“PUSILA” (Cebuano word: “shoot him”) triggered the 1986 EDSA Revolution..
Philippine Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Sr. had been in power from the years 1965 to 1986, or almost 21 years. From 1965 to 1969, he was elected legitimately as President of the Republic of the Philippines. The same for his term from 1969 to 1973. But something happened on September 21, 1972. His 2nd term ending on December 31, 1973 was unceremoniously interrupted by him by declaring Martial Law due to alleged communist threat, all over the country. No regular presidential election scheduled in November 1973, nor new President assumed the Presidency in January 1974 (Pres. Marcos Sr. barred by Constitution for 3rd term).
Critics and legal experts branded the declaration of Martial Law as Pres. Marcos Sr.’s ploy or strategy of extending his 2nd term of office as he could no longer seek a 3rd term as President being barred by the 1935 Philippine Constitution. When he declared Martial Law, he assumed full control of the Executive, Legislative, and to a certain extent Judicial, powers of the Government. Congress was abolished.
In January 1973, Pres. Marcos Sr. announced the ratification of the New Constitution replacing the 1935 Philippine Constitution as the New 1973 Philippine Constitution was allegedly ratified before the barangay assemblies. Challenged before the Supreme Court, a divided Court, affirmed the said ratification, thus, Paving the way for the New 1973 Philippine Constitution and seeming legitimacy of Martial Law declaration. Then Chief Justice Roberto Concepcion resigned from the Supreme Court (Chief Justice I admire, next to martyr Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos).
Immediately, after declaration of Martial Law, warrantless arrests were made on opposition leaders and critics of Pres. Marcos Sr. One of those arrested was the leading oppositionist and critic, Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. who was first detained at a military camp in Quezon City, then flown to a military camp in Laur, Nueva Ecija where “Ninoy” had been detained for seven (7) years, “Solitario y incommunicado”, at first but his solitary confinement except for family visit, persisted. Also, in his years of confinement or detention, he was tried by a military court and found guilty of the crimes of treason and sedition, and sentenced to die by firing squad.
International political pressure came in favor of “Ninoy” and thus, Pres. Marcos, Sr. allowed “Ninoy” to travel to USA for heart surgery, where Ninoy stayed for three (3) years, more or less. There “Ninoy” had numerous speaking engagements about the need to restore democracy in the Philippines and martial law abuses.
On August 21, 1983, that fateful day, Ninoy traveled back to the Philippines. He was denied Philippine passport under his true name, and he got one under “Marcial Bonifacio” (after martial law and our hero). He could not take direct flight to Manila for his banned travel by Philippine Government, so that nine (9) countries rerouting made possible his Taipeh – Manila trip on board China Airlines, he accompanied by many journalists. “Ninoy” told the journalists to be alert and quick in their coverage as things could happen fast.
True enough, when Ninoy stepped on the tarmac of Manila International Airport, he was shot dead thru his nape. The journalists had no picture of the assassin. But journalists and other plane passengers heard the loud voice “Pusila” (Shoot him) coming from one of the military escorts Sgt. Moreno. The second trial or re-trial of the case convicted most of the military escorts of Ninoy but the Mastermind has never been established up to this time.
The flame of the 1986 EDSA Revolution started on August 21, 1983. Mass discontent, Mass Action, and Cry to Restore Democracy toppled the Marcos Sr. Dictatorship. Yet the trigger was the Assassination of Ninoy Aquino Jr. preceded by the loud voice “Pusila”…
*Former Palawan State Scholar
