Aquino, Corazon

Aquino, Corazon (Maria Corazon “Cory” Aquino) (kôr"uzōn', äkē'nō) [key], 1933–, Philippine politician, president of the Philippines (1986–92), b. Maria Corazon Cojuangco. Her husband, Benigno Servillano Aquino, Jr.,. 1932–83, was Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos's chief political opponent. In 1983 he was assassinated by government agents as he returned to the Philippines from exile in the United States. When the accused agents were acquitted, Corazon Aquino declared her candidacy for the presidency. After the election (1986), both sides claimed victory. When Marcos refused to step down, Aquino organized strikes and boycotts. With the nation on the brink of civil war, Marcos accepted asylum in the United States, and Aquino assumed the presidency, becoming the first woman president of the country. Promised changes and improvements largely failed to materialize during Aquino's term in office, which was plagued by economic difficulties and ineffectual leadership, and there were six coup attempts against her. In 1992, she did not run again but supported the successful presidential candidacy of Fidel Ramos. Benigno Aquino's accused assassins were later retried and convicted (1990) of his murder.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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