Alvin John P.

Tolentino
11-Fibonacci
1. What is Martial Law?
 The exercise of government and control by military authorities over the civilian
population of a designated territory. Government military personnel have the authority to
make and enforce civil and criminal laws.
 President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed Proclamation No. 1081 on September 21, 1972,
placing the Philippines under Martial Law.
 It was the last defense against the rising disorder caused by increasingly violent student
demonstrations, the alleged threats of communist insurgency by the new Communist
Party of the Philippines (CPP), and the Muslim separatist movement of the Moro
National Liberation Front (MNLF).
2. Why was Martial Law happened?
 Martial Law features P.L.E.D.G.E.S.
(a) Peace and Order – suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus,, anti-Marcos
individuals were arrested, strict media censorship, rallies and public meetings were
prohibited, enforcement of curfews, travel bans, and the surrender of firearms and
explosives.
(b) Land Reform – According to Presidential Decree No.27, “emancipation of Tenants
from the Bondage of the Soil Transferring to Them the Ownership of the Land They
Till and Providing the Instruments and Mechanism Thereof”.
(c) Economic Development – building infrastructures and development of power plants
and other establishments
(d) Government Reforms – reorganization plans, restructuring and creating new
departments, the election to the interim Batasang Pambansa, establishing barangays
as the basic political unit.
(e) Education Reforms – technical and vocational courses, and 10-year education
programs
(f) Social Services – SSS, GSIS, Philippine Medical Care Commission, and PAG-IBIG
 To the anti-Marcos elements, it was due to his immense greed for power and wealth.
Nothing more, nothing less.
 When Marcos signed Proclamation 1081 on September 21, 1972, he cited the communist
threat as justification. His diary, meanwhile, said the proclamation of Martial Law
became a "necessity", following the supposed ambush of then defense secretary Juan
Ponce Enrile.
 To install order and stability because there was complete anarchy throughout the country.
To maintain law and order, suppressing all forms of violence and any act of insurrection
or rebellion, and to enforce obedience to all laws and decrees.
 To prolong his (Pres. Marcos) grip on political power but on the pretext of saving the
republic from a communist takeover and to reform a society that was in a state of political
decay.

3. What are the implications of Martial Law?

 In his first term, agricultural production to make the country self-sufficient in food was
improved.
 The congress of the Philippines called for a Constitutional Convention on June 1, 1971 to
review and rewrite the 1935 Constitution.
 The Rise of Student Activism. Students protest on the prevailing conditions of the
country saddled the second term of Marcos in office.
 The Establishment of New People’s Army. Because of the perceived deplorable condition
of the nation, the communist movement subdued by President Magsaysay in 1950’s,
revived their activities and clamor for reform. The communist insurgency problem did
not stop when the martial law was declared.
 The Rise in Acts of Violence. Many of the acts of violence were inspired by the
communist such as Plaza Miranda Bombing, which killed and wounded few people.
 Under the Martial law, Pres. Marcos disregarded constitution. For instance, he violated
the provision which guaranteed the Bill of Rights (Article III).
 The crime rate in the country reduced significantly, people became law-abiding. But a
year after martial law, crime rates started to soar.
 To hasten the economic development, Marcos implemented a number of economic
programs which helps the country to attain the period of economic growth.
 Farmers were given technical and financial aid and other incentives such as “price
support”. The country’s agricultural sector grew.
 The country engaged in foreign borrowings to enhance and develop infrastructures such
as the Bataan Power Plant.
 Foreign capital was invited to invest in certain industrial projects. They were offered
incentives including tax exemption privileges and the privilege of bringing out their
profits in foreign currencies.
 Pres. Marcos announces his policy of establishing relations with communist countries
such as the People’s Republic of China and the Soviet Union.