Philippine Joy Turns to Rampage at Palace

An explosion of joy over Ferdinand E. Marcos’ departure quickly turned into a rampage through the Malacanang presidential palace compound by thousands of Filipinos curious to see the opulent retreat whose doors had been closed to them for 20 years.

What they found in the private quarters were the hospital bed in Marcos’ private bedroom and an old combat helmet beside his pillow, hundreds of designer dresses in First Lady Imelda’s closets and gallon bottles of French perfumes on her dressers.

The remnants of a half-eaten inaugural dinner lay on an elegant table in the main hall, and on a desk in Marcos’ study lay a few notes.

One was a copy of a statement dated Monday by White House spokesman Larry Speakes with the following passage underlined: “Regrettably there are now reports of an attempt to resolve the situation by force which will surely result in bloodshed.”

Another note, handwritten but unsigned, said: “People are calling in suggesting the president should stay. It isn’t true what (Radio) Veritas is broadcasting that the . . . comrades from regions 1 to 12 have already pledged their support for Enrile and Ramos.”

After a radio announcer proclaimed “the long national nightmare is over,” mobs thronged the streets, singing, dancing, exploding firecrackers and setting bonfires to celebrate the victory of Corazon Aquino.

Thousands chanting “Cory! Cory!” surrounded the presidential palace while 200 marines and hastily recruited civilian supporters of Marcos held out inside.

Suddenly about 5,000 people swept through the wrought-iron gates, pushed aside about 20 guards and forced their way into a four-story administrative office building, ransacking offices and tearing down pictures of Marcos and his wife, tipping over tables and chairs and smashing down doors.

The guards made no attempt to stop the mob, which reporters said quickly grew to 20,000, sweeping through the offices like a human cyclone, ransacking desks and strewing papers everywhere. One man stood on a desk and shouted: “I want to kill Marcos!”

They later stormed the main palace building and pulled down expensive chandeliers, barged into the main living rooms and banged pots and pans in the presidential kitchen.

In the beautifully decorated ground-floor sitting rooms, cabinet drawers were ransacked and people made away with shoes, towels and radios.

Others amused themselves simply by flushing the many toilets.