EDSA Memories
RAM leaders meet President Marcos (Part Two)
President Marcos called the RAM leaders to a meeting at his office in Malacañang. Until that time, I was just one of those attending RAM meetings with no responsibilities in the organization. But the day before the palace meeting, Greg Honasan approached me and asked me to
be the spokesman of the group. I agreed after much pleading and teasing about my “malambing” Ilonggo accent.
In the meeting, President Marcos spent at least half an hour to explain the world, regional, and local situation. It was a compelling presentation and was devoid of propaganda. Then he paused and asked if there were any questions from our group. He had warned that Red China was waiting in the wings, and was actively lending support to the local communist movement. Several attempts have been made to supply arms to the insurgents.
Nobody asked a question. “Any comments or suggestions?” he persisted.
Out of the blue, Gen. Fidel Ramos, who was in the meeting pointed me out – “Capt. Robles has something to say”(!) I was caught by surprise as we never talked about this scenario earlier.
For some reason, I had a copy of Marcos’ book, “Toward a New Partnership: The Filipino Ideology.”
While chatting with Col. Irwin Ver outside the presidential office and to pass the time, I joked, “Don’t try to detain us on our way out. You won’t succeed. (Relations with Irwin was always cordial, thus the jocular tone) I continued, showing him the copy of the book I was holding. “All I have to do is to raise this up for the soldiers to see and they will give way, much as Moses parted the Red Sea.”
Irwin thought this was quite funny and responded with a golf joke that, unfortunately, I could no longer remember. Message from President Marcos
But what to say to Marcos after Gen. Ramos unceremoniously put me on the spot? I gathered my wits and addressed the President thus:
“Mr. President, I wish I would have the ability to pass on to our members the words of wisdom you have given us today. I hold in my hand a copy of your book, and the least I can do is ask you to personally dedicate this book to them. For this book is our guide in our yearning for reform. (The book talks of the beginnings of democracy in Europe and how our heroes, Rizal, Luna, LopezJaena were influenced by those ideas.) This book, I continued, is the touchstone of the movement!
Visibly pleased, President Marcos asked me to approach his desk and held out his hand for my copy of his book. Then he paused and started to write on the inside fly leaf. There was complete silence and hardly any movement in the room while he was doing this. I could see the Marcos children – Imee and Irene, by the door, with some palace employees.
Honasan, Kapunan, and myself had security men behind our chairs. Bongbong Marcos was standing beside the Chief of Security (was it Col. Barangan?) with his polo barong bulging with two pistols around his waist.
I waited for the President to finish. This was what he wrote:
“To our Reformists in the Armed Forces:
“I offer the thoughts and ideas in this book as a basis for the studies you are making in the Reform Movement in the AFP. May they serve you well as you have announced that this book is one of your guides. Sincerely, F E Marcos”
Arrest put on hold
President Marcos then called Greg Cendaña and instructed him to “give enough copies” to the RAM. Army Chief Gen J. Ramas’ threat to arrest RAM members had to be put on hold after that meeting and the President’s message in his handwritten dedication.
(The author, a member of PMA Class 65, is a retired Navy Commodore. He currently works as a consultant for Taganito Mining Corporation and also helps Senator Honasan map out a development plan for the Defense Department. He will be 75 in May. In this series, Robles shares memories of the EDSA Revolution from where he was then – in the middle of the People Power Revolution.)