1986 COMELEC walkout

On 9 February 1986, a group of computer technicians walked out from their jobs at the tabulation center of the presidential election called by President Ferdinand Marcos, claiming they observed anomalies in the election results being reported to the public.[1] This incident precipitated the People Power Revolution 13 days later, resulting in the end of Marcos's rule.

Background

On 3 November 1985, Philippine President Marcos announced a snap election for President and Vice President to be held on 7 February 1986.[2][3] The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) contracted the National Computer Center (NCC), a bureau under the Office of the President, to automate the tabulation of votes. NCC developed the hybrid but mostly manual computer system, recruited and trained additional staff, and set up the election operations center at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay.[4][5]

Walkout

Two days after the elections, the votes were being counted.[4][5] The votes were counted by 35 technicians, composed of 30 women and five men. The technicians recognized the job as "an honor". During the counting of the votes, the workers noticed a discrepancy between the tabulation reports and figures in a tally board. According to the technicians, they recognized the alleged cheating as a "betrayal of trust".[6]

In protest, the technicians walked out of the processing center at 10:30 p.m. on 9 February, two days after the election day wanting to "drink their blues away" after noticing the discrepancy.[6][7] As they left the plenary hall, they were allegedly mobbed by "people they did not recognize". Due to this, they sought refuge in Baclaran Church in Parañaque, about 5 kilometers (3.1 mi) away from PICC, where they gave their only press conference before they went into hiding.[6][8] Two women from among the 35 technicians spoke for the group. They were later identified as Juls Valderrama and Linda Kapunan.[8] In their public statement released to the press days after, the group emphasized that their walkout was non-partisan and a mere declaration of their integrity and responsibility to the general public.[9] In the statement, they also said that were allegedly ordered to make Corazon Aquino, the rival of Marcos, to lose. After they released the statement, they were kept safely in various locations including the Ateneo de Manila University and Camp Aguinaldo.[6]

After the walkout

In fear for their safety, the group went into hiding, first at the homes of two of the women, then at the Cenacle Retreat House in Quezon City. There, the nuns offered housing and spiritual guidance, while the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) provided physical security.

On 22 February 1986, Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and General Fidel V. Ramos announced their break-away from the Marcos government, leading to the four-day People Power Revolution, which ended the Marcos rule and brought Corazon Aquino to power.[10] By then, the 35 technicians who walked out of the COMELEC tabulation center 16 days earlier no longer had to hide. They were able to return to their homes and resume normal lives.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Vote Tabulators Quit, Cite Fraud : 30 Filipinos at Government Center Rebel". Los Angeles Times. 1986-02-10. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  2. ^ "MARCOS DECLARES HE'LL CALL A VOTE EARLY NEXT YEAR (Published 1985)". 1985-11-04. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  3. ^ "The Events Surrounding the 1986 Snap Elections". Human Rights Violations Victims' Memorial Commission. 2021-02-12. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  4. ^ a b Branigin, William; Burgess, John (1986-02-10). "Fraud Charges Multiply in Philippines". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  5. ^ a b McManus, Doyle (1986-02-10). "Vote Tabulators Quit, Cite Fraud : 30 Filipinos at Government Center Rebel". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  6. ^ a b c d Go, Miriam Grace (2013-02-25). "1986 Comelec walkout not about Cory or Marcos". Rappler. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  7. ^ "About PICC". PICC. Philippine International Convention Center. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  8. ^ a b "Collection: WHORM Subject Files; Folder Title:CO 125 (Philippines); 394279–395299; Box: 152" (PDF). Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  9. ^ Go, Miriam Grace (2013-02-25). "1986 Comelec walkout not about Cory or Marcos". RAPPLER. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  10. ^ Nemenzo, Gemma (2016-02-24). "30 Years Ago: Coup d'etat and People Power". Positively Filipino | Online Magazine for Filipinos in the Diaspora. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  11. ^ "Justice of no color: Exploring the truth behind the Comelec 35". The LaSallian. 2022-09-20. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
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