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home > the revolution > epilogue:
democracy lives againTuesday
, February 25, 1986
08:00
Loyalist snipers are spotted on a television transmitter tower nearby the Aquino home. A
firefight breaks out leaving three snipers and one civilian dead.
Civilians gather in the
morning to try and separate warring factions.
10:50 At the
Club Filipino. Corazon Aquino and Salvador Laurel are sworn in as President and
Vice-President respectively by Supreme Court Senior Justice Claudio
Teehankee.
Enrile is named Defense
Minister and Ramos is appointed Armed Forces Chief of Staff. President Aquino pledges to
rebuild her country saying, "We are home again!"
The ceremony is concluded
with the singing of Ang Bayan Ko.
12:00
Marcos takes his oath at Malacaņang Palace. The inaugural is attended by several
flag-waving Marcos loyalists. Marcoss running mate Arturo Tolentino fails to attend
the event.
President Marcos says later,
"We will overcome these obstacles."
The crowd outside chants,
"Martial Law! Martial Law!"
Channels 2,9 and 13, still
under government control, air the event but go off the air immediately after. Reformist
soldiers finally
take over the transmission
towers of the three stations.
Without television, Marcos
finally loses control. He calls Enrile and offers him power in a provisional government.
Enrile refuses the offer. Marcos is advised by Sen. Paul Laxalt. He is told, "Mr.
President, I think you should cut, and cut clearly."
Marcos calls Enrile, asking
for safe passage for him and his family.
Negotiations are initiated
between American Ambassador Stephen Bosworth and Enrile with regards to the departure of
President Marcos and his family. Aquino approves of the negotiations, adding that Marcos
must leave the country.
Beleaguered Marcos loyalists
face off with thousands of Aquino supporters at the gates of the Malacaņang Palace.
Sporadic rock-throwing clashes erupt into the evening between the two sides.
21:50 Marcos
and his family flee the country aboard for American helicopters and taken to Clark Air
Base along General Ver and a few of his aides. They fly to Guam en-route to Hawaii.
News of
Marcos departure reaches the people. Crowds converge on the palace grounds chanting,
"Cory! Cory! Cory!" and "Its liberation day!"
Fighting between Aquino
supporters and Marcos loyalists erupts at the palace as the gates are thrown open and
thousands charge into the palace. Some looting is reported but the area is calmed by
midnight. Thousands gather to pray and cheer in front of the enclave.
Fireworks are set off and
street dancing occurs throughout the city. On a stage outside the palace, small groups
kneel and pray at the foot of an image of the Virgin Mary.
The revolution is
over
for now.
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