Tokyo governor extols heroism of Ninoy Aquino

MANILA, Philippines - Governor Shintaro Ishihara of Tokyo, Japan recently shared his thoughts of assassinated Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., through a message delivered by his two sons, Congressman Nobuteru and former Congressman Hirotaka Ishihara.

The Tokyo Governor, former senator and former Cabinet minister recalled fond memories of Senator “Ninoy” Aquino in his statement, read for him by former Congressman Hirotaka, on the occasion of a lunch with the Aquino family and friends.

Present at the sentimental gathering were Ninoy’s and former President Cory Aquino’s only son, Senator Noynoy Aquino; Eldon and Ballsy Aquino-Cruz; Pinky Aquino-Abellada; Dodo and Viel Aquino-Dee; Jiggy Cruz, Nana Abellada; Hideko Tokuda, vice-chairwoman of the Tokushukai Medical Corporation and her daughter Yukari; popular Japanese journalist and companion of Ninoy Aquino in the China Airlines flight that brought the pre-martial law opposition Senator to Manila on August 21, 1983, Kiyoshi Wakamiya; former Agrarian Reform Secretary Philip Ella Juico and former Quezon city second district congressman, Antonio L. Aquino.

Governor Ishihara and Senator “Ninoy” Aquino first met in 1968 when both had just won their respective electoral battles by wide margins over their opponents. Steered by the same vision of “developing of friendship between Japan and the Philippines” and “the prosperity of all of Asia as well”, their friendship grew as their political careers flourished.

When Ninoy was living in exile in Boston, Ishihara’s third son Hirotaka stayed with the Aquinos when he was attending Boston University. During that time, Governor Ishihara, then a Senator, was in close personal contact with Ninoy, especially when the Filipino solon was planning to come back to the Philippines.

While living with the Aquinos, Hirotaka would hear Ninoy and Cory discuss whether Ninoy should return to the Philippines, though they knew that this might result in a tragedy.

Governor Ishihara knew that the dictator Ferdinand Marcos still had strong control over the country and cautioned Ninoy to wait at least another half year to see how the situation changes.

One night, the Governor received an unexpected phone call from Ninoy. The Filipino exile told him, “This is a secret, but I have decided to leave the US tomorrow and return to the Philippines via Taiwan.” He said he wanted to come back to his people, “who are suffering under autocratic rule and are longing for and awaiting my return.” 

Ninoy told Governor Ishihara that he expected the Manila airport to be filled with people waving yellow flags of support when they welcome him back in three days.

Two days later, Ninoy called Governor Ishihara from Taipei and said, “It seems that the Taiwanese authorities are aware of my presence in Taiwan. There are people in the hallways in the hotel who appear to be police and they are monitoring my movements. I entered Taiwan under a false name and intend to leave under the same false name, so as to not cause the Taiwanese any problems. I would like them to allow me smooth passage out of their country.”

Ninoy called the Governor again from Taiwan, revealing a double assassination plot against him and a hired assassin, as relayed by fellow exile, former Senator Ernesto Maceda. Despite this, he said, “I can’t however betray all the people who are awaiting my return, and am planning to go back as scheduled.” Ninoy, knowing that his life was in danger, cautioned the governor, “I think my chances for survival are about 30 percent and this may be (the) last time we speak to each other.”

Fearing for Ninoy’s life, he offered to contact the Taiwanese government and instead have Ninoy, who had entered Taiwan under false pretenses by using a passport bearing the false name “Marcial Bonifacio”, arrested and detained in Taiwan. Ninoy, with a tearful voice, said, “As a last gesture of our friendship, I beg you not to do that.”

The assassination plot was implemented as planned and Ninoy, along with the hired assassin, Rolando Galman, was executed at the Manila International Airport.

Governor Ishihara heard of Senator Ninoy’s death from the Japanese news agency and immediately called Cory Aquino to break the sad news. Recalling that moment, he said, “I lost a brave friend in the person of Ninoy Aquino, who was the most heroic man I have ever met. He said that the Senator taught him what it really meant “for a statesman to love his country and to love its people. He risked his life for the country he loved.”

Governor Ishihara expressed elation to see Ninoy’s only son continue the legacy left by his father. He can see much of his father’s infinite love for the Philippines in Noynoy. “Within Noynoy flows the burning, fervent passion of the Aquino family,” Ishihara observes. He remains confident that the vision he shared with Ninoy remains alive in Noynoy.