#TodayinHistory in 1986, #Marcos Sr. sent 12 tanks to #EDSA led by Gen. Artemio Tadiar in an attempt to arrest the defectors & disperse the crowd. But the human barricades across the intersection of Ortigas & EDSA forced the marines to pull back. THREAD. #EDSA37 #PH #history
The day prior, as news of Ramos and Enrile’s defection reached Cory Aquino, she was staying for the night in secret at the Carmelite monastery in Cebu. The sisters saw it their moral duty to protect her, w/ conviction that they’re protecting the legitimately elected president.
At dawn, via Radyo Veritas, Enrile & Ramos began calling again for Marcos' ouster. At 5:30am, PH Constabulary attacked Radyo Veritas limiting its airing to Luzon only. A few hours later, men began cutting down trees & used these as barricade on roads near Camps Crame & Aguinaldo.
Soon after, in Cebu, the U.S. consul assured Cory Aquino of securing her return to Manila. She arrived in Manila at 12 noon. Around this time, the #EDSA crowd numbered to approx 400,000. News came in that tanks sent by Marcos Sr were on their way via Boni Serrano Ave & Guadalupe
People coming from the direction of the Makati Hotel overtook those Guadalupe tanks & called on the buses, cars, & crowd in the Ortigas & EDSA intersection to help them. “Help us! The tanks are coming!” Immediately, barricades were formed across the intersection.
At the intersection, the crowd pleaded to Marine Commandant Artemio "Temy" Tadiar:
"Temy, may asawa ka at anak, huwag mong gawin ito!"
"Bakit kayo sumusunod sa diktador?"
"Pilipino kami tulad niyo! Babarilin niyo ba kami?!"
Judge Alfredo Tadiar called on his nephew via Radyo Veritas for him to stand down: "Artemio, this is your Uncle Fred. Your Aunt Florence & I and all your cousins are here in Crame. Now, boy, please listen to me." Tadiar told people to disperse or they’ll “take the backdoor.”
The tanks advanced one meter more, but the crowd stood resolute.
Nick Joaquin: "Only as death became an immediate possibility did the general mood become grimmer and graver, more serious, though still outwardly lighthearted."
The tanks stopped. And they began to pull back.
A resounding jubilation erupted among the crowd of thousands. The civilian buffer was successful, as more people would come the next day. At night, Cory Aquino met with Ramos & Enrile individually. #EDSA was far from over.
Photos dated 23 Feb 1986:
- Nuns as 1st line of defense, 📸Pulitzer-awardee Kim Komenich
- Trees cut down as barricade, 📸Romeo Vitug
- EDSA crowd in the morning, 📸 historian Ricardo T. Jose, via Grid Magazine
- The crowd implored Marines to stand down, 📸 Joe Galvez Jr.
- Hands vs hefty metal 📸 Peter Reyes
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