Chapter 30
Ninoy's Assassination at Tarmac
(Source: Microsoft Bing. Retrieved 08-11-22)
One major event that stirred the collective consciousness of Filipinos from its long stupor came on a Sunday, August 21, 1983, on the tarmac. It was Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino's assassination. The event was so fast that Ninoy was right away dead a few seconds after disembarking from an airplane carrying him aboard from Taiwan using 'Marcial Bonifacio's name in his passport. The mastermind might have grinned ear to ear learning the success of the conspiracy. The thrill though died its natural death. The plot to kill the returning popular opposition contributed to more harm than good. The otherwise repercussion boomeranged later political development validated.
"Who could have done this was a crazy Nut miscalculating the tragic incident creating more damage than good and 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 messes as an officer of the highly politicized institution with all those ramifications treating him to rollercoaster ride. He was elated nonetheless having survived the ordeal at Mt. Sungcal he thought constituting an unwanted episode defining his once-promising military career. He abhorred really how thrilling that episode was coming back like a dream. Now that he is wide awake savoring the sweetness of freedom how he wishes not to experience again a similar predicament tormenting him anew.
"But how about this Ninoy's untimely death happening?" was the intriguing burning question. Of course, he was not privy to this incident but was somehow affected by being part of a military organization.
"What another scandal to the institution he was once an active member of. Could it be the end of my career as a military officer?" he thought. But why he is so affected given the nature of assassination all over the globe none among the suspects were caught.
"Why would I indeed," he said to himself learning assassins running scot-free after delivering their services leaving no final closure of such incident despite eventual investigations. And the most controversial and unexpected of them all.
"What happened to our country General?" asked then Vice President Emmanuel Pelaez ambushed along E. Rodriguez street in Quezon City. Luckily, he survived. And here comes Ninoy's turn ending his political career.
The tragedy ushered in new political development in the country. Filipinos were divided. Consumed by Ninoy's untimely death people were soon polarized sea of humanity started flexing their muscles against the Powers-that-be. Eventually two important military figures Min. Juan Ponce Enrile and Gen. Eddie 'Steady' Ramos, the top two solid supporters of Marcos 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 be the opportune time to drop him. It's unfortunate that Marcos' was already nursing terminal cancer in 1985. It was necessary to address the issue or might metastasize to other vital organs creating further complications.
Rolando Galman was the culprit as a hired assassin. What if the news concocted by the military circulating if at all to be believed? But of course, the claim was just one of the ride-on 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 about his delivery of a 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 ensue how this guy did the dirty job-killing Ninoy given his height and trajectory of the bullet which was most unlikely unless he brought a ladder or a chair firing that fatal shot on Ninoy. Like Agatha Christie's classic, all persons with 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 from the US," nasty thought played Taklin's mind though most unlikely to account for his participation.
"But who knows, just who knows given how Uncle Sam playing around influencing world politics through his Manifest Destiny and Benevolent Assimilation," Taklin further thought.
Lupita Kashiwara's expose would have to make it solve the crime. As his narratives were run by Philippine Free Press, his charges implicating the military were the closest. He knows accompanying his brother-in-law from the US and was right there seated at Ninoy's right in an airplane and went with him disembarking at the tarmac hearing very edible close shots sending the poor Ninoy dead blood spread in his upper body. Commissioner Corazon J. Agrava's two reports mandated to conduct the ensuing investigation incidentally would corroborate his observation. But surprisingly nothing is heard the proceeding stopped sounds once muffled conked out dead.
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 a crush on Ninoy back then. Even when Ninoy was in Boston, he would call right away his friend in Malacañang every time he runs out of money. True enough few minutes after each call, $1,000.00 or more becomes handy saving bad times for Ninoy and their friends. This he did to four other members – Dante Santos representing the business sector; Ernesto Boy Herrera, labor; Amado C. Hizon and Atty. Luciano Salazar. It took a one-year thorough investigation involving 20,000 pages of testimony from 193 witnesses before coming out with two reports – one for the majority and another for the 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 Majority Report on the other hand indicted many AFP officers – Gen. Luther Custodio, Gen. Prospero Olivas, Head of AVSECOM, and Gen. Ver also included. There was a plan actually for the group to convene on Nov. 3, 1983, but Marcos made the thing happen by accusing the Communists of killing Ninoy – a decision on the promptings of Rodulfo Salas, Sec. Gen. of Phil. Communist Party. "Ninoy befriended but subsequently betrayed his Communists comrades," Major de la Rosa further learned.
No one testified who fired the fatal shot. But Rebecca Quijano saw a man running towards Aquino and his escorts pointing a gun at the back of his head then the sound of gunshot ensued felling Ninoy's body to the tarmac dead. The post-mortem conducted was 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 a military uniform!" Taklin concluded his reading Agrava report. Disturbing him however was later developed creating a mess that otherwise subdued the natural trend toward possible disclosure of the suspect.
The timeline was dizzying but Taklin didn't mind. 25 men including generals and Colonels and one civilian were charged in 1985 by Sandigan Bayan, Special 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 reducing to 22 years was made claiming that the assassination was ordered by business partner Eduardo Cojuango Jr. Marcos' business partner was surprisingly cleared by the Aquino family. 16 defendants were finally convicted by Sandigan Bayan and sentenced to life imprisonment. Fortunately, MSgt Pablo Martinez was later released from National Bilibid Prison after Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered his release for the humanitarian reason of old age. He was already in his late 70's age. Enthusiasm was however dampened when he recants his earlier declaration implicating Eduardo Cojuangco as the mastermind. His parting shot however just the same reveals 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 last.
Murder has been there everywhere from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The election is abnormal if there are no killings. Ambushes were once a 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 Malacañang 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.
Any concerned Filipino taxpayers jumped right away to the conclusion that Lakay Apo might have ordered 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 the tarmac, the 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 reverberates 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 then DOJ Secretary Hernani Perez. But alas the feeling of fear and trembling still gripping the collective consciousness of the people brought by the ineptitude of those in authority and the 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 a most welcome development. Admittedly though, pinning down the culprits and meting out desirable penalties is a Herculean task. Like any work of fiction, it needs honest-to-goodness sleuthing requiring the use of a 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 ramifications 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 the Agrava Commission.
"Whatever happened to our authority and justice system they are so inept that they have failed in solving the crime. Something fishy here." Fr. Driarco gathered.
Incidentally, two names almost did us great favor – Col. Erwin Ver and Sgt. Martinez, one of the principal witnesses - both recanting the gruesome cold-blooded murder of Ninoy and categorically naming Danding Cojuangco as the mastermind. It was such a very important lead carrying decisive pronouncement given the credibility of Martinez having experienced religious conversion inside the prison cell.
Unfortunately, whatever happened that he was even faster at taking back his testimony before he could declare his testimony under oath. He was granted a presidential pardon and retired home; the issue died its natural death.
"It's all the closest we got and probably would have solved the crime," Taklin thought. That was a few years back and as usual, he has all the Filipinos caught in a fix. Thus, the 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?"
"Even the tandem of Mother, widow, and son Benigno Jr. didn't mind giving damn resolving the issue," seen from a meme later posted giving back the issue to the affected family.
"We are now back to square one. Leaving that proverbial light in the tunnel indubitably remains distant forever," Major de la Rosa uttered in resignation.
It was a conspiracy leaving no trace of accountability. Events overtook swiftly leaving all caught off guard 'who could have done it.' One thing though is sure that incident was carried out single-handedly with a conspiracy hatched in his mind, no one bugging him. When resolved, it would surely be such great favor done ever for all Filipinos, especially among post-Martial Law babies. Rizal's death by musketry and Andres Bonifacio by the men of Aguinaldo were already closed and done issues 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 as a party to the conspiracy and their voices heard. The assassination of great personalities like US Presidents is top secret except for that of Abraham Lincoln who was gunned down in a lobby of a theater and John F. Kennedy where assassin Lee Oswald was later caught. Handled by professionals in cahoots with trusted lieutenants, it is carried out in such systematic and precise calculated covert operation leaving authorities in the cold of the night leaving no imprints to trace the crimes committed.
But better for the real suspect to recant and fix the mess as no way they could keep the lead forever in their hearts. They may even bury them in their grave but no way they could keep away from them. 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 to cooperate merely aggravated the guesswork of the real culprits.
"For as long as it remains unresolved, I think more would be written about him. Ninoy, after all, is just one of few good men any writers would be interested about to explore writing," this the Major de la Rosa whispered hoping would have its final closure.
"But when?" a question that brought him back to square one.
"Who knows the answer just lies 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 on his still unresolved 32nd 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 a connection to his search for lasting peace for Mindanao.
The latest crazy development of them all – a picture of Ninoy with a man in Malaysia posted on the internet two days before Ninoy's ill-fated trip back to the Philippines. The man was a 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' Aquino Jr. in his participation in Mindanao's Bangsamoro struggle, actually the brainchild of Nur Misuari back then as Head of MNLF concocted in 1974 yet dragged till 1996 Tripoli Agreement which leads to the creation of Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao composed of Muslim dominated provinces and municipalities panel.
Whatever transpired during that talk? 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 accuse as a 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 Datucan Abbas, a wily and subtle MILF Chief negotiator in a Bangsamoro struggle later in Mindanao. Nothing new here. This is as far as Major de la Rosa is concerned because Sabah had been on the mind of Ninoy as his tough bargaining chip in whatever political ambition he had. The reason that he exposed the Jabidah Massacre, Taklin learned how this relationship tied two pieces together making sense.
"Betrayal of Filipino people continues," dawned to him why Ninoy's namesake Malacañang occupant and his elk at DOJ had been moving heaven and earth to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
"That doesn't include the reportedly P300 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 wryly to the air and smiling
The guy happened to use many aliases. "I'm into revolutionary government and we're allowed to use 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 the benefits of his doubts using various aliases.
"How could that be when using aliases constitute a 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 in several bombings with a warrant of arrest issued in 2003 linking to the bombing of Davao International Airport 20 killed and 143 injured and Davao Sasa Wharf where 17 were killed and 56 injured. The man has even the gall of 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 grill him in the Senate giving him a lesson. That man incidentally goes by the name of Mohagher Iqbal, the same name he affixed in the Bangsamoro document with the government peace panel!
Taklin was sad remembering right away his good friend Fr. Driarco he thought might have suffered an identity crisis learning Jesuit Mafia had it again providing even recognition and award to Iqbal.
"Recognition for what . . . ? misconception that peace is delivered in a 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 as the casualty 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 on paper. Feudalism, arm fetish, and bloodshed would remain," he cleared.
"Look how Muslim provinces registered as the top ten poorest provinces in a row,"
"Whatever happened that there exist ghost municipalities in the region. Where is the internal revenue allotment that many of these municipalities are in stark poverty this while their Mayors and Governors were making among the top riches CEOs basing their assets in their SALN!" this and many other hard facts existed in Taklin's mind. He has to let it go through. Few brave souls who have the nerve to confront this group incidentally were harassed and ultimately silenced perpetuating such corruption in their places. What more of Fatwah elders issued against the critics?
"Want peace. Let us begin with them," he concluded or the issue might further be dragged ad infinitum.
. . . . . . . . . . .