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THE man behind this was GEN. ALFREDO SIOJO LIM, then, Chief Superintendent Northern Police District.
MARCOS: General Lim, what’s happening out there?
“Mr.President, there are many people converging on EDSA, between Crame and Aguinaldo.”
“Then you tell them to go home because we are going to shell Crame. Tell them to disperse so they won’t get hurt. We are sending in tanks, and artillery. So be sure to disperse them at all cost! GENERAL LIM.”
“Yes, Sir, Mr. President!”
But what Lim did, was to ring up the Office of General Olivas, his superior. The one who answered was Colonel Mitch Templo, who said that Olivas was sleeping.
“Well wake him up! Yelled Lim, “This is Urgent. I have orders from President Marcos to disperse the crowds on EDSA and I want to refer the matter to General Olivas.”
Colonel Mitch Templo said he would call back. But when Templo called back, it was to say that General Olivas had been sedated, and could not be disturbed on doctor’s orders. The implication was that Olivas was ill, might have suffered a slight heart attack.
Nevertheless, Lim felt himself in a quandary. What would he do next? Then the phone rang again. “This time it was Colonel Alex Aguirre, a classmate of mine at the National Defense College, and he said he was in Camp Crame with General Ramos, and to hold my line because Ramos wanted to talk to me. While I was waiting, into the Lagman Antique Shop strode Butch Aquino. He said: ‘General, in other days you were chasing us. Today we are protecting the soldiers at Crame.’ I said to Him, ‘Good, but wait!’ So Butch stayed at the doorway while I talked with General Ramos.
This talk on the Telephone was one of the most crucial moments at EDSA because Fred Lim already knew positively what he wanted to do. And this came about through coolness and tact displayed by Fidel Ramos.
Ramos talked with Lim;
The conversation went like this;
“Fred, what are your orders?”
“My orders, Sir, are to disperse the crowds at EDSA at all cost.”
“Fred, if there’s a dispersal, we will all be wiped out here. I have with me Minister Enrile, former Chiefs of Staff Espino and Vargas, Assemblyman Cayetano, among many others. Our only weapon are M-16s and M-14s which are ineffective against artillery, tanks and mortars. I hear there is an Army group there and they are armed with heavy weapons.”
“No , Sir. I talked with Colonel Javier and he hold me that their only equipment are riot batons and shields.”
“Check. Their weapons are hidden in their six-by-six trucks. Anyway, Fred, bahala ka na.”
“That was what won Fred Lim. Ramos did not simply order: “Do Not Disperse!” He was tactful enough to leave the decicion to the police superintendent. “Bahala ka na.” And Lim at that moment knew where he stood.
Still he felt his head expanding. “I Felt I was sitting on a Volcano, “And then there came Butch Aquino asking: are you going to disperse us?”
“No,” Replied Lim, “But you, Cardinal Sin and the rebels should talk to President Marcos and see if this matter can be settled peacefully.”
“I promise.”
Gentleman’s agreement?” pressed Butch Aquino. “Usapang Lalaki?”
“Usapang Lalaki,” Agreed Lim, rising to shake hands with Butch Aquino, who hurried out to informs his waiting companions: “No dispersal, I already talked to General Lim.” “With relief, everybody applauded.”
At five p.m., Lim was notified that Malacañang was looking him. He rang up the study room and here again was the Marcos voice, rather Furious.
“General, you failed me!” And Marcos demanded to know why there was no dispersal action as of the moment.
“Mr, President, it is physically impossible to conduct dispersal operation.”
“Why? Why?” Mr. Marcos demanded.
“Because there are 35,000 to 40,000 people on EDSA and I have only 126 Men with me.”
(These 126 men under Colonel Dawis were the only ones that Lim had ordered to be with him. The rest of his police officers and men – the majority he had deliberately left behind in Camp Sikatuna.)
“All right, listened,” said Marcos, “I will send you additional reinforcement: two more Army Battalions but be sure you disperse at all cost! Tell the crowd to go home that Crame is going to be shelled.”
“Yes, Sir, Mr. President. “But to Himself Lim was Exclaiming: PATAY NA!” (To be Continued)
***
Ugaliing manood sa Royal Cable TV Program “Kasandigan ng Bayan,” Martes at Miyerkoles 9 to 12 noon. Mayor Abner Afuang with Pareng Nelson and Royal Cable TV 6 Manager & Southern Tagalog Broadcast Journalist Assn. Inc. President Cris Sanji. Maraming salamat po. Godspeed.
Abner Afuang
