EDSA Tres

Quick Facts: Who was EDSA Tres?

Subject:

EDSA Tres

Known for:

The 2001 Philippine protests following the arrest of President Joseph Estrada.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The May 1 Riots, or EDSA III (or EDSA Tres, the Spanish word for "three"), were protests sparked by the arrest of newly deposed president Joseph Estrada of the Philippines from April 25 to May 1, 2001. The protest was held for 7 days on a major highway in Metro Manila, Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), which eventually culminated in an attempt to storm the Malacañang Palace. Taking place four months after the Second EDSA Revolution, the protests were considered as a more populist uprising in comparison to the previous demonstrations in the same location in January 2001. The protests and the attack on the presidential palace, however, failed in their objectives. Participants continue to claim that it was a genuine People Power event, a claim disputed by the participants and supporters of EDSA II.

Career & Major Achievements

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has acknowledged the divisive nature of the two terminologies by saying in one statement that she hoped to be the president of "EDSA II and EDSA III". The Second EDSA Revolution (or EDSA II) in January 2001 saw the ouster of Joseph Estrada as Philippine president and Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo succeeding him. Despite the ouster, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago expressed vehement support for Estrada and opposition to Arroyo's presidency throughout her reelection campaign in early 2001. Her speeches were marked by hyperbolic statements and inflammatory rhetoric: among others, she mentioned that if Estrada is arrested, she will jump off an airplane without a parachute in response, and there would be the possibility of civil war "in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao". Loi Ejercito, the wife of Estrada, also claimed during her Senate campaign speech on April 4, 2001 that arresting him will cause people to "get mad" and "revolt".

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In mid-April 2001, hundreds of supporters of former president Joseph Estrada situated themselves outside the gates of North Greenhills subdivision in Greenhills, San Juan where Estrada resided in an attempt to guard him from arrest. At this time, residents of a resettlement site that Estrada established in Taytay, Rizal planned to soon stage a protest against his arrest, with a businesswoman from the area stating her firm belief in his innocence: "If Estrada is arrested, we will stage People Power III." On April 19, Estrada's birthday, the former president visited the resettlement site for his customary birthday celebration in the area and gave a radio interview mentioning that he was ready to give himself over to authorities upon arrest, stating that "I always submit myself to the rule of law." In addition, he discouraged his supporters from becoming violent: "I want to fight off these charges in a peaceful way." On April 24, 2001, the Sandiganbayan ordered the arrest of Estrada, his son San Juan mayor Jinggoy Estrada, gambling consultant Charlie Atong Ang, and lawyer Edward Serapio over charges of plunder and graft. As early as 6:00 am the next day, six thousand police officers at Camp Crame in Quezon City stood by for the order to arrest Estrada, headed by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director-General Leandro Mendoza alongside troopers of the Philippine Marine Corps and the PNP Special Action Force in seven vehicles and five buses. However, an estimated 6,000 loyalists of Estrada had mobilized to Greenhills to block the police and military from arresting the former president. The PNP had floated the possibility of having to forcibly airlift Estrada from his home with airborne troops if the police squad headed by Mendoza was unable to enter the subdivision, as loyalists blocked the combined police and military forces from accessing the subdivision's Buchanan gate along Club Filipino Avenue with a blockade made out of jeepneys and human barricades.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 2001: 2001 Milestone — The May 1 Riots, or EDSA III (or EDSA Tres, the Spanish word for "three"), were protests sparked by the arrest of newly deposed president Joseph Estrada of the Philippines from April 25 to May 1, 2001.

Notable Quotes by EDSA Tres

“I always submit myself to the rule of law.”

“If Estrada is arrested, we will stage People Power III.” (2001)

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: EDSA Tres

True or False: “The EDSA III protests were considered a less populist uprising compared to the Second EDSA Revolution.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The text explicitly states that the May 1 Riots (EDSA III) were considered a more populist uprising in comparison to the previous demonstrations during EDSA II.

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Frequently Asked Questions about EDSA Tres