Plaza Miranda bombing

Episode on March 5, 2009 Thursday night after Saksi August 21, 1983 has gone down in history as the day former Senator Ninoy Aquino was assassinated. But 12 years before Ninoy’s death, another event happened that left a deep mark in history: the Plaza Miranda Bombing. It was on the night of August 21, 1971 that the Liberal Party proclaimed its senatorial candidates at a rally in Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila. In the middle of the rally attended by around 4,000 people, two hand grenades were thrown on the stage. The blast killed nine people and injured more than 90 others. The administration of then President Ferdinand Marcos was immediately accused of masterminding the bombing but soon after, the name of Jose Ma. Sison and the CPP-NPA also surfaced. Listen as former Senator Jovito Salonga recounts what happened the night he almost died after being hit by more than a hundred pieces of shrapnel. Judy Araneta-Roxas, wife of the late Senator and Liberal Party President Gerry Roxas, and Lito Atienza who also survived the blast also relive the night of the bombing. Under the helm of filmmaker Kiri Lluch Dalena, watch a recreation of events starring Pen Medina as President Marcos, Bonifacio Ilagan as the late Gen. Fabian Ver and indie film actors Kris Lacaba, Che Ramos, Chantel Garcia and Soliman Cruz. Join Kara David in her last investigation of past cases on Case Unclosed this Thursday after Saksi.

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Kilala ang petsang August 21, 1983 bilang araw kung kailan pinaslang si dating Senador Benigno Aquino, Jr. Ngunit labing-dalawang taon bago ang pagkamatay ni Ninoy, naganap ang isa pang pangyayari na nag-iwan ng malalim na marka sa kasaysayan: ang Plaza Miranda Bombing. Gabi ng August 21, 1971 nang ipakilala ng Liberal Party ang mga kandidato nito para sa pagka-senador sa isang rally sa Plaza Miranda sa Quiapo, Manila. Dinaluhan ng humigit-kumulang apat na libo katao ang campaign rally ng partidong tumutuligsa sa administrasyon ni dating Presidente Ferdinand Marcos. Sa kalagitnaan ng pagtitipon, dalawang granada ang sinasabing inihagis sa entablado. Dahil sa pagsabog, siyam katao ang namatay at mahigit 90 ang nasaktan. Agad itinuro ang administrasyong Marcos bilang utak sa pagpapasabog ngunit 'di naglaon, lumutang din ang pangalan ni Jose Ma. Sison at ng CPP-NPA. Pakinggan ang salaysay ni dating Senador Jovito Salonga tungkol sa malagim na gabi na muntik na niyang ikamatay matapos magtamo ang kaniyang katawan ng mahigit sandaang shrapnel. Samahan ring magbalik-tanaw sina Judy Roxas, asawa ni dating Senador at Liberal Party President Gerardo Roxas, at Lito Atienza na isa rin sa mga nakaligtas sa pagpapasabog. Sa direksyon ni Kiri Lluch Dalena, tunghayan ang pagsasadulang pinangungunahan nila Pen Medina bilang dating Presidente Marcos, Bonifacio Ilagan bilang dating Heneral Fabian Ver at iba pang indie actors tulad nila Kris Lacaba, Che Ramos, Chantel Garcia at Soliman Cruz. Samahan si Kara David sa kaniyang huling pagsisiyasat sa mga tanong ng nakaraan sa Case Unclosed ngayong Huwebes pagkatapos ng Saksi.