Aquino landed fifth in a slate dominated by the Genuine Opposition, according to final but unofficial results from the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), with 4,062 votes against Legarda’s 5,700; Lacson’s 5,229; Escudero’s 4,457 and Villar’s 4,249.
Aquino was followed by Gregorio Honasan (Ind.
, 4,037); Antonio Trillanes (3,599); Juan Miguel Zubiri (Team Unity 3,552), Eduardo Angara (Team Unity 3,266), Aquilino Pimentel III (3,132); Michalel Defensor (Team Unity 2,697) and Allan Peter Cayetano (2,348)
Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay (Team Unity) landed 13th with 2,276 votes while party-mate Tessie Aquino-Oreta, sister of the late senator, got only 1,630 votes.
Reelectionist mayor Rafael Flauta campaigned for Team Unity. The Namfrel count showed him defeated by 604 votes by former policeman now businessman, Dante Manganaan.
Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino was assassinated at the Manila International Airport airport on August 21, 1983, just as he had stepped out of the ariplane that took him home after a three-year exile in America.
The airport had since been renamed Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Oldtimers in the area say the town, Kulaman (old name of Sen. Ninoy Aquino town), initially a barangay of Kalamansig town, was being groomed to be transformed into a town and named after a Marcos relative to facilitate easy passage of the law in the then Marcos-controlled Batasang Pambansa. But People Power 1 at EDSA happened. To ensure quick passage of the law in the newly-restored Congress, they changed the name to Sen. Ninoy Aquino town. The legislation (Republic Act 6712 on July 11, 1989) quickly passed, creating the town from portions of Kalamansig and Bagumbayan towns. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)
