Page "Corazon Aquino" Paragraph 13

The snap election called by Marcos which was held on February 7, 1986 was marred by massive electoral fraud, violence, intimidation, coercion and disenfranchisement of voters.

Election Day proved to be bloody as one of Aquino's staunchest allies Antique Governor Evelio Javier was brutally murdered, allegedly by one of Marcos ' supporters in his province.

Further, during the counting and tallying of votes conducted by the Commission on Elections ( COMELEC ), 30 poll computer technicians walked out to dispute and contest the alleged election-rigging done in favor of Marcos.

Despite this, the Batasang Pamabansa, which was dominated by allies of the ruling party, declared President Marcos as the winner in the recently concluded snap presidential election on February 15, 1986.

In protest to the declaration of the Philippine parliament, Aquino called for a rally dubbed " Tagumpay ng Bayan " ( People's Victory Rally ) the following day, during which she claimed that she was the real winner in the snap election and urged Filipinos to boycott the products and services by companies controlled or owned by Marcos ' cronies.

The rally held at the historic Rizal Park in Luneta, Manila drew a mammoth-sized crowd, which sent a strong signal that Filipinos were already growing tired of Marcos ' two decade-rule.

Further, the dubious election results drew sharp reactions from both local quarters and foreign countries.

The Catholic Bishops ' Conference of the Philippines ( CBCP ) issued a statement strongly criticizing the conduct of the election which was characterized by violence and fraud.

The United States Senate condemned the election.

Aquino rejected a power-sharing agreement proposed by the American diplomat Philip Habib, who had been sent as an emissary by U. S. President Ronald Reagan to help defuse the tension.