Underneath our feet lies ground soaked in history. This is the Camp Crame Plaque. It stands as a testament to pivotal moments in the Philippines.
Camp Crame is the national headquarters of the Philippine National Police or PNP. It is located in Quezon City. It stands across EDSA from Camp Aguinaldo. Camp Aguinaldo is the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or AFP.
But why is it named Camp Crame? It honors Brigadier General Rafael Crame. He was the first Filipino chief of the Philippine Constabulary. He served from 1917 to 1927.
Let’s journey back to 1935. The Philippine Constabulary made a deal with Manila. They traded their barracks in Tondo for land in New Manila Heights. This land became Camp Crame. It also became Camp Murphy now Camp Aguinaldo.
Camp Crame has seen many transformations. During the Commonwealth era, it was reorganized. It even served as the nucleus of the Philippine Army at one point.
Camp Crame gained notoriety during the Marcos regime. It housed detention centers for political prisoners. The Men’s Detention Center was in the Camp Crame Gymnasium. The PC Stockade became known for the death of Liliosa Hilao. She was a student who was tortured while detained.
But Camp Crame is also a symbol of hope. It became a rallying point during the People Power Revolution in 1986. When reports of election fraud surfaced, unrest grew. Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile and PC Chief Fidel V. Ramos withdrew support from Marcos. They took over Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame.
Cardinal Jaime Sin called on Filipinos. He asked them to protect Enrile and Ramos. People gathered on EDSA between the two camps. They formed a human shield. This prevented Marcos’ forces from attacking.
The tide turned when Colonel Antonio Sotelo and his men defected. Instead of launching an airstrike, they joined Ramos’ forces in Camp Crame.
Enrile and Ramos consolidated their forces in Camp Aguinaldo. The crowd at EDSA protected them. They crossed EDSA to join Ramos’ forces in Camp Crame. These events led to Marcos’ ouster. They also led to Corazon Aquino becoming president.
Today, Camp Crame serves as the headquarters of the Philippine National Police. The AFP only handed over the land titles to the PNP in July 2008. The camp also houses the PNP Custodial Center. It detains high-profile suspects.
In April 2011, the National Historical Commission recognized Camp Crame. They placed a marker on the facility. Former President Fidel Ramos was present. This Camp Crame plaque marks a place of transformation. It marks a place of conflict. It marks a place of hope.