DURING

Sept. 21, 1972: Date of   Proclamation No. 1081 placing the Philippines under martial
law.

49: Persons from the Greater Manila Area immediately arrested on Sept. 22, 1972, by
the military, among them three senators, three congressmen, two provincial governors,
four delegates to the Constitutional Convention and eight newsmen. First on the list
was opposition senator and main political rival Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.

Sept. 23, 1972: Press Secretary Francisco Tatad announces the imposition of martial
law and reads the Marcos proclamation in a nationwide televised broadcast. Marcos
himself went on air at 7 p.m. to formally announce the proclamation.

12-4 a.m. – Curfew in place

Jan. 17, 1981: Marcos signs Proclamation No. 2045 lifting the implementation of
martial law ahead of the first papal visit of Pope John Paul II in February.

107,240: Primary victims of human rights violations during martial law

70,000 people arrested, mostly arbitrarily without warrants of arrests*

34,000 people tortured*

3,240 killed by the military and the police*

*Amnesty International

464: Closed  media outlets after declaration of martial law

8 major English newspapers

18 vernacular, Spanish and English language dailies

60 community newspapers

66 TV channels

20 radio stations
292 provincial radio stations
$683 million: Worth of Marcos assets in various Swiss banks declared as ill-gotten
based on a July 2003 the Supreme Court ruling

$5-10 billion: Estimated alleged ill-gotten wealth plundered by the Marcoses during
two decades in Malacañang

6,281: Number of Marcos laws from September 1972 to February 1986

2,036 presidential decrees

61 general orders

1,093 executive orders

1,409 proclamations and other issuances

1,525 letters of instructions

157 letters of implementation

Inquirer Research

Sources: Inquirer Archives, Official Gazette, “The Marcos Regime: Rape of the
Nation” by Filemon Rodriguez

Proclamation of Martial Law: On September 21, 1972, President Ferdinand E. Marcos

placed the Philippines under Martial Law. The declaration issued under Proclamation
1081 suspended the civil rights and imposed military authority in the country. Marcos
defended the declaration stressing the need for extra powers to quell the rising wave
of violence allegedly caused by communists. The emergency rule was also intended to
eradicate the roots of rebellion and promote a rapid trend for national development.
The autocrat assured the country of the legality of Martial Law emphasizing the need
for control over civil disobedience that displays lawlessness. Marcos explained citing
the provisions from the Philippine Constitution that Martial Law is a strategic
approach to legally defend the Constitution and protect the welfare of the Filipino
people from the dangerous threats posed by Muslim rebel groups and Christian
vigilantes that places national security at risk during the time. Marcos explained that
martial law was not a military takeover but was then the only option to resolve the
country’s dilemma on rebellion that stages national chaos threatening the peace and
order of the country. The emergency rule, according to Marcos’s plan, was to lead the
country into what he calls a “New Society”.

Marcos used several events to justify martial law. Threat to the country’s security was
intensifying following the re-establishment of the Communist Party of the Philippines
(CPP) in 1968. Supporters of CPP’s military arm, the New People’s Army, also grew
in numbers in Tarlac and other parts of the country. The alleged attempt to the life of
then Minister of Defense Juan Ponce Enrile gave Marcos a window to declare Martial
Law. Marcos announced the emergency rule the day after the shooting incident.
Marcos also declared insurgency in the south caused by the clash between Muslims
and Christians, which Marcos considered as a threat to national security. The Muslims
were defending their ancestral land against the control of Christians who migrated in
the area. The minority group organized the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)
in Malaysia and pushed for the autonomy of Mindanao from the national government.

Juan Ponce EnrileThe move was initially supported by most Filipinos and was viewed
by some critics as a change that solved the massive corruption in the country. Martial
law ceased the clash between the executive and legislative branches of the
government and a bureaucracy characterized by special interest. Marcos started to
implement reforms on social and political values that hindered effective
modernization. To match the accomplishments of its Asian neighbors, Marcos
imposed the need for self-sacrifice for the attainment of national welfare. His reforms
targeted his rivals within the elite depriving them of their power and patronage but did
not affect their supporters (US Library of Congress, Martial Law and the Aftermath).

Thirty-thousand opposition figures including Senator Benigno Aquino, journalists,

student and labor activists were detained at military compounds under the President’s
command (Proclamation 1081 and Martial Law). The army and the Philippine
Constabulary seized weapons and disbanded private armies controlled by prominent
politicians and other influential figures (Proclamation 1081 and Martial Law). Marcos
took control of the legislature and closed the Philippine Congress (Proclamation 1081
and Martial Law). Numerous media outfits were either closed down or operated under
tight control (Proclamation 1081 and Martial Law). Marcos also allegedly funnelled
millions of the country’s money by placing some of his trusted supporters in strategic
economic positions to channel resources to him. Experts call this the “crony
capitalism.”
Former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr.The deterioration of the political and
economic condition in the Philippines triggered the decline of support on Marcos’
plans. More and more Filipinos took arms to dislodge the regime. Urban poor
communities in the country’s capital were organized by the Philippine Ecumenical
Council for Community and were soon conducting protest masses and prayer rallies.
These efforts including the exposure of numerous human rights violations pushed
Marcos to hold an election in 1978 and 1981 in an aim to stabilize the country’s
chaotic condition. Marcos, in both events, won the election; however, his extended
term as President of the Republic of the Philippines elicited an extensive opposition
against his regime. Social unrest reached its height after former Senator Benigno
Aquino was murdered. The incident sent thousands of Filipinos to the streets calling
for Marcos’ removal from post. Turning again to his electoral strategy, Marcos held a
snap election in 1986 but what he hoped will satisfy the masses only increased their
determination to end his rule that seated Corazon Aquino, widow of Benigno Aquino,
as President of the Philippines ousting Marcos from Malacañang Palace and ending
the twenty-one years of tyrant rule.

https://www.philippine-history.org/martial-law-philippines.htm

POST MARTIAL LAW

The 21-year dictatorial rule of Marcos with wife Imelda ended in 1986 following a
popular uprising that forced them to exile to Hawaii. Corazon "Cory" Aquino, the
wife of exiled and murdered opposition leader Benigno Aquino who was perceived to
have won a just concluded snap election was installed as president. Aquino restored
civil liberties, initiated the formation of a new constitution and the restoration of
Congress.

On September 16, 1991, despite the lobbying of Aquino, the Senate rejected a new
treaty that would allow a 10-year extension of the US military bases in the country.
In the1992 elections, Pres. Aquino endorsed Secretary of Defense Fidel Ramos as her
successor, which Ramos won with a slight margin over his rival, Miriam Defensor-
Santiago. During the Ramos presidency, he advocated "National Reconciliation" and
laid the ground work for the resolution of the secessionist Muslim rebels in the
southern Philippine Island of Mindanao. The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)
led by Nur Misuari, signed a peace agreement with the government. However a
splinter group, The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) led by Hashim Salamat
continued to fight for an Islamic state. Ramos worked for the economic stability of the
country and the improvement of the infrastructure facilities like telecommunications,
energy and transportation.

Joseph Ejercito Estrada, a popular actor, succeeded Ramos in 1998 with Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo (daughter of former President Diosdado Macapagal) as his Vice-
President. Estrada's lack of economic & management skills plunged the economy
deeper as unemployment increased and the budget deficit ballooned. In October 2000,
Estrada's close friend Luis "Chavit" Singson accused Estrada of receiving millions of
pesos from "Jueteng", an illegal numbers game. Soon after, Congress impeached
Estrada on grounds of bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust and
culpable violation of the constitution. His impeachment trial at the Senate was
however blocked by his political allies in the Senate. Shortly after the evidence
against Estrada was blocked at the Senate, thousands of people rallied up at the EDSA
Shrine, site of the People Power Revolution which ousted Marcos in 1986.

In January 2001, the Supreme Court declared Joseph Estrada unable to rule in view of
mass resignations from his government and declared Vice-President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo as his constitutional successor. To this date, Estrada remains
detained facing graft charges before the Sandigan Bayan, the Anti-graft court.
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, completed the remaining term of Estrada and run for re-
election against Fernando Poe, Jr., another popular actor and a friend of Estrada in
May 2004. Arroyo with her running mate Noli de Castro was eventually proclaimed
the winners of the Presidential & Vice-Presidential elections. She has been advocating
a change from a Presidential form of government to a Parliamentary form of
government.

Arroyo's husband & son has been rumored to be receiving money from gambling
lords and this has tainted her reputation. A tape recording of Arroyo talking with a
commissioner on elections surfaced establishing impropriety by Arroyo and
suggesting that she might have influenced the outcome of the last elections.
Demonstrations followed in June 2005 calling for Arroyo to resign.

On the eve of the anniversary of the "People Power Revolution" on February 24,
2006, the government took pre-emptive measures to quash alleged plots to unseat
Arroyo through massive rallies and a coup. Arroyo declared a "State of Emergency"
the next day mobilizing the police and the military averting any destabilization moves.

May 14, 2007 - National Elections for Senators, Congressmen, Governors, Mayors
and local officials. Although there are instances of violence and allegations of
cheating specially in Mindanao, this elections is considered by many as one of the
most peaceful elections conducted in Philippines.
September 12, 2007 - Former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada is convicted of
plunder by the Sandiganbayan, the anti-graft court and is sentenced to 40 years
imprisonment. He is the first former president ever convicted of any crime in
Philippine history. Six weeks later, on October 26, Estrada was pardoned by President
Arroyo.

Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III, affectionately called "Noynoy", the son of
former President Corazon C. Aquino and the late Senator Benigno Aquino, won the
May 10, 2010 presidential elections. He was proclaimed president on June 30, 2010 at
Rizal Park in Manila. Former President Gloria Arroyo, was elected congresswoman
for the second district of Pampanga. This was the first computerized national elections
in Philippine history.

https://web.facebook.com/thephilippinehistory/posts/365884610194062