Presidency of

Corazon
Conjuangco
Aquino

 The bloodless,
PeoplePowerRevolutionin EDSA
renewed thepowerof the people,
strengthened the meaning
ofdemocracyand restored the
democratic institutions of government.

 The Presidency
ofCorazon C.
Aquinospanned for
six years from
February 25, 1986 to
June 30, 1992.

 Corazon Aquino (1933-2009) was the

first female president of the
Philippines, and is known for leading
the People Power Revolution in 1986
which restored democracy to the
country. She was named TIMEs
Woman of the Year in 1986.

 During the first few months of her

presidency, the Philippines experienced
radical changes and reforms.
Cory immediately created a Constitutional
Commission in charge of drafting a new
constitution, and created the Presidential
Commission on Good Government which went
after Marcoss ill-gotten wealth.

 The new Corazon Aquino Administration gave

strong emphasis and concern for civil liberties
and human rights, and peace talks with
communist insurgents and Muslim secessionists.
Cory also focused on bringing back economic
health and confidence.
The Aquino administration succeeded in paying
off $4 billion of the countrys outstanding debts.

 On the over-all, the Aquino administration made

important gains in the aspects of bringing back
democracy, restoring investor confidence in the
economy and enacting legal and constitutional reforms.
Despite these achievements, her presidency faced
several threats from both right-wing military
elements and extreme left-wing communist rebels.

Further, her administration dealt with numerous

problems such as major natural disasters which struck
the country and severe power shortages which took a
toll on doing business in the Philippines. It was also
during her tenure that the United States finally
ended its military bases and presence in the country.

Economy
Since 1986, the Aquino administration has paid off $4
billion of the country's outstanding debts to regain
good international credit ratings and attract the
attention of future markets.
Nevertheless, the administration borrowed an
additional $9 billion, increasing the national debt by
$5 billion within six years time since the ouster of
former President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

the Aquino administration also sought to bring back fiscal

discipline in order as it aimed to trim down the government's
budget deficit that ballooned during Marcos' term through
privatization of bad government assets and deregulation of many
vital industries.
It was also during Aquino's time that vital economic laws such as
the Built-Operate-Transfer Law, Foreign Investments Act and
the Consumer Protection and Welfare Act were enacted.

The economy posted a positive growth of 3.4% during her first

year in office. But in the aftermath of the 1989 coup attempt,
the Philippine economy remained stagnant. In her final year in
office, inflation was raging at 17%, and unemployment was slightly
over 10%, higher than the Marcos years.
Overall, the economy under Aquino had an average growth of
3.8% from 1986 to 1992.

Revolutionary Government

 President Aquino issued Proclamation No. 3, which

established a revolutionary government.
She abolished the 1973 Constitution that was in
force during martial law, and instead promulgated the
provisional 1986 Freedom Constitution, pending the
ratification of a new Constitution by the people.

This allowed Aquino to exercise both executive and legislative

powers until the ratification of the new Philippine Constitution
and the establishment of a new Congress in 1987.

Landmark Legislation

Aquino promulgated two landmark

legal codes:
TheFamily Code of 1987, which
reformed thecivil lawon family
relations
Administrative Code of 1987, which
reorganized the structure of
theexecutive branch of government.

 .Another landmark law that was enacted

during her tenure was the 1991Local
Government Code, which devolved
national government powers to local
government units (LGUs).
The new Code also enhanced the power
of LGUs to enact local taxation
measures and assured them of a share
in the national revenue.

 Aquino closed down the Marcos-dominatedBatasang

Pambansato prevent the new Marcos loyalist
opposition from undermining her democratic reforms
and reorganized the membership of the Supreme
Court to restore its independence.
In May 1986, the reorganized Supreme Court
declared the Aquino government as "not merely a de
facto government but in fact and law a de jure
government", whose legitimacy had been affirmed by
the community of nations. This Supreme Court
decision significantly affirmed the status of Aquino
as the new, legitimate and rightful leader of the
Philippines.

1986 Constitutional Commission

President Aquino appointed 48 members of the 1986

Constitutional Commission (Con-Com), led by retired
activist Supreme Court Associate JusticeCecilia
Muoz-Palma.
On February 2, 1987, the new Constitution of the
Philippines, which put strong emphasis on civil
liberties, human rights and social justice, was
overwhelmingly approved by the Filipino people. The
ratification of the new Constitution was followed by
the election of senators and congress that same year
and the holding of local elections in 1988.

Agrarian Reform
Upon her ascension into power, President Aquino envisioned agrarian
and land reform as the centerpiece of her administration's social
legislative agenda.
On February 22, 1987, three weeks after the resounding
ratification of the 1987 Constitution, agrarian workers and farmers
marched to the historic Mendiola Street nearMalacaan Palace to
demand genuine land reform from Aquino's administration.
The farmers' march turned bloody and violent when Marine forces
fired at farmers who tried to go beyond the designated
demarcation line set by the police. As a result, 12 farmers were
killed and 19 were injured in this incident now known as
theMendiola Massacre.

 President Aquino issued Presidential Proclamation 131 and Executive Order

229 on July 22, 1987, which outlined her land reform program, which
included sugar lands.
In 1988, with the backing of Aquino, the newCongress of the
PhilippinespassedRepublic ActNo. 6657, more popularly known as the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law." The law paved the way for the
redistribution of agricultural lands to tenant-farmers from landowners,
who were paid in exchange by the government throughjust
compensationbut were also allowed to retain not more than five hectares
of land.
Corporate landowners were also allowed under the law to "voluntarily
divest a proportion of theircapital stock, equity or participation in favor
of their workers or other qualified beneficiaries", in lieu of turning over
their land to the government for redistribution. Despite the flaws in the
law, the Supreme Court upheld its constitutionality in 1989, declaring that
the implementation of the comprehensive agrarian reform program (CARP),
provided by the said law, was "a revolutionary kind of expropriation."

Privatization

P31 billion, slightly more than 25 percent of the government's

budget, was allocated to public sector enterprisesgovernmentowned or government-controlled corporationsin the form of
equity infusions, subsidies, and loans.

Aquino also found it necessary to write off P130 billion in bad

loans granted by the government's two major financial
institutions, the Philippine National Bank and the Development
Bank of the Philippines, "to those who held positions of power
and conflicting interest under Marcos."

The proliferation of inefficient and unprofitable public sector

enterprises and bad loans held by the Philippine National Bank,
the Development Bank of the Philippines, and other government
entities, was a heavy legacy of the Marcos years.

 Burdened with 296 public sector enterprises, plus 399 other

nonperforming assets transferred to the government by the
Philippine National Bank and the Development Bank of the
Philippines, the Aquino administration established the Asset
Privatization Trust in 1986 to dispose of government-owned and
government-controlled properties.
By early 1991, the Asset Privatization Trust had sold 230 assets
with net proceeds of P14.3 billion. Another 74 public sector
enterprises that were created with direct government investment
were put up for sale; 57 enterprises were sold wholly or in part for
a total of about P6 billion.
The government designated that about 30 percent of the original
public sector enterprises be retained and expected to abolish
another 20 percent. There was widespread controversy over the
fairness of the divestment procedure and its potential to
contribute to an even greater concentration of economic power in
the hands of a few wealthy families.

 Another example for President Aquino is the

sequesterment of its Marcos-owned radio and
television stations such as theBanahaw
Broadcasting Corporation,Radio Philippines
NetworkandIntercontinental Broadcasting
Corporationafter the1986 EDSA Revolution.
On July 16 and September 14, 1986,ABSCBN resumed its operations after 14 years of
their closure. Since then, its TV
stationDWWX-TV and two radio stations are
opened following a re-opening.

Media and Culture

Since 1986, Aquino adoptedOriginal Pilipino Musicby
implementingExecutive Order No. 255issued on July
25, 1987 which broadcasts hourly OPM songs to all FM
radio stations inMetro Manilaand in the provinces
regularly to shape up Filipino culture.
Singers likeRegine Velasquez,Randy Santiago,Ogie
Alcasid,Gary Valenciano,Manilyn Reynes,Donna
Cruzand others are contributed to the President's
implementation of Filipino music over the airwaves.
Stations likeDZOO-FM,DWLS, etc., are adopted
hourly OPMs effectively after the implementation.

Media and Culture

After the revolution, she removedMaharlika Broadcasting System ,
aMarcos-owned TV network originally ceased transmitting on February 24,
1986 to replace a new network under the brand namePeople's Television
Network, Incorporated (PTV-4) in April 1986. In 1992, PTNI made a
government broadcaster for the first time under RA 7306 when it was
signed. In 1988,GMA Networkunveils the new transmitter called
theTower of Powerlocated in Barangay Culiat inQuezon City with a grand
opening to mark a nationwide satellite broadcast and for the preparation
of a Rainbow satellite. The network becomes an instrument
ofdemocracyduring the revolution.
Aquino also encouraged the tourism sector to boost the national economy.
Under her six-year term, theDepartment of Tourismlaunched a program
calledThe Philippines: Fiesta Islands of Asia in 1989, offerstourist visits
in the country to show their natural wonders, to protect their indigenous
peoples, to preserve heritage sites and to contribute historical
importance.

Sports
The1986 Asian GamesinSeoul,South Koreafinished with
the Philippines in sixth with 18 medals.
In 1988, the1988 Summer Olympicsin Seoul,
athleteLeopoldo Serantesgot the bronze medal in the
men's light flyweight division of boxing. Manila was to
become the host city of the1991 Southeast Asian
Gamesand the host country finished second place to
Indonesia.
To ensure the standards of its athletes, thePhilippine
Sports Commission was established in 1990 as an institution
to train future athletes in sports and international events.

1987 legislative elections

Lakas ng Bayan(LABAN) coalition composed ofPDP-Laban, Lakas ng
Bansa, UNIDO,Liberal Party-Salong Wing,National Union of
Christian Democrats,Philippine Democratic Socialist Party, Bandila
and Pinaghiusa.
Grand Alliance for Democracy(GAD) coalition composed of the
Nacionalista Party, Kilusang Bagong Lipunan,Liberal Party-Kalaw
Wing, Partido Nacionalista ng Pilipinas, Christian Socialist
Democratic Party, Mindanao Alliance and Muslim Federal Party
UPP-KBLcoalition composed of Pro-Marcos forces.
Aquino's administration-coalition won 22 out of the 24 senate seats.

Military Insurrections

Coup attempts (19861987)

From 1986 to 1987, there were six plots to overthrow the
government ofPhilippine PresidentCorazon Aquinoinvolving various
members of theArmed Forces of the Philippines.
A significant number of the military participants in these attempts
belonged to theReform the Armed Forces Movement(RAM) led by
Gringo Honasan, while others were identified loyalists to former
President Ferdinand Marcos, who had been deposed in February 1986.
Two of the attempts the November 1986 "God Save the Queen"
plot and the July 1987 plot were uncovered and quashed by
authorities before they could be operationalized. Save for the
August 1987 coup attempts, which left 53 people dead, the other
plots were repelled with minimal or no violence.

1. Manila Hotel plot

The first occurred on 6 July 1986, when some 490 armed
soldiers and 15,000 civilians loyal to former
PresidentFerdinand Marcosoccupied theManila Hotelfor
37 hours.
At the hotel, Marcos'svice-presidentialrunning
mateArturo Tolentinoannounced that Marcos had
authorized him to temporarily take over the government,
took his oath as Acting President, and designated acabinet.
The public remained generally unaffected by this incident,
and it ended without violence by 8 July.

2. "God Save the Queen" Plot

A more serious conspiracy unfolded some months later, known as the "God
Save the Queen Plot".
The Davide Commission concluded thatNational Defense SecretaryEnrile
and members of theReform the Armed Forces Movement(RAM) were
behind the plot. Scheduled for 11 November 1986, the plot was discovered
by government several days in advance and was deliberately leaked to
thePhilippine Daily Inquirer, thus thwarting the plan.
The government then learnt that the plot was rescheduled for 22
November 1986.
On November 22, the military was placed on red alert and the rebel troops
were blockaded, leading them to return to barracks. The following day,
Aquino announced she had sacked Enrile as Defense Secretary and that she
would revamp her Cabinet, "to give the government a chance to start all
over again."

3. GMA-7 incident

From 2729 January 1987, around 100

soldiers led by Colonel Oscar Canlas
seized the main compound ofGMA
NetworkinQuezon City,while other
troops attempted in vain to
captureSangley Point Air Force
BaseinCavite. One rebel soldier was
killed, while 35 people were injured.

4. Black Saturday incident

OnBlack Saturday1987 (18 April), 56 rebel soldiers
staged a raid onFort Bonifacio. It was repelled
within the morning, with one rebel soldier dead.
5. MIA plot
In July 1987, a plot to stage another coup attempt
through a military takeover of theManila
International Airportwas uncovered before it could
be implemented, with four officers beingcourtmartialled for the plot.

6. August 1987 coup attempt

On 28 August 1987, the most serious attempt up to then to overthrow
Aquino's government was launched by members of theReform the Armed
Forces Movementled by Colonel Gregorio Honasan, who had been a
former top aide of Enrile.In the early morning of the 28th, rebel soldiers
launched an attack onMalacaan Palace. The siege was repelled within a
few hours, with several military and civilian casualties including Aquino's
son, current PresidentBenigno Aquino III, who was wounded. Honasan
himself led the soldiers that seized portions ofCamp Aguinaldo, including
the headquarters of theDepartment of National Defense. Rebel soldiers
also seized parts ofVillamor Airbase, three television stations in Manila,
military camps inPampangaandCebu, and the airport inLegaspi City.
Various statements broadcast by the rebels referred to "the
overindulgence in politics which now pervades in society", the supposed
mishandling of the communist insurgency, and the deplorable economic
condition of the military rebels. By day's end, government troops were
able to recapture most of the rebel-held facilities, and the coup had
fizzled out by the 29th. 53 were dead and more than 200 wounded; many
of the fatalities were unarmed civilians who were fired upon by rebels
after they were jeered by the crowd. Honasan himself evaded capture,
while Enrile (by then aSenator), denied involvement in the coup.

 Following the coup attempt, the Aquino government

seemingly veered to theright, dismissing perceived leftleaning officials such asExecutive SecretaryJoker
Arroyoand tacitly authorizing the establishment of
armed,quasi-militarygroups to combat the
ongoingcommunist insurgency.
It was also believed that GeneralFidel Ramoswho remained
loyal to Aquinoemerged as the second most-powerful person
in government following his successful quelling of the coup.
Across-the-board wage increases for soldiers were also
granted. Aquino herself meanwhile suedPhilippine
Starcolumnist Louie Beltran for libel after he wrote that
the President hid under her bed when the Palace was under
siege.

1989 coup attempt

The most seriouscoup d'tatagainst the government
ofPhilippine PresidentCorazon Aquino was staged beginning
1 December 1989 by members of theArmed Forces of the
Philippinesbelonging to theReform the Armed Forces
Movement (RAM) and soldiers loyal to former President
Ferdinand Marcos. Metro Manila was shaken by the coup,
where the rebels almost gained full control of
thepresidential palace. It was completely defeated by
Philippine Government forces on December 9, 1989.
December 1989 coup attempt
March 1990 coup attempt
October 1990 coup attempt

Controversies
Mendiola Massacre
Within a year of the People Power
Revolution, on January 22, 1987, state
security forces fired their guns into a
farmers' march on Malacaan Palace.
Thirteen of the peasants were killed
and many more wounded.

Luis Beltran Scandal

Luis Beltran, who was a Filipino journalist, became notorious for

mentioning in a column about the 1987 coup attempt that then
President Corazon Aquino had been hiding under the bed during
the coup. For this statement he was sued by the President for
libel. Aquino went so far as to show journalists that she could not
fit under her bed. Beltran, who openly expressed his belief that
the President was lacking in competence, countered that his
words were not meant to be taken literally, but Aquino still
pursued the case against him and the STAR's editor-in-chief Max
Soliven. On 22 October 1992, the court ruled in Aquino's favor,
sentencing the columnist and his editor to 2 years of
imprisonment and ordering them to pay 2 million pesos in moral
damages.

The End.
By:
Mikke D. Lejano
Patricia Ann C. Ruedas
Thank you for Listening~