Afp, London

British prime minister Margaret Thatcher granted Corazon Aquino’s request for asylum at the height of the uprising that swept her to power in the Philippines, according to newly declassified files released yesterday.

Aquino headed the four-day 1986 People Power Revolution that ended the 21-year rule of totalitarian president Ferdinand Marcos.

He had declared victory in a snap election tainted by fraud allegations.

During the turmoil, Aquino sought sanctuary in the British embassy or the ambassador’s residence in Manila, files released by Britain’s National Archives indicated.

But Britain’s protection was ultimately not needed as Marcos stepped down the following day and the Aquino government was officially recognised.

The asylum request was in a Downing Street file on Britain’s relations with the Philippines spanning from 1981 to 1995.

On the evening of February 24, 1986, Foreign Office diplomat Len Appleyard wrote to Charles Powell, Thatcher’s private secretary for foreign affairs.

He said Aquino had asked whether Britain would be prepared to offer sanctuary in the British embassy or residence at 8:00 am local time the following morning -- midnight in Britain.

Appleyard said Aquino had rejected sanctuary with the Americans and the Japanese but turned to the British “because they are ‘friendly and reliable’”.