During this week, which marks the 40th anniversary of the assassination of former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., I am reminded of a profound truth: In God’s time, all that is hidden will be revealed. This applies not only to the events surrounding Aquino’s tragic death, but also to the countless mysteries and tragedies that perplex us today.
There have been suspicions, information, and allegations about what really happened within the upper echelons of the Marcos Sr. dictatorship before Aquino and the alleged assassin or fall guy, Rolando Galman, were both brutally gunned down on the airport tarmac on August 21, 1983. (For further details, I recommend reading Manuel L. Quezon III’s insightful Inquirer column piece titled “Mastermind” in The Long View, August 23, 2023.) However, it is important to highlight the aftermath of this assassination. On the ground level, a string of criminal incidents occurred, seemingly connected to the assassination, including mysterious disappearances and abductions. These incidents will be explored further.
Although the Agrava Board, which was tasked with investigating the crime and ultimately led to the downfall of the dictator in 1986, uncovered some truths, it was an arduous process. The marathon investigation held at the SSS building in Quezon City was a spectacle that seemed never-ending. Witnessing this drama up close was anything but delightful. For those inclined to delve into the legal, historical, and criminal aspects of the case, there is a compilation of the board’s proceedings and findings available. This compilation is a testament to the relentless reporting by Mr. & Ms., a feisty weekly supplement, where I also had the opportunity to contribute. The publication, founded by Eggie Apostol, later became the foundation of the Inquirer. It documented the assassination, the people’s uprising, and the downfall of tyranny. However, despite these efforts, the plain truth remained elusive.
Years later, the Sandiganbayan convicted military men and officials complicit in the Aquino and Galman assassinations, but the mastermind behind the plot remained unidentified. In 2003, I conducted a three-part series of interviews with the convicted individuals at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa, recounting the events surrounding August 21, 1983. Although no one confessed to being the actual gunman, there were intriguing revelations.
Over time, these men were released after serving their sentences, and sadly, several of them have passed away. One of them was even fatally stabbed while in prison. But it is crucial to acknowledge that the incidents that unfolded after August 21 were not limited to the Manila International Airport, where Aquino and Galman were killed. Individuals who possessed knowledge about Galman or had some connection to him became targets. Galman himself was a mysterious figure, and uncovering the identity of the person who hired him or anyone who had a vague understanding of the arrangement could potentially lead to the truth.
One interview that stands out is the extensive conversation between the late Mauro Avena (who was also a poet) and lawyer Lupino Lazaro. Lazaro, representing the Galman family, took the grieving Galmans and the families of the missing Oliva sisters under his wing. This interview, published in Panorama magazine on July 1, 1984, under the title “Is the Agrava Board Afraid to Know the Truth?”, exposed damning information. As a result, Avena, Lazaro, magazine editor Domini Torrevillas Suarez, and the publisher were slapped with a staggering P120-million libel suit each by then ambassador at large Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. Additionally, they were hit with a P100-million libel suit from General Fabian Ver, the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. This legal battle is a story in itself.
Galman was dead, and there were individuals who had mysteriously gone missing. Lazaro found himself embroiled in a clash with high-profile lawyers in expensive suits. His mission was to locate the missing Oliva sisters, Galman’s common-law wife Lina Lazaro, and uncover their whereabouts if they were still alive. During this pursuit, certain names emerged, prompting those who might be involved to act swiftly. Avena’s article, “Is the Agrava Board Afraid to Know the Truth?”, shook the foundations. This was the plight of common people who happened to be in close proximity to where some semblance of truth resided.
I yearn to find a copy of Veritas magazine, where the renowned storyteller and author Gregorio Brillantes penned a captivating piece about the town in Nueva Ecija, Galman’s birthplace. The article highlighted Galman’s grieving mother, who identified her son in the morgue through a scar on his crotch. Despite the evidence, she never believed until her dying day that her son was the assassin. It is a story that leaves a lasting impression.
If you are interested in delving further into these accounts and other reports that challenged the Marcos dictatorship, I encourage you to explore the book I edited and co-wrote, “Press Freedom Under Siege: Reportage that Challenged the Marcos Dictatorship,” published by the University of the Philippines Press in 2019. This book was honored with the National Book Award for Journalism in 2022 and can be purchased online.
In conclusion, the assassination of Benigno Aquino Jr. and the events that unfolded afterwards continue to be shrouded in mystery. However, we must hold onto the hope that with time, the truth will come to light, allowing justice to prevail.
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