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| I am prepared for the worst, and have decided against the advice of my mother, my spiritual adviser, many of my tested friends and a few of my most valued political mentors... | I am prepared for the worst, and have decided against the advice of my mother, my spiritual adviser, many of my tested friends and a few of my most valued political mentors... | ||
| I could have opted to seek political asylum in America, but I feel it is my duty, as it is the duty of every Filipino, to suffer with his people especially in time of crisis. I never sought |
I could have opted to seek political asylum in America, but I feel it is my duty, as it is the duty of every Filipino, to suffer with his people especially in time of crisis. I never sought nor have I been given any assurances, or promise of leniency by the regime. | ||
| I return voluntarily armed only with a clear conscience and fortified in the faith that in the end, justice will emerge triumphant. According to Gandhi, the willing sacrifice of the innocent is the most powerful answer to insolent tyranny that has yet been conceived by God and man... | I return voluntarily armed only with a clear conscience and fortified in the faith that in the end, justice will emerge triumphant. According to Gandhi, the willing sacrifice of the innocent is the most powerful answer to insolent tyranny that has yet been conceived by God and man... | ||
Revision as of 19:32, 10 May 2004
Benigno Aquino Jr.
Benigno Aquino Jr. (November 27, 1932 - August 21, 1983), more popularly known by his nickname, Ninoy, was a leading opposition politician in the Philippines during the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos. He was assassinated at the Manila International Airport on returning home from exile, and widow Corazon Aquino became the focus of the opposition and eventually replaced Marcos as president.
Born in Concepción in Tarlac province, he became mayor of the town in 1955 at the age of only 22. In the same year he married Corazón. He became governor of Tarlac in 1961, secretary-general of the Liberal Party in 1966, and a senator in 1967. When President Marcos declared martial law in 1972 Aquino was imprisoned on charges of murder and subversion. He was sentenced to death in 1977. This was commuted into exile to allow medical treatment in the United States in 1980.
On August 21, 1983 he returned to the Philippines. He wished to return to suffer alongside his people and to appeal directly to Marcos to step down and seek a peaceful regime change and reformation. In his prepared speech, Ninoy wrote:
"I have returned on my free will to join the ranks of those struggling to restore our rights and freedoms through non-violence.
I seek no confrontation. I only pray and will strive for a genuine national reconciliation founded on justice.
I am prepared for the worst, and have decided against the advice of my mother, my spiritual adviser, many of my tested friends and a few of my most valued political mentors...
I could have opted to seek political asylum in America, but I feel it is my duty, as it is the duty of every Filipino, to suffer with his people especially in time of crisis. I never sought nor have I been given any assurances, or promise of leniency by the regime.
I return voluntarily armed only with a clear conscience and fortified in the faith that in the end, justice will emerge triumphant. According to Gandhi, the willing sacrifice of the innocent is the most powerful answer to insolent tyranny that has yet been conceived by God and man...
I return from exile and an uncertain future with only determination and faith to offer – faith in our people and faith in God."
Despite the presence of his own security guards and government troops on the tarmac, he was gunned down by Rolando Galman, who was immediately shot dead by troops. It was never officially established why Galman had done it, though many suspected that Galman was just a fall guy. Even more suspicions arose on who ordered the assassination. Everyone from the CIA to the Communist Party of the Philippines to First Lady Imelda Marcos was accused of having conspired for the hit. It must also be noted that President Marcos was gravely ill and in very poor shape during this time, as he was at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute recovering from his kidney transplant on August 7 when this incident occurred-he was in no shape to run the government. Conspiracy theories arose as to who was in charge when Marcos was in his sickbed. President Marcos ordered an independent body, the Agrava Commission, to investigate the assassination. High-ranking military officials were indicted, including Gen. Fabian Ver, the Armed Forces Chief and known as Marcos's enforcer, but were soon acquitted.
The assassination thrust his widow Cory into the popular eye, and as head of the opposition coalition she stood for president in 1986, and gained the disputed election when Marcos fled the country.
- “The Filipino is worth dying for.” —Ninoy Aquino
In his honor, the Manila International Airport has been renamed as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and his image is printed on the 500-peso bill.
His son, Benigno Aquino III, is a congressman representing a district of Tarlac and his daughter, Kris Aquino, is a popular TV and movie actress.