NINOY AQUINO's Last Interview Before His Assassination | 21 August 1983 | Remembering Ninoy Aquino

Summary

In this interview, a former opposition leader from the Philippines discusses his return to his homeland after his fellowship at MIT ended. Despite facing a death sentence and political opposition, he is determined to contribute to the 1984 elections and help reorganize the grassroots of his party. He expresses a willingness to face imprisonment or even death for his cause, hoping to engage in dialogue with President Marcos to address the country's issues and restore democracy.

Takeaways

• 📅 The interviewee's fellowship at MIT ended on June 30, necessitating a return to the Philippines within days to avoid needing another fellowship.
• 🏆 The interviewee wishes to contribute to the opposition preparing for the 1984 elections, having previously served as the Secretary General of a major opposition party.
• 🚫 There has been significant effort to prevent the interviewee's return to the Philippines, including denial of passport and travel documents.
• 🤔 The interviewee expresses confusion as to why the government would deny their return, considering the existing charges and death sentence against them.
• 🗣️ A desire to communicate directly with the president is expressed, believing that being physically present, even in prison, would facilitate this.
• 🛂 The interviewee is uncertain about how the government could deport them, having lost their passport and lacking a visa for Taipei.
• 💉 The interviewee is prepared to face the consequences of their return, including the possibility of execution if found guilty, or working for the opposition if not.
• 🤝 The timing of the interviewee's return and President Reagan's visit to the Philippines is coincidental, with no political ambitions for personal office.
• 🔒 Even if imprisoned, the interviewee believes they can be effective in organizing from within the Philippines, drawing a parallel to a general leading troops from prison.
• 👴 The interviewee speculates on an age gap and misunderstanding as potential reasons for President Marcos's opposition, despite no personal differences.
• 🛑 The interviewee advocates for the beginning of freedom of the press and credible elections, as well as economic restructuring to help the impoverished majority in the Philippines.

Q & A

Why does the speaker feel the need to return to the Philippines immediately after their fellowship at MIT ended?

The speaker's fellowship ended on June 30, and they had to leave the United States within a few days. They also wanted to contribute to the opposition preparing for the 1984 elections and help reorganize their grassroots organization.

What is the speaker's role in the opposition party in the Philippines?

The speaker was the Secretary General of the major opposition party in the Philippines.

Why does the speaker believe there has been an effort to stop them from returning to the Philippines?

The speaker mentions that their passport and private documents were denied, and they were asked to delay their return without any assurance of receiving travel documents afterward, suggesting an attempt to prevent their return.

What does the speaker hope to achieve by returning to the Philippines, even with the risk of facing charges and a death sentence?

The speaker wishes to contribute to the opposition's efforts for the 1984 elections, reorganize the grassroots, and possibly discuss the country's problems with the president, hoping for a restoration of democracy.

How does the speaker view the potential for dialogue with President Marcos upon their return?

The speaker hopes to talk to President Marcos directly, believing that even as a captive, they might have the opportunity to discuss issues affecting the country and how the opposition could help.

What is the speaker's stance on the timing of their return in relation to President Reagan's planned visit to the Philippines?

The speaker believes it is a coincidence, as their fellowship ended on June 30, and they had to leave the U.S. shortly after, before President Reagan announced his visit.

What are the speaker's political ambitions after returning to the Philippines?

The speaker has no ambitions for office but feels a duty to help rebuild their party's grassroots organization and support younger leadership.

How does the speaker assess the effectiveness of their role in organizing the political situation in the Philippines if they are imprisoned?

The speaker believes they can be more effective in the Philippines even if imprisoned, as their presence in the country provides psychological and moral support to their followers.

What does the speaker think President Marcos should be doing differently to prepare the country for the future?

The speaker suggests that President Marcos should allow freedom of the press, hold credible elections, and focus on restructuring the economy to help the impoverished majority in the country.

How does the speaker view the potential danger of assassination upon their return to the Philippines?

The speaker acknowledges the risk but is not deterred by it, stating that they must lead their people and fulfill their responsibilities, even if it means facing death.

What is the speaker's attitude towards the possibility of being jailed upon their return?

The speaker is prepared to be jailed and continue their political work from there, viewing it as an inconvenience but not something to be ashamed of.

Outlines

00:00

🏛 Political Exile's Return to Philippines Amidst Opposition and Threats

The speaker, a former Secretary General of a major opposition party in the Philippines, discusses his plans to return to his homeland after his fellowship at MIT ended. Despite facing a death sentence and numerous charges, he wishes to contribute to the opposition's preparation for the 1984 elections. He expresses confusion over the government's efforts to prevent his return, including passport denial, and speculates on the reasons behind it. The speaker also reveals his desire to engage in dialogue with the president to address the country's problems, even if it means returning to prison. He maintains that his return is coincidental to President Reagan's upcoming visit and clarifies his political ambitions, focusing on rebuilding the grassroots organization rather than seeking office.

05:02

🗳️ Advocate for Democracy and Economic Reform in the Philippines

In this paragraph, the speaker continues to elaborate on his vision for the Philippines, emphasizing the need for freedom of the press, credible elections, and economic restructuring to assist the impoverished majority. He contrasts the progress of other Southeast Asian nations like Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore with the current state of the Philippines and believes there is significant room for improvement. The speaker also addresses the government's claim that it's unsafe for him to return, acknowledging the risk of assassination but stating that he cannot be deterred by fear. He expresses his readiness to either continue his political fight from jail or face deportation, and highlights the importance of his physical presence in the Philippines for the morale and leadership of his followers.

Keywords

💡Fellowship

A fellowship is a type of financial support awarded to individuals to pursue academic research or artistic creation. In the script, the speaker mentions that their fellowship at MIT ended on June 30, which necessitated their departure from the United States, tying this concept to the theme of returning to one's home country after a period of study or work abroad.

💡Opposition

Opposition in a political context refers to individuals or parties that are against the current ruling government or its policies. The speaker expresses a desire to contribute to the opposition in the Philippines, indicating their political stance and the importance of opposition in a democratic system, as they were the Secretary General of a major opposition party.

💡Elections

Elections are formal decisions made by voters about who will hold public office. The script mentions the 1984 elections in the Philippines, showing the speaker's intention to participate in the political process by assisting the opposition to organize and campaign effectively.

💡Passport

A passport is an official government document that certifies the identity and nationality of its holder for international travel. The denial of the speaker's passport is highlighted as an obstacle to their return to the Philippines, illustrating the government's attempt to control the movement of individuals deemed threatening to their power.

💡Death Sentence

A death sentence is a legal penalty of death imposed on a person convicted of a serious crime. The script refers to the speaker having a death sentence, which underscores the high stakes and danger they face upon returning to their home country, yet they are willing to risk this to fulfill their political duties.

💡Grassroots

Grassroots refers to the basic, fundamental level of an activity or organization, often used in the context of politics to describe local, small-scale efforts that form the foundation of larger movements. The speaker discusses the need to reorganize the grassroots of their political party, indicating the importance of local support and organization in political work.

💡President Reagan

President Reagan refers to the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. The script mentions his visit to the Philippines, which the speaker believes is coincidental to their own return. This reference connects the speaker's situation to broader geopolitical events and relationships between countries.

💡Assassination

Assassination is the act of deliberately killing a prominent person, often for political reasons. The script acknowledges the risk of assassination faced by those in public service, as illustrated by the reference to President Reagan's assassination attempt, and the speaker's acceptance of this risk as part of their commitment to their cause.

💡Democracy

Democracy is a system of government where power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or through elected representatives. The speaker expresses a desire to restore democracy in the Philippines, suggesting the lack of democratic processes as a key issue they aim to address through their political work.

💡Economy

Economy refers to the system of production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services in a country. The speaker calls for restructuring the economy to help the poor, indicating that economic policies and improvements are central to their political agenda and vision for the country's future.

💡Jail

Jail is a place where people are held in confinement, particularly those accused or convicted of crimes. The speaker mentions being prepared to go to jail, suggesting that they value their political mission enough to endure personal sacrifice, including the loss of personal freedom.

Highlights

Fellowship at MIT ended on June 30, necessitating a return to the Philippines.

Opposition is preparing for the 1984 elections, and the speaker wishes to contribute.

Need for at least four months to reorganize grassroots and campaign for elections.

Efforts to impede the speaker's return, including passport denial.

Puzzlement over why the government would deny return despite existing charges.

Desire to engage in dialogue with President Marcos about national issues.

Willingness to face death sentence if it means contributing to the country.

Uncertainty about how the government plans to deport the speaker without travel documents.

Connection between the speaker's return and President Reagan's visit is coincidental.

Lack of personal ambition for office, focusing on rebuilding grassroots organization.

Belief in the effectiveness of organizing from within the Philippines, even if imprisoned.

Comparison of the speaker's situation to historical figures who faced imprisonment.

Desire for a dialogue with President Marcos to discuss the country's future.

Call for freedom of the press and credible elections as steps towards democracy.

Concern for the impoverished and the need for economic restructuring.

Comparison of the Philippines' potential progress with other Southeast Asian countries.

Acknowledgment of the physical danger and the possibility of assassination.

Determination to lead and suffer with the people despite the risks.

Readiness to continue the crusade from jail if necessary.

Reflection on the importance of leading from within the country, even from prison.

Transcripts

you want to do it where he's sitting

well maybe this far I don't know

how much matter

rolling

Senator why are you going back to the

Philippines and why are you going back

particularly right now with this timing

well my my fellowship ended in June 30

in MIT and I had to leave the United

States within a few days after that

otherwise I'll have to get another

fellowship for another year I would like

to get back home because the opposition

is now preparing for the 1984 elections

and I'd like to contribute my efforts

and my assistance to the opposition

having been the Secretary General of the

major opposition part in my country we

need at least four months to to

reorganize our Grassroots and then maybe

four months to campaign to be ready to

be in shape for 1984. has there been an

effort to stop you from coming back and

why would there have been this effort

there has been tremendous effort to to

get me back I mean they denied my

passport they denied private document

and I'm really puzzled why they would do

that because considering I have a death

sentence and considering that they have

so many charges against me I thought

that they will welcome me back to

Facebook make me face those charges but

then they brought me official

Communications asking me to delay my

return by at least one month or maybe

more without any assurances that after

one month I'll get a travel Document

I don't know really why you have no idea

why Marcos would not want you back

I guess your guess is as good as mine

but I do want to get back to talk to the

president I feel that as long as I'm 10

000 miles away I will not have the

opportunity to talk to them but if I'm

in prison if I'm his captive I think he

will condescend to talk to me because uh

I'd like to talk to him really to

discuss uh some of the problems

besetting our country and maybe the

opposition can help in the solution of

those problems what do you expect to

happen when we get to Manila

I don't know I I have been reading in

the Press reports that they will put me

back in a plane in this same plane and

send me back to my port of embarkation

but I don't know how they can do that

because I'm a Filipino and I've lost my

passport I have no visa to Taipei so I

don't know how they can send me back I

really hope that they will allow me to

sustain my country it's my homeland I

don't mind if they put me back in jail

that I have a death sentence and in fact

I'm coming back to tell them if they

think I'm guilty I'm ready to be shot

but if not I would like them to free me

so that I can discharge my duties for

the opposition

what is the connection between your

going back now and President Reagan

visiting the Philippines in a few months

time

I think it's pure coincidence because uh

when I planned my return to the

Philippines uh President Reagan has not

even announced his visit so that it was

just plain timing I repeat my fellowship

ended 30 June and I had to clear out of

America otherwise I'll have to get

another fellowship for a year and that

will mean that I won't be able to come

back until about June of 1984. so uh the

this is the present Reagan of Israeli

coincidental I think what are your own

political ambitions I've said time and

again that I've no longer I'm no longer

great for office but I feel that I have

a duty to discharge don't for my party

and my colleagues and I will just help

in the

in the rebuilding of our Grassroots

organization I am humbled with a lot of

legal cases and uh I feel that history

has really passed us by and it's time

for us now to help the younger elements

of the party for leadership can you be

effective in organizing the political

situation in the Philippines if you're

behind bars yes I it will be very

limited but better better than none I

can be more effective in the Philippines

than in America 10 000 miles away so

that even if I'm in prison as I did in

1978 I will be able to meet with my

lawyer so in turn will be able to pass

on the messages to the Grassroots worker

at the alone that I'm in the

Philippines means a lot you know

psychological and morally for our

followers I don't think a general should

be 10 000 miles away from the battle he

should be leading his troops even if he

should lead them from prison why why do

you think that President Marcos has been

so much opposed to you over the years

and and considers you to be so much of a

threat I don't know uh there's really an

age gap between me and the president I

am 50 and he's 66 and uh I suppose it's

just like uh an older brother not

understanding a younger brother but uh

we have had no personal differences

um he's been with the Nationalist party

when I switched to the liberal party and

uh I really don't know I only hope that

they'll give me a chance to talk to him

when I get back

and hopefully convince him on some

things that I'd like to to see happen in

our country I would like to rate the

rate I am not out to overthrow him on

the contrary I submit that I could be

his best friend because the opposition

can be of help in restoring democracy in

my country and that's all we're asking

for what very simply do you think that

he should be doing he's not doing now

I feel that he should now prepare the

country for the time when he will pass

away and therefore I'd like to see the

beginnings of freedom of the press then

after that we should have free clean

Anonymous election credible election and

then we can go into restructuring the

economy to help the poor because the

final bottom line thing here is how well

is the government helping the majority

of the impoverished Filipinos we have to

address ourselves with the problem of

the worker the rural worker the

industrial worker the very poor in my

country so that when you go to Southeast

Asia Taiwan is for example is example it

has progressed tremendously Korea Hong

Kong Singapore and I see no reason why

the Philippines cannot duplicate that so

I do believe that there is a tremendous

room for improvement and I think if the

president will give the opposition a

chance to contribute its input the

Philippines can move forward

now the government has said that they

have denied you travel documents because

it's not safe for you to come back but

you

assassination attempt well is there a

danger a physical danger to you in going

back I suppose there's a physical danger

because

um you know assassination is part of

Public Service look at poor President

Reagan he got shot because Hinckley fell

in love with Jody Foster so that's uh

part of the hazard of the game

my feeling is we all have to die

sometime now if it's my fate to die by

assassin's bullets so be it but I cannot

be petrified by inaction or fear of

assassination and therefore stay in a

corner I I have to suffer with my people

I have to to lead them because of the

responsibility given to me by our people

I thank God I

can immediately

now I am hoping that they will allow the

president Manila at least to talk to me

and therefore I'll make my appeal to

present Marcus directly through the

local press

but I'm willing to go back to jail I

have no I've asked him for now so uh

prepared for that you're prepared to

stay in jail then for his oh yeah that's

not what they want I mean I can go two

ways I can go on an armed struggle which

I think is futile or I can go to jail

and continue my crusade from jail and I

don't think the jail has been an

honorable place so there's nothing to be

ashamed of it's an inconvenience but uh

it's something that I've lived with for

ages I've been very supportive and very

sympathetic so those three good years

are the best years about about 12 years

or 17 years caramelis was out for nine

years the goal was out of a France for

some length of time Romania was out for

18 years I really don't know but uh

thanks to Mr Marcus and his press it's a

negative press of course but they kept

me alive I mean you know they they

always headline me as being Mastermind

of this and that so I think uh by and

large in terms of the people that might

be

I think

I think the very alone that we can

land is Victory enough everything after

that bonus I mean whether they put me

back in the plane and shipped me out or

bring me to prison

I have promised to return I have

returned Against All Odds so that's good

enough for me I mean as far as I'm

concerned that's it

now if they will allow me to talk to the

people that will be the bonus

it's true you have been able to talk to

them quietly

well thank you very much sure

thank you

[Music]

sorry