By the early 1980's the economy had worsened and Marcos was in poor health. Although many people in rural areas still believed in the Marcos myth, the middle classes began to turn against him. In 1983 Benigno Aquino, who had fled to the U. S. after years in prison, returned to the Philippines. Aquino was shot and killed as he descended from his plane. Many Filipinos believed that Marcos was responsible for Aquino's death.
In early 1986, under pressure from the U. S. and from public opinion in the Philippines, Marcos called an election in order to reestablish his legitimacy. Aquino's widow, Corazon, became the candidate of the opposition. Marcos was declared the winner of the election, but evidence of cheating caused the middle class and portions of the army to turn against him.
On February 22 army general Fidel Ramos and minister of defense Juan Ponce Enrile together demanded Marcos's resignation. They established a rebel headquarters in two adjoining military camps in metropolitan Manila. Marcos sent troops to put down the rebels and their followers, but Roman Catholic cardinal Jaime Sin went on the radio to call on citizens to form a human barricade around the headquarters of Ramos and Enrile in a mass action that became known as "People Power." Government troops refused to fire on the civilians, and many soldiers went over to the rebel side.
With encouragement from U. S. officials, Marcos fled the country for exile in Hawaii, where he died three years later. Corazon Aquino became president and set about trying to reestablish democratic government and to bring the torn country back together. Aquino's successor, Fidel Ramos, served as president from 1992 to 1998. Ramos worked toward reconciliation with the Marcos supporters, including Imelda Marcos, who had been allowed to return to the Philippines with the body of her husband.
World History
