By Val Villanueva

It’s no secret that I’ve been one of Enrile’s backroom boys in his 1992 presidential bid. Along with Teddyboy Locsin, Kit Tatad, Yen Macabenta and Roly Eclevia, we formulated his campaign strategy with cohesion and precision.

Nora knew that I was a Martial Law victim and the dinner was meant to ‘set the record’ straight. “You can ask him anything, no holds barred,” she told me. I was the Business Editor of the then Gokongwei-owned Manila Times and Nora told me Enrile was impressed by my business insights, “he reads you, and we need your kind of writing to amplify his business policies to the electorate.”

Our discussion centered on Enrile’s role in Martial Law. He confirmed to me that that there was a fake attempt to kill him by an ambush (one of the reasons for ML declaration), that Cory was the real winner in the Feb., 1986 presidential snap elections, that there was massive cheating in almost all areas that was perpetuated by Marcos forces in that exercise and that he recognized Cory as the duly-elected president. [READ MORE…]