THE SNAP ELECTION
("Employees of the National Computer Center walk out of the PICC after noticing discrepancies between their own reports and the published national tally, February 9, 1986")
The Snap Election on February 7, 1986 revealed the fraudulence of Marcos, demonstrating the extent of the President's corruption and serving as the final trigger for the Revolution.
Marcos Calls for an Early Election
Marcos’s legitimacy was under fire amongst Filipinos, so when senators suggested a snap election, he agreed to “give the opposition little time to unite behind a single candidate” (Dump Marcos).
- The C.I.A.
Uncovered Election Fraud
Although Marcos was declared the winner by the government's COMELEC (Commission on Elections), data gathered by volunteer organization NAMFREL found that Aquino won by about 800,000 votes (Sanchez).
(NAMFREL Statement on the Philippine Presidential Election)
“NO TO CHEATING - Some 30 tabulators manning the Comelec's quick count computer terminals walk out of the PICC plenary hall in protest of what they said was the ‘cheating they were being made party to’” (Baluyut).
Rallies Under Corazon Aquino
Reacting to the fraudulent election, Filipinos united under Aquino.
Speaking to about 1.5 million supporters at the national “Triumph of the People Rally,” Corazon encouraged civil disobedience and boycotting against pro-Marcos establishments (Alicea).
Starting on February 21, “there [were] a total of P1.78 billion in withdrawals from crony banks” (Santiago).
“Opposition candidates Corazon Aquino, centre, and Salvador Laurel, right, at the ‘Victory of the People’ rally, 16 February 1986, in Manila, Philippines” (Fung)
“[Aquino] called for the boycott of the ‘crony’ media, singling out the government-run Channel Four television and pro-government daily newspapers, telling advertisers to withdraw their business or risk a boycott of their products” (The Guardian).
“Restaurants, eateries and cafes refused to serve San Miguel beer as well as Coca Cola, Sprite and Royal True Orange. A small number also stopped drinking Pepsi Cola, Seven-Up and Mirinda, thinking that these softdrinks were also under the control of a crony” (Santiago).
“Schools shut down…and Filipinos stopped paying their bills” (Alicea).
