the Media took the story.
To Any
concerned Filipino tax payers jumped right away their conclusion that Lakay Apo
might have order the killing. But no, sincerity was written right all over the
faces of the First family when they appear on national TV giving their take on
the issue clearing their names of the incident. Major de la Rosa supported and
accepted the explanation his mind wandering who’s that brave soul who did the favor the lifeless body sprawled on tarmac, first ever high profile assassination recorded
incident that happened in the country. Since then the staccato burst of those gunshots that felled Ninoy’s body
still reecho and reverberating today.
Like deafening silence causing more harm than good, that dark spot of our
country’s history aggravated further the speculation generating and fanning further inquiry and theory dragging
that unsolved issue this far.
“We
had already even passed the twenty years prescriptive period long overdue on
2003,” noted by then DOJ Secretary Hernani Perez. But alas the feeling of fear and trembling still gripping the
collective consciousness of the people brought by inaptitude of those in
authority and inability of our justice system in solving the crime of
the century looks even more menacing
what with the even more complication and impatience among concerned taxpayers. PNOY’s call
therefore for the reopening of the case lately was most welcome development.
Admittedly though, pinning down the culprits and meting out desirable penalty
is a Herculean task. For like any work of fiction, it needs honest to goodness
sleuthing requiring the use of scalpel
cutting through the very deep recesses of the issue passing through different layers going out
from the
mazes. However little did you know that
you are caught again in the web
of ramification and that after you came out surviving, discovered to your
amazement that you are barely scratching
the surface and that everything so
far is
only the tip of an iceberg.
Such has been the seemingly elusive and
implacable search for justice of Ninoy’s assassination after Marcos and the
first Lady disowned the assassination towards the still undisclosed result of
Agrava Commission. Whatever happened to our authority and justice system that
they are so inept that they have failed solving the crime. Something fishy here. Incidentally two names
almost did us great favor – Col.Erwin Ver and
Sgt. Martinez, one of the principal witness - both
recanting the gruesome cold blooded murder of Ninoy and categorically
naming Danding Cojuangco as mastermind. It was such very important lead
carrying decisive pronouncement
given the credibility of Martinez having
experienced religious conversion inside
the prison cell.
Unfortunately though whatever happened that he was even faster
taking back his testimony before he
could declare his testimony under oath. As he was granted presidential pardon and retiring home, so too the issue died its natural
death.. It’s all the closest we got and probably would have solved
the crime. That was few years back and as usual he has all the Filipinos
caught in a fix. Thus, Damocles blade still hanging up there and would probably
be lifted only for good from the collective consciousness of the people once
the issue is solved. But when as we are now back to square one. That leaving
proverbial light in the tunnel indubitably remains distant forever, Major de la Rosa uttered in
resignation.
It was clearly a conspiracy leaving no
trace of accountability as events overtook swiftly leaving all caught off guard
‘who could have done it.’ One thing though is sure that incident was carried
single-handedly with conspiracy hatched in his own mind, carried through no one
bugging him. When solved, it would
surely be such great favor done ever for all Filipinos
specially among post Martial Law babies.
Rizal’s death by musketry and Andres Bonifacio by the men of Aguinaldo were
already closed and done issue in history books and thus left no room for
inquiry and speculation sealing their lofty niche in history.
From the looks of it, Ninoy’s
assassination is an issue that will
always stand and reappear like batman.
It will simply refuse to die until solved albeit many people have been identified party to the
conspiracy and their voices heard. Assassination of great personalities like US
Presidents is top secret except that of Abraham Lincoln who was gunned down in a lobby of theater and John F. Kennedy where his assassin Lee Oswald was later caught.
Handled by professionals in cahoots with trusted lieutenants, it is carried in such systematic and precise calculated
covert operation leaving authorities in the cold of the night leaving no
imprints to trace of the crimes
committed.
But better for the real suspect recant and
fix the mess as no way they could keep the lead forever in their hearts. They
may even bury them all the way to their grave but no way they could keep
away from it. Comes the time of
reckoning when they travel up there, they would still have to meet God face to
face and recount their participation. If not, there is conflagration. Didn’t St. Mark (9:42-50)
warns us that it’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with hands, feet cut off
and eyes plucked out from their sockets than be thrown to blazing inferno with
all body parts intact.
Unfortunately what we’ve got from Ninoy are
merely sketches of the incident from the wide array of suspects whose inability
of cooperation merely aggravated the
guesswork of the real culprits. For as long as it remains unresolved, I think the more would be written
about him. Ninoy after all is just one of few good man any writers would be
about to explore writing. This is already the rebel priest’s installment
and I must confess that that surge of
excitement from both reflection and research
all the more propelling writing
this kind of piece. Who knows that the answer just lie somewhere and that
honest –to goodness individual might
finally come out and solve once and for all the issue. That would be the best compliment and token we could finally offer to Ninoy in his still
unresolved 32th death anniversary and still counting. Only then
Ninoy’s soul will finally rest in peace.
“So be it.”Taklin prayed!
But here’s the catch he gathered from the
grapevine revealing connection search for lasting peace for Mindanao.
The latest crazy development of them all –
a picture of Ninoy with a man in Malaysia posted in the internet two days
before Ninoy’s ill-fated trip back to the Phlippines. The man was popular
fixture later between the Government panel and MILF negotiating Bangsamoro. There was too much bravado albeit whose
notoriety has even taken the government
hostage from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to Benigno ‘PNoy’ in his
participation in Mindanao’s Bangsamoro struggle, actually the brainchild of Nur
Misuari back then as Head of MNLF concocted on 1974 yet dragged till 1996
Tripoli Agreement which lead to the creation of Autonomous Region of Muslim
Mindanno composed of Muslim dominated
provinces and municipalitiespanel..
Whatever transpired there no one could
guess but as far as Taklin is concerned nothing is new there other than
continuing talks of Sabah, a fact not privy to Ninoy people would later accused as traitor selling the island belonging to the Philippines to
Malaysia. Nothing significant really until you learned the identity of the man
in the picture. The generous host happened to be no less than Datukan
Abbas, a wily and subtle MILF Chief negotiator in a Bangsamoro
struggle later in Mindanao. Nothing new here. This as far as Major de la Rosa
is concerned because Sabah had been on the mind of Ninoy as his tough
bargaining chips in whatever political ambition he had. Reason that he exposed
the Jabidah Massacre, Taklin learned how this
relationship tying two pieces together made sense.
“Betrayal of Filipino people continues,”
dawned to him why Ninoy’s namesake Malacanang occupant and his elk at DOJ had
been moving heaven and earth to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
“That doesn’t include the reportedly 300
Million grease money and to as high as P50-200 M signing bonus among lawmakers
in Congress and Senate to pass the BBL,” Taklin threw wry smiled to the air.
The guy happened to use many aliases. “I’m
into revolutionary government and we’re allowed using as many aliases as
protection,” he would defend his predicament in the subsequent Senate
investigation,” his creative antics however would doom his fate when concerned
senators finally gang up on him giving him benefits of his doubts using various
aliases.
“How could that be when using aliases
constitute criminal offense in Political
Law,” Taklin would have a day later on the issue.
What a bombshell clincher digging into the original name of
the Chief Negotiator showing he was implicated to several bombings with warrant
of arrest issued on 2003 linking to bombing of Davao International Airport 20
killed and 143 injured and Davao Sasa Wharf where 17 were killed and 56
injured. The man even has the gall publishing
“The Long Road to Peace” using an alias Salah Jubair, an irony as the
title alone smacks right of betrayal right before his face.
“You
want peace, why not practice it in your own family, community and yourself,”
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago would later gave him a lesson. That man
incidentally goes by the name of Mohagher Iqbal, same name he affixed in
Bangsamoro document with government peace panel!
Taklin was sad and remembered right
away his good friend Fr. Driarco he
thought might have suffered identity crisis learning Jesuit Mafia had it again
providing even recognition and award to Iqbal.
“Recognition for what . . . ? misconception
that peace is delivered in silver platter.”
“Let’s see where true peace is?” the
thought playing in his mind.
“If this assuming good Jesuit fathers only
learned that a nun was among those
featured in Sasa Wharf bombing . . . . “ he uttered with resignation.
“It’s all rooted in the culture, system and
religion. If poverty, injustice and inequalities, BBL is only good in paper.
Feudalism, arm fetish and bloodshed would remain,” he cleared.
“Look how Muslim provinces registered as
top ten poorest provinces in row,”
“Whatever happen that there exists ghost
municipalities in the region. Where are the internal revenue allotment that
many of these municipalities are in stark poverty this while their Mayors and
Governors were making as among the top riches CEOs in their SALN!” this and
many other hard facts existed in Taklin’s mind. He has to let it go as few
brave soul has the nerve confronting this group in the concept of free market
of ideas. What more of a fatwah that elders might decree against him.
“So what you want peace, then let’s talk it
over in the table,” he concluded or the issue might further be dragged ad
infinitum.
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