P/SInsp. Augusto Tirona was having a bad day. He was suffering from a headache brought about by a bad hangover. He and 3 of his men had 3 liters of Emperador the previous day. It started early enough at around 2 in the afternoon but it dragged on until 10:00 p.m. His men, Lito and another one “Bulik” and Julian were in the PCP drinking because of domestic troubles of Capt. Tirona. The alternating hot sun and short but sharp rains all throughout the morning tested Tirona’s nerves. Although he and his men were not I the frontlines, they were still ordered to deploy behind the Civil Disturbance Control phalanx that faced the demonstrators.
Tirona’s men were armed unlike the CDC before them. The rallyists were able to barricade themselves behind the 10-wheeler truck that served as their stage earlier in their morning program. It was not supposed to be this way since earlier orders from Gen. Kamagong was for the policy of maximum tolerance. They though they outsmarted the demonstrators. Although the demonstrators sat behind the students who lay down on the road leading to the Libingan ng mga Bayani, their plan was to fly in the body of ex-President Marcos. But the organizers of the demonstrators also had contingencies. When the helicopter was approaching, a barrage of fireworks were lighted, dozens of rockets filled the air and the helicopter could not safely approach. It turned out that the 10-wheeler truck not only brought the stage and sound systems but also brought with it face masks, water, the fireworks along with enough food to last for days. It also brought a generator that powered laptops, cellphones and gadgets that brought streaming video to the internet. After 3 attempts the helicopter could not loiter anymore and would have to return to Villamor Air Base. The demonstrators felt victory at hand.
Also, employees from Ayala went down from their offices and are now marching down McKinley Road. Employees from Ortigas Business Center were also now marching down C5 and were already at Bagong Ilog, Pasig. The Police and the AFP never had any such contingencies. Radio reports of clashes between police and demonstrators coming from Quezon City were being fed them and the stopline was in Cubao where those in Araneta Center were attempting to outflank the blocking force at EDSA corner Aurora. There can be had no reinforcements from Crame or Aguinaldo since a large part is already in Cubao and another contingent was blocking Shaw Blvd because of demonstrators coming from Mandaluyong and Manila.
The adjacent provincial commands had to send augmentation forces to surround Malacanang. It would be hours before more units can be poured in from Rizal and Bulacan. A day at least from Quezon Province and Bicol commands. It took them by surprise since all they expected was resistance from the demonstrators already at the BGC.
Tirona was given the order to move forward since the CDC was already advancing towards the demonstrators. Then several teargas launchers were fired against the rally line. But instead of dispersing, the rallyers poured water over their eyes and face marks. Those lying down were also doused with water, thus the teargas was neutralized. The Amihan wind also blew the teargas towards the police line and greatly degraded the operations. Not all the policemen and soldiers were issued gas masks.
But the CDC reached the demonstrators lying down on the road. The impact was psychological. It was one thing to use truncheons on standing demonstrators. It was different beating down on students who were lying down.
Emilio and Gregorio were the one’s who were sitting down in front of the students lying down. They were part of the UP contingent. Those lying down were students from UST and Ateneo. The troopers cannot beat them down but they tried pulling them up and carrying them but the students held on to each other’s hands and arms. They were locked in a human mesh. No matter how hard they tried, it was useless. The CDC was faltering. Tirona had his men with guns firing rubber bullets come forward. When the CDC retreated in frustration, Tirona ordered a volley. The first rank of those sitting down crumpled. Emilio was hit on the chest and he crumpled over. Gregorio carried him to the back and other students took their place. Again Tirona ordered a volley and the front line of the students went down, but again others took their place.
Tirona was already frustrated, a third volley was ordered with the same results. Students already had bloody heads and faces. Tirona then stepped on the bodies of the students lying down. He did not care if it was a face or a stomach or a leg. A priest the stood up and told him that it was enough. Then a nun implored him to cease the volley of rubber bullets. More than 1 hundred students were bleeding behind them.
Gregorio took Emiio to the aid station. Dr. Jose Rizal together with volunteer nurses and doctors were treating the casualties and more were coming. Dr. Jose Rizal then went towards the frontlines because of the continuous flow of casualties. He was wearing his white coat and just following the line of litter-bearers who came streaming to the aid station. When he got to the from, he saw the final volley of rubber bullets and his hands turned white with rage upon seeing the students being mown down.
But the students and other demonstrators would not back down. They started to sing Lupang Hinirang which was commenced by a lone UP Music Conservatory student. It was such a stirring voice that upon the second stanza, all the others sang together with her.
Tirona was blocked by the priest and nun. He could not hear what they were saying since the national anthem was being sang around them. Tirona took out his 9mm Beretta and pointed it at the priest to order them to stop. The priest just stood there. The nun seeing the gun tried to yank Tirona’s arm. Tirona, confused, having a bad headache and the loudness of the song pulled the trigger. The priest crumpled and fell down, the nun draped her body over another student. Tirona said “Putang ina ninyo, tumigil na kayo!”, But the students only sang louder, He pointed his gun towards the head of another student sitting down. It was Gregorio, the nun dived over Gregorio, the gun went off and the bullet hit the nun.
Dr. Rizal was running towards Tirona but other policemen went to Tirona and carried him off toward their lines. Dr. Rizal knelt with tears running down his cheeks. The priest was dead and the nun had a gunshot wound on her side. Gregorio was trying to stanch the blood on the nun. Dr. Rizal took the puls of the priest as the song ended at “Ang Mamatay ng Dahil sa iyo……..”
Events were now being livestreamed over the internet. Pictures were being posted realtime on facebook. The demonstrators even had drones flying of the carnage. The world saw what was happening.
At the same time, Andy Bonifacio was with a group inside vans that were heading to Sampaloc…
