[Philippine corruption] Diary of a Dictator -- Ferdinand Imelda The Last Days of Camelot #9/234

Reporters desperate for a hint of interesting copy clustered around Aquino who, as usual, obliged. The senator regaled them with lively criticisms of the president. Laughter echoed through the near-empty chamber.

Night draped the putting greens and fairways of Wack Wack Golf Course when a distant burst of machine-gun fire rattled out of the darkness. Then another. And another. How many rounds? A dozen? Maybe twice that? The few witnesses who heard something saw nothing. There was no one on the course at that hour, no one to see a shooter or a target. Perhaps the answer would be in the morning papers, or on Channel 9’s “Newswatch.”

The palace was darker than usual when press secretary Francisco “Kit” Tatad came looking for The Boss. Kit knew nothing about the shooting. He was going home to his bride of less than two years as soon as he debriefed the president on afternoon meetings with media executives. Tatad found Marcos in the dimly lighted State Dining Room, waiting to watch a movie. With the three Marcos children away at school, the after-dinner movie was not the customary family event. The president was alone, but the press secretary was not invited to stay for the film, or to report on his meetings.

“Kits!” The president greeted him eagerly. For some reason, The Boss always referred to Kit as if he was plural. It didn’t bother him. “You go see Johnny. There are some things you will have to work on together tonight.” Marcos sent him to telephone the secretary of defense. The press aide saw another evening at home evaporate in a flash. Kit reached Enrile almost immediately at Camp Aguinaldo. “You wanted to see me?”

“You know —” Enrile began in a voice betraying no emotion —“I have just been ambushed. No one was hurt, but my car is wrecked.”

Kit gasped at the news, delivered with such coolness, so matter-of- fact. The president must be informed immediately. Enrile agreed. Kit rushed back to interrupt the president’s movie, blurting out: “Secretary Enrile has been ambushed!” Marcos only half turned. “Is that so?” He asked nothing more. Is that so? Is that so!