In the know: Rebecca Quijano

REBECCA Quijano was initially identified as the “Crying Lady” moments after the assassination of Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. at the airport tarmac on Aug. 21, 1983.

Quijano walked off China Airlines Flight 811 sobbing hysterically and told waiting newsmen, “They have already killed him (Aquino), yet you are not weeping.”

READ: ‘Crying Lady’: It’s destiny that I saw Ninoy killing 33 years ago

On May 2, 1985, prosecutor Manuel Herrera presented Quijano as a witness before the Sandiganbayan trial of Gen. Fabian Ver and 25 coaccused for murdering Aquino.

In her testimony, Quijano said that moments after the plane had docked, she saw  three military men enter the cabin to escort Aquino out of the plane. She attempted to follow but was blocked by men in white shirts.

Quijano said she ran to a window on the left side of the plane to view the stairs. She saw that Aquino and his escorts were about one quarter of the way down, two uniformed Aviation Security Command officers flanking him followed by two uniformed Metropolitan Command (Metrocom) officers and a man in a white barong several steps above and behind.

“I saw the Metrocom who was behind Senator Aquino aim his gun at Aquino’s head and, simultaneously, I heard a shot,” she said.

Quijano said she saw Aquino’s head slumped down and she began to wail. She ran to her seat, then back to the window, and saw soldiers in blue coveralls aiming rifles downward.

“I thought they were still shooting at him and became hysterical… I could not bear to look at Senator Aquino lying there with all the blood,” Quijano said.  Inquirer Research

Sources: “Worth Dying For” by Lewis Simons and “Impossible Dream: The Marcoses, the Aquinos and the Unfinished Revolution” by Sandra Burton