EDSA II’s 2nd anniversary

We feel sad about the fact that even as early as the eve of the 2nd anniversary of EDSA II, there was already a demonstration against the present administration. It is important that both EDSA I and EDSA II be placed in their proper historical perspective.

What is the truth about these two peaceful revolutions? The truth is that they were both military revolutions. EDSA I started when the Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile and Armed Forces Chief Gen. Fidel V. Ramos abandoned the Marcos Regime. The people came to their support with the People’s Power demonstration in EDSA. But what truly ousted Marcos from power was when the Americans exiled him to Hawaii. Of course, he had no recourse but to follow the Americans because he had lost the support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

As for EDSA II, then-Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had nothing to do with EDSA II, which was organized, not to place her in power, but to remove President Joseph Estrada from Malacañang. What triggered EDSA II was something that happened during the impeachment trial of President Estrada. The senators refused to open a certain envelope that was supposed to contain strong evidence against Estrada and that triggered EDSA II. Erap’s downfall came when he took his most trusted military advisers with him to Malacañang and they informed him that he had to step down. President Estrada was not impeached. That is why he maintains that he is only on leave. If he is just on leave, why is he being held a prisoner?

By sheer coincidence, the two lady presidents that we have had became heads of state, not through an election but by a coup. The election between Marcos and Cory Aquino was a mock election. There was no way that any opponent of Marcos could win an election during his dictatorship. The sentiments of the electorate were for Ninoy’s widow. But that was never officially reflected in the election results.

In the case of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President Estrada stepped down from power – under pressure from the military – and as the duly-elected Vice President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was the legal heir to the position. She played no active part in the EDSA II demonstrations that ousted President Estrada. The issue against Erap was plunder.

Now there are stray radical groups that are again holding demonstrations against the present administration. But they have not presented any formal charges that could be the basis of an impeachment case. If we would listen to these people, we would end up with mob rule replacing the rule of law. We would become worse than a banana republic. We will be a kamote republic.