The Plaza Miranda Bombing

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition Series 3):

AUGUST 21, 1971

The Liberal Party held a rally at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila on August 21, 1971. While the political event was ongoing, two grenades were thrown killing nine people and injuring 95 others. 

Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., who was expected to attend was not at the rally. Those wounded were Senator Jovito Salonga, Liberal Party president Gerardo Roxas, Senator Eddie Ilarde, Senator Eva Estrada Kalaw, Sergio Osmeña Jr., Ramon Mitra Jr., Councilor Ambrosio Lorenzo Jr., Governor Felicisimo San Luis, and candidates for mayor and vice mayor Ramon Bagatsing Sr. and Martin B. Isidro. 

President Ferdinand E. Marcos was blamed for the terror attack as a prelude to martial law, but he accused Jose Maria Sison and the Communist Party of the Philippines as the perpetrators. 

Senator Jovito Salonga, who lost an eye and became deaf in one ear, blamed Sison in an autobiography he wrote years later. 

Brig. Gen. Victor Corpuz, a soldier turned New People's Army member who defected back to the government claimed in his 1989 autobiography that he was present when CPP leaders met and discussed about the bombing after it happened. 

Unnamed CPP officials interviewed by the Washington Post revealed that "the (Communist) party leadership planned, and three operatives carried out the attack in an attempt to provoke government repression and push the country to the brink of revolution. 

Sison denied the accusations and the CPP has never admitted responsibility for the incident. 

Because of the bombing, President Marcos suspended the writ of habeas corpus. A year later, martial law was declared. 

On August 21, 2002, to honor the nine civilians killed, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo unveiled a marker at Plaza Miranda.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: wikipedia.org