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Marcos fled the Philippines with 22 crates of cash, jewelry, and his wife Imelda
1986 Event

February 25

People Power: Marcos Flees, Aquino Takes Philippines

Marcos fled the Philippines with 22 crates of cash, jewelry, and his wife Imelda's 3,000 pairs of shoes. They took a U.S. helicopter to Hawaii. He'd ruled for 20 years, declared martial law, and stolen billions. What ended him wasn't a coup — it was two million Filipinos blocking tanks with their bodies on EDSA highway. Nuns handed soldiers sandwiches. The military defected. Corazon Aquino, whose husband Marcos had assassinated, became president. She'd never held office.

February 25, 1986

40 years ago

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