Corazon Aquino began her presidency on February 25, 1986, following the People Power Revolution as the 11th president of the Philippines, succeeding Ferdinand Marcos. Aquino's relatively peaceful ascension to the Philippine presidency signaled the end of authoritarian rule of Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines, and drew her and the Filipino people international acclaim and admiration.
During the first months of Aquino's presidency, the country experienced radical changes and sweeping democratic reforms. Aquino created the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), which was tasked to go after the Marcos ill-gotten wealth; however, after her presidency, the PCGG itself was also implicated by corruption scandals when it was alleged that officials wanted a cut of the Marcos assets and officials were "milking" sequestered assets. Aquino, being a revolutionary president by virtue of people power, repealed and abolished repressive laws under her predecessor, restored civil liberties, abolished the 1973 "Marcos Constitution" and dissolved the Marcos allies, loyalists, supporters-dominated Batasang Pambansa, despite the advice of her vice-president and only prime minister Salvador Laurel. She also immediately created a Constitutional Commission, which she directed for the drafting of a new constitution for the nation.
1986 presidential election
Administration and cabinet
Office Name Term President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino February 25, 1986 – March 25, 1986 Vice-President Salvador H. Laurel Prime Minister Salvador H. Laurel Presidential Executive Assistant Joker Arroyo Minister of Agrarian Reform Conrado F. Estrella Minister of Agriculture and Food Ramon Mitra, Jr. Minister of Budget and Management Alberto Romulo February 26, 1986 – March 25, 1986 Minister of Economic Planning Solita Monsod February 25, 1986 – March 25, 1986 Minister of Education, Culture and Sports Lourdes Quisimbing Minister of Finance Jaime Ongpin Minister of Foreign Affairs Salvador Laurel Minister of Health Alfredo Bengzon Minister of Local Government and Community Development Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. Minister of Justice Estelito Mendoza February 25, 1986 – February 28, 1986 Neptali GonzalesMarch 1, 1986 – March 25, 1986 Minister of Labor and Employment Augusto Sanchez February 25, 1986 – March 25, 1986 Minister of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile Minister of Natural Resources Ernesto Maceda Minister of Public Works and Highways Rogaciano M. Mercado Minister of Tourism Jose Antonio Gonzales Minister of Trade and Industry Jose Concepcion Jr. Minister of Transportation and Communications Hernando Perez Presidential Spokesperson Rene Saguisag
Supreme Court appointments Aquino appointed the following to the Supreme Court of the Philippines:
Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee – (appointed Chief Justice, April 2, 1986) Justice Jose Feria – April 7, 1986 Pedro Yap – April 8, 1986 (appointed Chief Justice, April 19, 1988) Marcelo Fernan – April 9, 1986 (appointed Chief Justice, July 1, 1988) Andres Narvasa – April 10, 1986 (his last SC Chief Justice, December 1, 1991)
Associate Justices
Justice Isagani Cruz – April 16, 1986 Justice Edgardo L. Paras – April 16, 1986 Justice Florentino P. Feliciano – August 8, 1986 Justice Teodoro R. Padilla – January 12, 1987 Justice Abdulwahid Bidin – January 12, 1987 Justice Emilio A. Gancayco – January 12, 1987 Justice Abraham Sarmiento – January 25, 1987 Justice Irene R. Cortes – February 1, 1987 Justice Carolina Griño-Aquino – February 2, 1988 Justice Leo D. Medialdea – May 2, 1988 Justice Florenz Regalado – July 29, 1988 Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr. – January 24, 1991 Justice Flerida Ruth Pineda-Romero – October 21, 1991 Justice Rodolfo A. Nocon – December 2, 1991 Justice Josue N. Bellosillo – March 3, 1992 (her last SC justice appointee)
Domestic policies
Economy
Aquino inherited an economy that was bankrupt and debt-ridden as a result of twenty years of mismanagement under the Marcos regime. Aquino focused on revitalizing and rejuvenating the sagging economy. She made bold moves to dismantle the various monopolies perpetrated by President Ferdinand Marcos during his stay in power.
Aquino moved quickly to tackle the issue of the US$26 billion foreign debt incurred by her predecessor, deciding to honor all the debts that were incurred previously under different administrations instead of repudiating it; her decision proved to be unpopular but Aquino defended it, saying that it was the most practical move and choice to make as it was crucial for the country at that time to regain the confidence of investors and the international community in the Philippine economy. Since 1986, the Aquino administration has paid off $4 billion of the country's outstanding debts to regain good international credit ratings and attract the attention of future markets. Nevertheless, her administration borrowed an additional $9 billion, increasing the national debt by $6 billion within six years since the ouster of President Marcos in 1986.
The Aquino administration sought to bring back fiscal discipline in order as it aimed to trim the government's budget deficit that ballooned during Marcos' term through privatization of bad government assets and deregulation of many vital industries. It was also during Aquino's term that vital economic laws such as the Build-Operate-Transfer Law, Foreign Investments Act and the Consumer Protection and Welfare Act were enacted.
The economy posted a positive growth of 3.4% during her first year in office. But in the aftermath of the 1989 coup attempt, the Philippine economy remained stagnant. In her final year in office, inflation had risen to 17%, and unemployment was slightly over 10%, higher than the Marcos' years.
Revolutionary government
Immediately after assuming the presidency, Aquino issued Proclamation No. 3, which established a revolutionary government. She abolished the 1973 Constitution that was in force during martial law, and instead promulgated the provisional 1986 Freedom Constitution, pending the ratification of a new Constitution by the people. This allowed Aquino to exercise both executive and legislative powers until the ratification of the new Philippine Constitution and the establishment of a new Congress in 1987.
Aquino and other top officials fired pro-Marcos governors and mayors, replacing them in all provinces with people loyal to Aquino. Aquino's new government was met with criticism from Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Vice President Salvador Laurel; constitutionalist and retired Supreme Court Justice Cecilia Muñoz-Palma also vehemently opposed the move. "To declare her government “revolutionary" and abolish the Batasan Pambansa was to behave no better than Dictator Marcos", Palma said. Homobono Adaza, who brokered the opposition coalition, "when the United Democratic Opposition (UNIDO) decided to support Cory for President, the agreement with Cory was that the type of government of Marcos would be continued, with Cory as ceremonial President, since everyone knew that Cory had no knowledge of how to run the country, and Cory admitted this." Enrile and Laurel subsequently resigned from Aquino's government.
Landmark legislation Aquino promulgated two landmark legal codes: the Family Code of 1987, which reformed the civil law on family relations; and the Administrative Code of 1987, which reorganized the structure of the executive branch of government. Another landmark law enacted during her tenure was the 1991 Local Government Code, which devolved national government powers to local government units (LGUs); the new Code also enhanced the power of LGUs to enact local taxation measures and assured them of a share in the national revenue.
Likewise, Aquino closed down the Marcos-dominated Batasang Pambansa to prevent the new Marcos loyalist opposition from undermining her democratic reforms, and reorganized the membership of the Supreme Court to restore its independence. In May 1986, the reorganized Supreme Court declared the Aquino government as "not merely a de facto government but in fact and law a de jure government", whose legitimacy had been affirmed by the community of nations. This Supreme Court decision significantly affirmed the status of Aquino as the new, legitimate and rightful leader of the Philippines.
1986 Constitutional Commission
To fast-track the restoration of a full constitutional government and the writing of a new charter, Aquino appointed 48 members of the 1986 Constitutional Commission (Con-Com), led by retired activist Supreme Court Associate Justice Cecilia Muñoz-Palma. The Con-Com completed its final draft in October 1986.Bernas, p. 19 On February 2, 1987, the new Constitution of the Philippines, which put strong emphasis on civil liberties, human rights and social justice, was overwhelmingly approved by the Filipino people. The ratification of the new Constitution was followed by the election of senators and congress that same year and the holding of local elections in 1988.
Agrarian reform
Upon her ascension into power, President Aquino envisioned agrarian and land reform as the centerpiece of her administration's social legislative agenda. Her family background and social class as a privileged and landed daughter of a wealthy and landed clan became a lightning rod of criticisms against her land reform agenda. On January 22, 1987, agrarian workers and farmers marched to the historic Mendiola Street near Malacañan Palace to demand genuine land reform from Aquino's administration. The farmers' march turned bloody and violent when Marine forces fired at farmers who tried to go beyond the designated demarcation line set by the police. As a result, 12 farmers were killed and 19 were injured in this incident now known as the Mendiola massacre. This tragic incident led some prominent members of the Aquino Cabinet like the nationalist and progressive senator Jose W. Diokno to quit from their government posts. Though Aquino did not have any personal and official involvement with the drastic actions taken by some police elements, her administration has been faulted since then for failing to solve land disputes in the country.
In response to calls for agrarian reform, Aquino issued Presidential Proclamation 131 and Executive Order 229 on July 22, 1987, which outlined her land reform program, which included sugar lands. In 1988, with the backing of Aquino, the new Congress of the Philippines passed Republic Act No. 6657, more popularly known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law. The law paved the way for the redistribution of agricultural lands to tenant farmers from landowners, who were paid in exchange by the government through just compensation but were also allowed to retain not more than five hectares of land.Section 6, Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law. Web.archive.org (August 23, 2007). Retrieved on November 30, 2011. Corporate landowners were also allowed under the law to "voluntarily divest a proportion of their capital stock, equity or participation in favor of their workers or other qualified beneficiaries", in lieu of turning over their land to the government for redistribution.Section 31, Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law. Web.archive.org (August 23, 2007). Retrieved on November 30, 2011. Despite the flaws in the law, the Supreme Court upheld its constitutionality in 1989, declaring that the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), provided by the said law, was "a revolutionary kind of expropriation."