Thread by @indiohistorian

#TodayinHistory in 1986, Marines broke thru Camp Aguinaldo's east wall, but hesitated due to civilian buffer. Soon, PH Air Force's 15th Strike Wing hovered. Crowd expected an attack but the airmen joined the crowd. Marcos issued kill order but it was not obeyed. THREAD. #EDSA37

Radyo Veritas provided a blow-by-blow account of #EDSA even as its transmission tower was compromised by the PH Constabulary attack, limiting its airing to Luzon. However, a mysterious radio station appeared at 12mn calling itself "Radyo Bandido."

Listeners tuned in, as Radyo Bandido (@DZRJ810AM) station played the Mambo Magsaysay jingle, making people realize that it was really Radyo Veritas gone rogue. soundcloud.com/podcast-ph/cla…

At 1 am, the crowd was warned by the station that Marines were on their way to attack Camp Aguinaldo once again. The civilian barricade braced themselves. At around 3:00 am, Enrile & Ramos, via radio, warned that an attack was imminent.

The int'l press present was evacuated. At around 4am, the Marines moved w/ efficiency, broke thru Camp Aguinaldo's eastern wall, but was shock to find priests, nuns, pastors, & church volunteers, leading an immovable human wall inside the Camp.

The crowd inside sang the National Anthem, others knelt, while others clapped. The military was stunned. The reaction was emotionally disarming for the soldiers. At 5am, Marcos was heard on radio: "We'lll wipe them out. It is obvious that they are committing rebellion."

At 6:00 am, choppers suddenly hovered around Camp Crame. Ramos, & the defecting soldiers inside the camp called on civilians to disperse & take cover. The journalists hid. They were 7 choppers all in all, armed w/ rockets & guns. They landed in Crame. Everyone held their breath.

N.Joaquin: "The crowd prayed louder, the religious continued singing. Then it happened. The lead helicopter waved the white flag! The others did the same. The soldiers leaned out to flash the Laban sign. The multitude went wild! People were laughing, crying & hugging each other."

The entire 15th Strike Wing of the Philippine Air Force defected to join People Power! From Ramos's mole in Malacañang, he received an erroneous info that Marcos fled the palace. He announced it to the EDSA crowd resulting in jubilation.

Amidst this was an ongoing tug-of-war in the military. At 9am, Gen. Josephus Ramas received a kill order from Marcos & gave it to Col. Braulio Balbas Jr. of 4th Marine regiment. Balbas sought confirmation & said: "We're still positioning the cannons & we are looking for maps."

At 9:15 am, to dispel rumors of his alleged escape, Marcos appeared on TV, declaring a state of emergency. In the said press con, AFP Chief of Staff Fabian Ver pleaded w/ Marcos to attack Crame. Marcos postured "My order is not to attack," despite kill order he issued mins ago.

Balbas asked Gen. Tadiar.

Tadiar: "I think the order of Ramas has been cleared. So you may fire."

"Sir, if I may, the people have been let inside Crame already & we will be hurting a lot of civilians."

"Then hold your fire & use your discretion."

Balbas' family was in EDSA.

One by one, Marine units refused orders from Malacañang. The defecting military units captured gov channel 4. Bombs were fired around Malacañang as the Marcos family fled downstairs. At 3pm, the #EDSA crowd stood at approx 2M from Cubao to Ortigas, Santolan, Libis, & adj sts.

At 1pm, Channel 4 aired for the 1st time after it was liberated by the military rebels, declaring itself a free and open station for the people— "People's Television". The telecasters were Col. Mariano Santiago, Orly Punzalan of Radio Veritas, Maan Hontiveros, & Fr. Efren Dato.

Cory Aquino appeared for the 1st time since Feb 22 near POEA along EDSA: "We have recovered our freedoms, our rights, & our dignity w/ much courage, &, we thank God, w/ little blood. I enjoin the people to keep the spirit of peace as we remove the last vestiges of tyranny..."

Seeing how Cory Aquino had overwhelming influence on the crowd, Enrile conceded leadership to her. If Enrile had his way, it would have been a military junta. But behold the irony of millions of unarmed civilians protecting military defectors. But #EDSA was not yet over.

Feb 24 1986 photos:
- Jubilation as choppers didn't fire, 📸Manuel Ferrer
- Choppers hover above crowd, 📸Sonny Camarillo
- The people’s uprising engulfs defected helicopters, 📸 Jaime Unson
- A reformist & a Marcos soldier embrace, 📸S. Camarillo

- Marcos press con, GovPh YouTube Channel
- Channel 4's new hosts, 📸 Manuel Ferrer