POSITION PAPER

Martial law is the law administered by military forces that is

invoked by a government in an emergency when the civilian law
enforcement agencies are an able to maintain public order safety. It
was implemented in the whole Philippines during late president
Marcos’ rule. Until now this event is still an issue to Filipinos, for it
gave mark to most Filipinos even to foreign nations. Late President
Marcos imposed martial law on our nation from 1972 to 1981 to
suppress increasing civil strife and the threat of a communist
takeover following a bombing in Manila, Philippines. All of the
families or martial law supporters are for sure in favor about the
implementation of this rule. However, those anti-Marcoses and who
are not a favor of the said rule, especially the claiming victims’
assertion must still be honored.
As this issue continues, my curiosity developed. I want to
know why this people approved this law, and why other people from
present generation still continue to make comments about this
issue that eventually from the past. What significant event does this
law made that up until now, people can’t forget.
According to Chester L. Hunt, President Marcos’ claim is
nationalistic but without the euphonic anti-foreign attitudes often
associated with a nationalistic commitment. However, according to
the government’s aged member, martial law is one way for the late
President Marcos to protect our country from the growing
population of activist nor terrorists. In this matter we can question
how does Filipino became an activist? How come they are against
Marcoses? What are the reasons behind their actions?
My point here is that there will be no activists if they did not
see anything that gives them the reason to go against the Marcos
rule. If the government only give them the attention they crave for
and listen to their voices as they want to tell their point of view,
they will not go against the Marcoses as well as to the rules they
implemented. And maybe, just maybe there will be no martial law
implementation on those years. There are many ways and reasons
why martial law should not be implemented by that time. For sure
there are reasons for president Marcos to implement this law
however, there are also so many reasons for him not to. We just
need to be open-minded and know he’s point of view.