EDSA @ 40

Introduction

The EDSA People Power Revolution (also known as the 1986 Philippine Revolution or the Yellow Revolution) was a series of nonviolent, bloodless demonstrations in the Philippines that culminated from February 22 to 25, 1986. It led to the ousting of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. after 20 years of rule and the inauguration of Corazon Aquino as the 11th President.

Historical Significance & Timeline

The revolution was a global symbol of peaceful resistance, fueled by public outrage over political corruption, human rights abuses, and widespread fraud during the February 7, 1986, snap presidential election. On February 22, 1986, defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and General Fidel V. Ramos withdrew support for Marcos and took refuge in Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame. Archbishop of Manila Cardinal Jaime Sin called on the public via Radio Veritas to form human barricades to protect the defectors, he urged Filipinos to go to EDSA to protect the defectors and prevent bloodshed. This call led over two million civilians to form human barricades against tanks and soldiers. Under his guidance, the protest was characterized by prayer, the rosary, and non-violence. Fidel V. Ramos famously stated, "What is happening is not a coup d'état, but a revolution of the people," at approximately 9:00 PM on February 22, 1986. This statement was made to the growing crowds at Camp Crame during the first night of the EDSA People Power Revolution. Earlier that evening, Ramos (then AFP Vice Chief of Staff) and Juan Ponce Enrile (Defense Minister) publicly withdrew their support from President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., holed up in military camps along EDSA. President Marcos Sr. had already appeared on television to denounce the move as an illegal coup d'état orchestrated by Enrile and Ramos.  By framing the event as a "revolution of the people," Ramos sought to validate the movement as a legitimate, civilian-backed uprising rather than a mere internal military power grab.

The full quote from Juan Ponce Enrile, famously uttered those words delivered during a press conference at Camp Aguinaldo on February 22, 1986: "Mr. President, I hope you're listening. Enough is enough, Mr. President, [I think you know that] your time is up. Do not miscalculate our strength now."

February 23–24, 1986, millions of civilians, including students, religious groups, and military defectors, gathered along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). They famously faced tanks and armed troops with prayers, rosaries, and flowers, leading soldiers to refuse orders to fire. As the primary voice of the opposition, the Catholic-run Radio Veritas 846 was a major target for the Marcos regime. On the morning of February 23, 1986, military forces loyal to Marcos attacked and destroyed the station's 40-million-peso transmitter in Malolos, Bulacan, to silence Cardinal Jaime Sin’s calls for people to gather at EDSA.  To circumvent the shutdown, a small team including broadcaster June Keithley and Fr. James Reuter moved operations to an underground station, DZRJ-AM. They broadcast as "Radyo Bandido" (Outlaw Radio), using various frequencies to hide their location while continuing to mobilize the public. 

Marcos appeared on television at approximately 8:10 PM(Feb. 24) to declare a nationwide curfew from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM. However, the millions of protesters already gathered at EDSA refused to leave. Rebel leader Juan Ponce Enrile explicitly called on the Filipino people to ignore the curfew, stating that the country belonged to its free citizens. Earlier that morning (around 9:00 AM), Marcos had declared a state of national emergency and announced the termination of his "maximum tolerance" policy. Despite this, the crowd continued to grow as they were urged by Cardinal Jaime Sin to protect the defecting military forces at Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo. The emergency declaration failed to mobilize the full military against the people. General Ver and Army Commander Maj. Gen. Josephus Ramas prepared a full-scale assault on Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo, where the defecting leaders and civilian protesters had gathered. Ver's plan included the use of riot police with tear gas, Marine artillery, and air strikes using Northrop F-5 fighter jets and gunships. In a famous moment captured on national television, Ver repeatedly urged President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. to authorize the attack. Ver stated, "The air force is ready to mount an attack. Fighters are circling over the camp," to which Marcos famously replied, "Hold on; not to attack," instructing him to disperse the crowd without firing. Despite the orders, the "all-out attack" never fully materialized because many military units, including the 15th Strike Wing of the Philippine Air Force, defected to the rebel side or refused to fire on the massive civilian crowds blocking the roads. 

During the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, the "takedown" of media outlets was a critical turning point as both the Marcos regime and the reformist rebels fought for control over the flow of information. The most dramatic event occurred on February 24, 1986, at approximately 9:50 a.m. While President Ferdinand Marcos was delivering a live televised address on the state-owned Maharlika Broadcasting System (MBS-4) to declare he would not step down, the broadcast suddenly went off the air. A contingent of reformist rebel soldiers led by Colonel Mariano Santiago captured the station, which was housed in the sequestered ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center(now ABS-CBN Corporation).

The announcement that "it is confirmed, Mr. Marcos has left the country" (or similar phrasing) was most famously made by broadcaster June Keithley on February 24, 1986. At approximately 6:30 AM, June Keithley announced on "Radyo Bandido" (the secret broadcast location of Radio Veritas) that Ferdinand Marcos and his family had fled. This led to massive celebrations at EDSA, including the famous celebratory jump by General Fidel V. Ramos. This report was actually premature; Marcos appeared on television a few hours later to prove he was still in Malacañang.

February 25, 1986, Corazon Aquino was sworn in at Club Filipino. Later that day, the Marcos family fled to Hawaii with assistance from the U.S. government. The Philippines briefly had two presidents at the same time on February 25, 1986, at the height of the EDSA People Power Revolution. Following a contested snap election where both candidates claimed victory, two separate inauguration ceremonies were held on the same day: Corazon "Cory" Aquino: sworn in at approximately 10:46 AM at Club Filipino in San Juan. She was supported by the protesters at EDSA and key military defectors. Ferdinand Marcos Sr. sworn in about an hour later, at approximately 11:55 AM, at Malacañang Palace. His broadcast was famously cut short when rebel forces disabled the transmitter. This state of having two presidents lasted for about nine hours. By roughly 9:00 PM that same evening, under heavy pressure from the US and the millions gathered at EDSA, Marcos and his family fled the palace for Clark Air Base, and eventually into exile in Hawaii. The definitive departure occurred on the night of February 25, 1986. At 9:05 PM, Marcos and his family left the Palace aboard U.S. helicopters. Shortly after, at 9:52 PM, Radio DZRH announced, “The Marcoses have fled the country,” which was confirmed minutes later by the U.S. Air Force TV station FEN.

Impact

The revolution led to the ratification of the 1987 Constitution, which restored democratic institutions and limited presidential terms to six years. The People Power Monument along EDSA serves as a permanent reminder of the event. While many celebrate it as a triumph of democracy, contemporary discussions often reflect on "unfinished" promises regarding economic inequality and the return of the Marcos family to political prominence. Following the revolution, the new government under Corazon Aquino took further steps to dismantle the pro-Marcos media apparatus: The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) sequestered major broadcast stations and newspapers owned by Marcos cronies, including BBC-2, KBS-9, and RPN-9. On September 14, 1986, the frequencies and facilities originally owned by the Lopez family were officially returned, marking the formal return of ABS-CBN to the airwaves.

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