Chapter 1394: The end of an old era!
Enrique Brood is not a man of poor character or poor skills who has managed to occupy this position.
Once he decided to betray Ferdinand, he went about it in the most extreme way.
As the head of the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation, the head of the big family, and Ferdinand's absolute right-hand man,
Enrique Brood has the most dirt on Ferdinand!
He's using it all as bargaining chips!
What Enrique Brood doesn't know is that he's actually the first traitor, and the white man is just tricking him.
It's his fault for not knowing that Luowang can find such secret information, and for presuming that someone has already betrayed Ferdinand.
His betrayal has directly torn apart the core system of Ferdinand's rule.
The network struck out in the dark, targeting Ferdinand's many hardcore henchmen.
Key figures such as Defence Secretary Adulo Enrile, Acting Armed Forces Chief of Staff Ramos and Cabinet Secretary Chris Tovar realised the sudden change in the situation and jumped at the chance to throw in their lot with the winner, in exchange for wealth and power.
With their connivance, anti-Ferdinand and anti-SPM demonstrations were held more and more frequently across the Philippines.
Every political rally by the opposition received a huge response.
Public opinion in the Philippines exploded after overseas sources returned a complete list of the Ferdinand family's corrupt assets.
Opposition to Ferdinand's re-election and calls for him to step down were widespread.
It was a complete firestorm!
On 5 January, the Philippine prosecutor's office announced that it would reopen hearings the next day and charge Ferdinand's most loyal henchman, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Bell, and 25 other military personnel and one government official!
The trial suddenly reopened just one week before the election, and the signal was strong enough!
Ferdinand wanted to question Enrique Brode about the situation, but was suddenly and horrifiedly told that Enrique Brode had left Manila for research!
Enrique Brod had betrayed him!
He was protecting himself, avoiding him!
In an instant, a thought came to Ferdinand's mind.
Ferdinand was shocked and angry, but there was nothing he could do.
The Congress had already been dissolved, and there was only one week until the general election. It was too late for him to remove Enrique Brod from office!
Even Enrique Brod had betrayed him, and there were definitely more people who had chosen to betray him.
For a moment, Ferdinand felt surrounded by enemies, and the vast Philippines seemed like a place where he could not stand.
At this time, his henchmen, such as Bell, were no longer of any concern to him.
He rushed home first and gathered his family together.
His wife Imelda, daughter Amy and son Ferdinand Jr.
'My dear, what's happened again?'
asked Imelda, worried, as she looked at her husband, who looked a little distracted.
'Imelda, you and the children must pack and leave the Philippines immediately,'
ordered Ferdinand.
'Leave today, quickly!'
Imelda was completely flustered. She took Ferdinand's hand and asked anxiously, 'Darling, what's going on? You have to tell me, otherwise we won't know what to do when we leave.'
'Yes, Father, what's going on?'
Ferdinand Jr. asked nervously.
He had been a high-ranking official and provincial councilor in Ilocos Norte since his twenties, and he knew that the current election situation was not good for his father, but it shouldn't have caused such panic.
They were just making arrangements to escape, telling them to run away first!
"Enrique Brode has betrayed me. He knows everything about me, and now all this evidence is probably in the hands of the enemy.'
'Even he has betrayed me. There must be others I don't know about.'
'My chances of winning the election are slim. I have a special status and an army loyal to me. Even if I lose the election, it will take them some time to deal with me.'
'It will be easier for me to act if you leave first.'
'Leave quickly. Take the family jet and go to Canada, not the United States!'
Ferdinand kept saying with a gloomy face.
'How could this happen?'
'The election hasn't even been officially announced yet. Why would Enrique Broder, as head of the National Bureau of Investigation, betray you?'
Imelda was shocked and pale, unable to believe what she was hearing.
'The reason doesn't matter anymore. Just do as you're told and settle down in Canada. Wait for my news.'
At Ferdinand's repeated orders, Imelda came to terms with the reality and had to pack her bags with her children in a hurry.
That evening, taking advantage of the darkness, Imelda boarded a plane with her family and flew to Canada.
All of this was recorded by someone who had been planted at the airport by the network in advance.
January 6th.
In the midst of much attention, the Philippine prosecutor's office held another hearing, and some witnesses who had disappeared reappeared.
Not only were there witnesses.
Even the physical evidence was more complete than ever before, and it was completely ironclad.
Some of this evidence was provided secretly by Ramos, the acting chief of staff who had replaced Bel.
The prosecutor's office announced on the spot that the 26 defendants were guilty as charged and filed a public prosecution with the court!
The prosecutor's trial had already been followed by countless interested parties, and after the trial ended, the news spread like wildfire.
This result once again dealt a heavy blow to Ferdinand's prestige, and some of his previously wavering hardcore followers, seeing the signs of trouble, made their choices one after the other.
After the public prosecutor's office has transferred the case to the court, the court shall make a decision within one month, and major and complex cases may be extended for half a month.
However, at this time, it is temporarily unimportant for the opposition whether the court will make a decision or not.
The result of the public prosecutor's office has been made public, and Ferdinand is powerless to turn the tide!
After Ferdinand steps down, the court will retry the case. If Bell and others know what is appropriate and charge Ferdinand, then it will have an even greater effect!
January 7th.
Another piece of news appeared all over the place.
It was revealed that Ferdinand's wife and son had fled the Philippines overnight, and there were not only photos of them at the airport in the Philippines, but also after they had arrived in Canada.
The opposition used this news to constantly attack Ferdinand.
This news was a fatal blow to Ferdinand's remaining supporters!
The election day had not yet really arrived, but Ferdinand's edifice had already collapsed into pieces.
Opposition to him resounded throughout the Philippines!
...
In the blink of an eye, it was 12 January.
The Philippine general election officially began.
On this day, an international observer delegation consisting of 69 people representing 32 countries also arrived in Manila.
Among them was Lugard, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent by Ronald Reagan.
In addition, diplomats from embassies in the Philippines were instructed by their respective governments to turn out in full force, and more than 1,000 foreign journalists also gathered in Manila.
After the final vote was tallied,
Maria Corrie, Xu Huange's cousin and leader of the United Democratic Organisation, won by an absolute majority.
Her approval rating was a whopping 82.3%!
Ferdinand's approval rating, on the other hand, was only 11.4%, and a large proportion of those votes came from his hometown of Ilocos Norte!
The rest of the votes were split between the other candidates.
Ferdinand was not willing to accept defeat in the election. Thinking that he had a last chance, he realised that he had lost control of the armed forces!
Even General Tatimang, the commander of the marines, who was absolutely loyal to him, could not be contacted.
He wanted to escape from the Philippines, but found that orders could no longer be issued from the presidential palace. All airports and ports in the Philippines were under martial law!
From this moment on, Ferdinand was trapped!
The next ten days were like an eternity for Ferdinand.
Meanwhile, the Philippine political scene was full of undercurrents, with countless interests being exchanged.
After complete agreement was reached,
Maria Corley took office as President of the Philippines on 25 January.
When Ferdinand left the presidential palace like a puppet, he was taken away for interrogation as soon as he left!
For the Philippines, the fall of the dictator Ferdinand signified the end of an old era!
And the emergence of the first female president in history also marks the official beginning of a new era!