Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Ninoy Aquino’s death van

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“I have decided to challenge death. I do not believe I’m sinning against my creator because in the end, I am not really my own executioner. By my example, I hope I can inspire two others. Like the dominoes, one has to fall to create the chain reaction.”

– Ninoy

 

Twenty-nine years ago, one stubborn man did the unexpected. Amid all warnings by a dictator’s wife that he would surely be killed if he returned home, Ninoy Aquino still did.

All these years, the Avsecom van that was used to ferry Ninoy from the tarmac of the country’s international airport had been kept from public view. And all but forgotten. Two years ago, it was found rotting inside Nichols Air Base. I hope, as promised, it has now been restored.

If our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal had a holding cell before his death by firing squad, Ninoy had the Avsecom van into which he was thrust inside like an animal and where he bled to death.

For posterity, I have decided to post photos of the Avsecom (Aviation Security Command) van which inexplicably took longer than expected to reach a hospital that fateful Sunday of August 21, 1983 when Ninoy was shot. The photos were lent to my by Pastor “Boy” Saycon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

  1. Kung pwede po sanang mag suggest para po mas lalu tayong maunawaan ng common mamamayang Pilipino eh tagalugin na po natin lahat ng mga sinasabi nyo rito, Kung yung atin nga pong Pangulo ay
    pilit na nyang tinatagalog ang kanyang sona sa bayan, sana naman po ay ganun din ang ating magigiting
    na mga journalista ng bayan, para naman po mas lalung maraming Plipino hindi maabot ang mga pinag-uusapan dito ang makaunawa sa totoong isyu ng bayan.

    Nakakalungkot man isipin pero ang realidad ng ating bayan ay mas marami ang mahihirap na hirap intindihin ang sitwasyon ng ating politika, kaya nga pumasok si Manny Pacquiao sa politics para mas maunawaan nya ang totoong sitwasyon ng bayan, at napipilitan syang mag balik eskwela para mas lalu nya itong maunawaan sistema ng bayan at kung paano po siya makakatulong dito.

    Ginang Ressa, napakagaganda lahat ng mga issues na nababanggit mo rito sa iyong mga articles na nagbibigay linaw sa maraming isyung politikal tungkol sa bansa, pero sana naman po ay sa mensaheng mauunawaan ng mas nakakarami nating mga mamamayan. kung ang FB po ay may translation if written in other languages, sana din po merong translation sa tagalog ang inyong mga articles written in English. Kasi napakagandang maunawaan ng ordinaryong mamamayang Pilipino ang inyong mga mensahe dito at para po pagdating ng Eleksyon ay hindi sila nahuhuli sa balita tungkol sa mga isyu ng ating lipunan, lalung lalu na ang mga isyu tungkol sa mga Politikong hindi karapat dapat iboto, or manungkulan sa ating bayan.

    salamat po, Mabuhay ang Pilipinas at pagpalain tayo ng Poong Maykapal
    irene

      • “@Raissa,

        I’m not really a translator but I want to help bring your message to more of our kababayans. i hope the following translation of the above article will suffice:

        “Napagdesisyunan ko na hamunin ang kamatayan. Hindi ako naniniwalang ito ay isang pagkakasala laban sa aking Tagapaglikha sapagkat sa katapusan, ako ay hindi ang siyang aking mamamaslang. Sa pamamagitan ng ehemplo, umaasa akong aking mabibigyang inspirasyon kahit man lamang dalawa pa. Katulad ng mga domino, kailangang bumagsak ang isa upang lumikha ng sunod sunod na paggalaw”. – Ninoy

        Dalawampung taon na ang nakararaan, isang taong may katigasan ng ulo ang kumilos ng taliwas sa inaasahan. Sa kabila ng mga pagbababala ng asawa ng diktadur na siya’y siguradong mamamatay kapag umuwi sa bansa, umuwi pa rin si Ninoy Aquino.  Sa pagdaraan ng mga taon, ang AVSECOM van na ginamit sa paglilipat kay Ninoy mula sa tarmac ng ating International Airport ay itinago sa pananaw ng sambayanan. Halos nakalimutan na. Noong taong 2010, natagpuan itong nabubulok na sa loob ng Nichols Air Base.  Sana, katulad  ng naipangako noon, ito ay naibalik na sa mahusay na kalagayan. 

        Kung ang ating pambansang bayaning si Doktor Jose Rizal ay may isang selda bago siya binaril ng mga sundalo, si Ninoy ay may isang Avsecom van kung saan siya ay initsa tulad ng isang hayop at kung saan tuluyang tumulo ang kanyang dugo hanggang sa siya’y mamatay.

        Bilang pag-alaala, napagdesisyunan ko na ilagay ang mga retrato ng Avsecom (Aviation Security Command) van na sa hindi maintindihang kadahilanan ay pagkatagak-tagal ng biniyahe upang makarating sa ospital noong nakatadhanang araw na iyon ng Linggo, August 21, 1983 nang si Ninoy ay binaril. Ang mga retrato ay ipinahiram sa akin ni Pastor “Boy” Saycon.

        • Sure, go ahead.

          thanks.

          Just post your translation here with your complete name so others can see and appreciate, too.

  2. Ang pamamaril Kay ninoy sa tarmac, ay nakatatak na sa atin lahat noong agosto 21 1983, hindi pa alam kung sino ang nakapatay sa dating senador, at bakit gusto ng gobyerno na gusto siya ng maupo sa pwesto at noong matapos ang lahat si ninoy ay is a hang itinuturing bayani sa bayan at dito siya sinakay sa nabubulok na avsecom van ngayon.

  3. ambisyon talaga ni Ninoy maging Presidente… magaling lang mag salita, kaya maraming nahihikayat.

    • Like it was a secret that he has presidential ambitions duh saang planeta ka ba galing? At ano ngayon if he was an excellent public speaker? Si Marcos magaling rin yun magsalita, pero tignan mo anu ang iniwan niya sa Pinas. Try to come up with a better argument next time, or I prefer “troll harder next time around.”

  4. To those who want to know more about the assassination of Senator Ninoy Aquino, a very good resource material is the Decision of the Special Division of the Sandiganbayan in People of the Philippines versus B/Gen. Luther A. Custodio, et. al, in Criminal Case No. 10010 and 10011. The full text of the decision can be read here: http://pcij.org/blog/wp-docs/Sandiganbayan_ruling_on_Ninoy_assassination.pdf

    Needless to say, the decision contains interesting factual information that was admitted into evidence, and is a good reading material especially for our younger generation who may not have fully grasped yet the historical significance of that tragic event.

      • wow… i therfore conclude ninoy was near on DEATH situation already, he has a TRIPLE HEART BY-PASS OPERATION already, medical technology that days is not that advance… a person who undergo that kind of surgery will ONLY LIVE 5YRS. maximum!!! in other words, he will DIE SOON, even if he wasn’t killed at the airport.. GRABE ang panloloko mu ninoy sa mga tao, GUSTO MUNG MAGING HERO KA AT HINDI MAGING PRESIDENTE!!! GRABE KA!!!!

    • Thanks for the reminder.
      “Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana

      • Legally, this conspiracy killing of Sen. Ninoy Aquino, etc. is closed. Impossible to open to investigate the conspirators, et. al. (am I correct?) by lapsed or prescription of the crime(s). It is “deader” than a pretending “dead” Possum!

        Tama, the past or history may be repeated acc to George Santayana.

        But “an event” as such can be stopped from prescribing, etc., when the “prescriptive periods of crimes & penalties” are repealed in the Rev. Penal Code by making the law effective without any time limit to investigate, charge and prosecute and convict, etc.

  6. Ninoy died instantly from the bullet that blew away part of his head and face.

    While he did not actually die in the van, the vehicle is a symbol of the shameless conspiracy that tried to cover up an assassination.

    • Senator Ninoy Aquino might have become unconscious but there was no evidence that he died instantly after being shot on that fateful day on August 21, 1983. So there is still the unanswered question of whether he might have survived the assassination had he received proper medical attention much earlier at Villamor Air Base Hospital which is located much closer than Army General Hospital. (This is reminiscent of the survival of Senator Sergio Osmena after the Plaza Miranda bombing massacre. It will be remembered that Osmena was declared clinically dead on arrival at FEU hospital but still survived the grenade attack against all odds. )

      In fact the testimonies of both General Luther Custodio and Capt. Felipe Valerio did not indicate that Ninoy Aquino was already dead but, on the contrary, possibly still alive while being transported to Army General Hospital.

      ATTY. JIMENEZ QUESTIONING GENERAL CUSTODIO:

      Q. – The question now is, did you give any specific order at any time thereafter to have Sen. Aquino brought to any particular hospital?

      A. – I did, Sir.

      Q. – To which hospital did you order that he be brought?

      A. – To Fort Bonifacio General Hospital.

      Q. – In answer to a question by Atty. Gonzales, it would appear that you did not avail of paramedical assistance at that time. Could you explain why you did not avail of such service when you were informed that the Senator had apparently been wounded?

      A. – The squadron commander of the Special Operation Squadron had maybe decided to bring him to a hospital instead of an emergency or first aid to be performed.

      DEAN NARVASA QUESTIONING:

      Q. – You had no way of knowing what sort of injury Sen. Aquino had suffered?

      A. – No, Sir.

      Q. – Beyond knowing that he had been shot?

      A. – Yes, Sir.

      Q. – For all you know, it might have been critical, did you think about that – that his wound might have been critical?

      A. – That instance, I don’t…

      Q. – It did not occur to you that the wound might be critical and therefore needed medical attention as quickly as possible?

      A. – What occurred to me, Sir, was to bring him immediately to the hospital.

      Additionally, Capt. Felipe Valerio testified that as his van was moving away with the wounded Senator on board, he had told Gen. Custodio by radio “that the Senator was wounded”, and it was then that Custodio instructed him “to bring the senator to the Army General Hospital.”

      • And here is a quote from the decision of the Sandiganbayan in reference to Gen. Olivas:

        x x x “He learned that B/Gen. Luther Custodio had left the scene of
        the incident immediately after the wounded Sen. Aquino was
        transported from the airport by means of a SWAT van. He started his
        investigation in the case by interviewing personalities he met there,
        such as Generals Lopez and Piccio. It was the latter who informed him
        that SEN. AQUINO DIED ON ARRIVAL AT THE HOSPITAL.” x x x

        The capitalization in the last sentence is mine and the quote was sourced from page 117 of the decision.

      • The testimonies of those military officers are expected to be consistent with maintaining the non-existence of any conspiracy to assassinate Ninoy.

        Of course they could not claim Ninoy was already dead in the van, whether or not that was indeed the case. If they did say Ninoy was dead, that would imply they checked his vitals and –as stated in Atty. Jimenez’ questioning, there would even be more suspicions to the fact that they did not seek paramedic assistance or first aid for the wounded senator.

        Besides, as I said in my first post, whether Ninoy was still alive in the van is immaterial. There was a conspiracy to assassinate him, and the conspirators had the power, resources and personnel to execute their plan to completion.

        If Ninoy survived the trip to a hospital, who knows if he would have fallen victim to a poison injected to his bloodstream, a pillow that suffocated him, yet another gunshot–the perpetrators were unstoppable in broad daylight on an international tarmac, what would hinder these guys to do their thing in a hospital room which of course would be declared off-limits to everyone else but themselves and their cohorts?

        The van though, is still a moving symbol of the brazen conspiracy, whether or not Ninoy actually died there.

  7. just to be fair, write something about Mendiola Massacre and Ninoy as Communist/Financier of CPP-NPA

    • … this person must be the last “disciple” of the McArthy era and AWARE, Inc. in the 50’s & 60s in US of A !
      branding, accusing people as Reds or “looking for Commies”…!

      Bakit nandito na siya?

  8. Can anybody especially the lawyers answer my question, aside from the provision found in the Constitution regarding presidential succession, do we not have any law that specifically pertains to a smooth transfer of succession if the 4 highest elected officials of the land are incapacitated? Who succeeds if the Speaker of the House is ruled out?

    • If the speaker of the house is also incapacitated, the senator or representative elected in the joint session of congress shall act as president until such time his successor is elected, or if any of the first 3 highest officials recover from physical incapacity, as the case may be. (RA 181, approved 21 June 1947)

      • Hmmm interesting thanks for the reply, anyhow I would just ask you an opinion, any CPM’ers can also express their opinion, are you in favor of expanding the presidential succession law like what the US have for contingency, where after the 4 highest elected officials appointed cabinet members are next in line?

        • Just for this discussion I agree with @Rafael Vidal. “…Congress shall, by law, provide who shall serve “AS PRESIDENT” in case of death, permanent disability, or resignation “OF THE ACTING PRESIDENT.” (caps. mine) My opn is anything on this not specifically covered by any Const.’l provision, it will be CONGRESS who will resolve it, by law.

          Expanding to follow what the US Const. on their Amendment XXV (1967) on the incapacity of the President, etc., majority of the principal officers of the Exec. depts or such other body (by law) a written declaration by such officers is submitted to the President pro tempore of the Senate & Spkr of the House, where the Vice Pres. immediately assume the powers & duties of the office as Acting President. Bla Bla Bla. For any dispute it will be Congress (again) that decide the issue bla bla bla. This refers to the “inability” to discharge the powers & duties. Death or resignation of the President, the Vice Pres. shall become President (SEC. 1, Amdt. XXV)

          We have the same solution as to vacancy of the office of the Vice Pres. Anyone serving as “acting Pres.” whther the Spkr, our Const. provides for election until a Pres. or Vice Pres. is elected. In the US Const. I find none on this situation on Amdt XXV but SEC. 1 Amdt XXII (1951) their country will always “elect” to the office as Pres. the person bla bla bla.

          In short, whatever we miss or don’t know, Congress by law will resolve the unknowns. Thanks for the encouragement here.

        • Well I hope that Congress act sooner because we don’t know if ever such contingencies will arise. It is better if the succession is spelled out much smoother so that we won’t have any issues once it happen. I mean what if the Joint session of Congress will have difficulty in choosing who will become the caretaker of the government? Better for our country to be prepared than sorry.

  9. Since history is emphatic on the possible involvement of the marcoses, may I suggest that the Avsecom Van be refurbished and placed in a museum of sort as a reminder to all that the treacherous daylight killing of Ninoy in full view of hundreds of journalists, foreign and local, happened during the martial law period.

    The killing is suggestive of the confidence and impunity of the perpetrators who obviously consider themselves above the law and form part of one of the darkest hours in modern Philippine History.

  10. from another thread of Raissa’s pieces, so other CPMers may read . . .

    LET ME BE THE FIRST TO SAY THIS TO CPMers:

    Robredo is no head nor plan to be a snake head of a political dynasty of crooks.
    So also was Ninoy before his murder. LET JESSE’S WIDOW lead the
    LP Senatorial Slate in the coming election. I don‘t have an iota of doubt
    on her capability to carry on the heavy torch her husband carried selflessly WHILE ALIVE.

    LET THE ROBREDO NAME BE THE BATTLE CRY IN THE NEXT SENATORIAL
    ELECTION. LET THE ROBREDO NAME CAUSED THE
    SHAMEFUL DOWNFALL OF ALL TRAPO SENATORIAL CANDIDATES
    IN NEXT YEAR’S ELECTION.

    LET CPMers inflamed the hearts of others as they RALLY TO
    THE CRY:

    MRS JESSE ROBREDO FOR SENATOR.

    Let THE EVIL AMONG US TRY TO STOP THIS FORM OF EXORCISM
    OF CORRUPTION IN THE COUNTRY.

    • NO SIR! NO MA’AM! I AM NOT THROWING ACCUSATIONS AND INSINUATIONS.

      I am not comparing Ninoy with Jesse. Not how they live and how they die. I am FOCUSED more in the circumstances of their times; of how the force of their BEINGS can produce a chain reaction that can lead to a significant change in people’s lives, and in their society. Their impact to the future may NOT be perfect but nevertheless beneficial.

    • It is the trapo political dynasty of Cebu province that has a hand on this events. The governor announced in her sopa address that she was “politically harashed” by P-noy administration. True or false, This is in line with the corruption charges against her in Ombodsman’s Morales office. Gov. Gwen Garcia has ambition to become a senator in 2013. Her ONE CEBU PARTY (which is actually a ONE CEBU FAMILY OF THE GARCIA PARTY) CONTROLS MAJORITY OF provincial mayors (42 in numbers) which dominate the local scene (mayor husband change places with wives).

      • Kaya ang dapat natin gawin kung meron bago na kakandidato na di kasapi sa partido ng mga trapo, sila ang ating iboto. para patunayan sa kanila na di mahalaga ang pera (pambayad sa boto), kilala (padrino, artista o utang na loob) at sobrang talino (gamitin sa masamang paraan).

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