On February 22, 1986, then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Armed Forces of the Philippines Vice Chief of Staff, Lt. General Fidel Ramos formally withdrew support for then President Ferdinand Marcos.

Enrile, who helped plot a botched coup d'etat against the Marcos regime, feared for his safety and approached Ramos.

Both officials later sought help from the influential Catholic leader,
Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, who then called on the public to secure the rebel leaders near Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo.

Marcos, for his part, called on Enrile and Ramos to surrender and "stop this stupidity."

Civilians, however, began filling up EDSA in response to Cardinal Sin's call.