lesson 7

SPEECH BROADCASTED ON
RADIO AND TV BY:
PRES. FERDINAND E.MARCOS
DECLARING THE PHIL. UNDER A
STATE OF MARTIAL LAW
SEPTEMBER 23, 1972

Presented by:
Alminaza, Martinez, Mondrano
Historical Context
The 1970s in the Philippines marked an era of restored nationalism and radicalism in the
political climate that was brought about world events like: the Middle East oil crisis; the
Vietnam War; and the Communism spreading more in Asia. Communism is when everything is
shared and owned by the community or the government so that everyone has equal access to
resources and wealth.
During Marcos' time as president, there was a lot of corruption in the government, and this
made people very angry and caused civil unrest. They were also upset when they heard that
Marcos and his wife Imelda were trying to give money to delegates(selected to write a new
constitution)to change the rules so that Marcos could stay in power, even though he was
supposed to leave the presidency in 1972.
On the evening of September 22, 1972, the Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile's
convoy(group of vehicles or ships that travel together0was ambushed in Mandaluyong. He
later claimed that the ambush was staged. Just an hour after this incident, President Marcos
declared martial law.
The signing of Proclamation 1081 by President Marcos in 1972 marked the start of what's
known as “the dark days of Marcos dictatorship(a government with a single boss who has a lot
of power).On September 23, people woke up to a quiet country with no newspapers, radio, or
TV broadcasts. The streets had a heavy military and police presence, and activist and
opposition politicians were being arrested.
About the Speaker
Ferdinand Edralin Mrcos was the 10th president of the
Philippines. Born on September
11, 1917, in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, to Mariano Marcos, a local
politician, and Josefa Edralin, a schoolteacher. He studied law at
the UP in Manila and was preparing for the bar exams when he
was when he was accused of killing his father’s political opponent
in 1933. Marcos was found guilty but argued his case on appeal at
the Supreme Court and was acquitted(not guilty). Studying while
in jail, he passed the bar in 1939 and became a trial lawyer. During
World War II, served as an officer with the Philippine military and
was taken prisoner by the Japanese following the surrender of
Bataan. He was later released in 1942 and returned to active
service in 1944 during the campaign for the liberation(gaining
freedom)of the Philippines.
 Marcos entered politics after the war when he
joined the Liberal Party(political group or
organization). Became a congressman(1949-59)
and a senator (1959-65), serving as Senate
president(1963-65). In 1965, he broke away from
the LP after he failed to get his party’s nomination
for president. Run under the Nationalista Party in
the 1965 presidential elections and won. In 1969,
he won a second term, becoming the second
Philippine president to do so. (Commonwealth
President Manuel Quezon was the first).
In response to rising chaos in the country, Marcos
declared martial law in 1972. He closed Congress,
gave himself the power to make laws, jailed his
political rivals, and controlled the media. This
helped him tighten his grip on power.
During Marcos's time as the leader of the Philippines, there were
many problems like corruption, the economy getting worse, and
a growing rebellion in the countryside. In 1983, Benigno "Ninoy"
Aquino Jr., who had been against Marcos for a long time and was
once a prisoner during martial law, decided to come back to the
Philippines from his self-imposed exile. He wanted to bring
together the people who opposed Marcos. Sadly, he was killed at
the airport on August 21, 1983, by some of his own military
guards. This event led to a lot of protests against the
government.
Marcos announced a snap presidential election in 1986. Ninoy's
wife, Cory Aquino, ran against Marcos. The elections were
spoiled by unfair tactics from Marcos's political team, which
made Marcos's win seem doubtful.
Marcos didn't stay in power for long because his fake claim to be
the leader was exposed. In February 1986, the Philippine
military rebelled and backed Cory Aquino as the new president.
Marcos escaped to the United States on February 25, 1986, and
later died in Hawaii on September 28, 1989.
About the Speech

On September 23, 1972, at 3:00 p.m., television

and radio briefly started broadcasting. Francisco
Tatad, the Press Secretary, appeared on the screen
and began reading proclamation 1081 to the
country. After a blackout, at 7:15 p.m., President
Marcos came on the air and declared martial law,
explaining why it was imposed in a speech that
lasted nearly an hour. This was the only broadcast
for the day.
Speech by: PresidentFerdinand E.Marcos Declaring the Philippines
Under A State of Martial Law Broadcasted from Malacañang Palace,
Manila at 7:15 p.m.
September 23, 1972
The President of the Philippines announced the declaration of martial law in the country. He
stated that this decision was made to protect the Philippines from threats to its democracy
and safety. The President explained that martial law is not a military takeover but a
constitutional power used to maintain peace and order.
He mentioned several reasons for this declaration, including the presence of a rebellion,
increasing criminal activities, and the growth of communist groups. The President also
discussed the problems in Mindanao and Sulu, resulting in casualties and economic issues.
He emphasized two main objectives: first, to eliminate the threat to the Republic, and second,
to reform the country's social, economic, and political institutions to create a better
Philippines. The President assured the citizens that these actions were taken to protect their
civil rights and freedoms.
In summary, martial law was declared to address security and societal challenges in the
Philippines, with the ultimate goal of maintaining peace, order, and reforming the nation.
The main reason for declaring martial
law, is to address a series of serious
challenges facing the Philippines,
including a rebellion, increasing
criminal activities, and the growth of
communist groups. The President's
primary goal is to protect the
Republic and reform the country,
with an emphasis on maintaining
peace and order.
 Relevance
The declaration of martial law in the Philippines
marked the start of the "Marcos dictatorship," a 14-
year period marked by human rights abuses and
cronyism, concealed by Marcos' "New Society"
program. To counter these abuses, laws were enacted
during the Aquino administration, including a revised
constitution in 1987, which introduced safeguards like
congressional approval for martial law, a Commission
on Human Rights, and a modified Bill of Rights.
THANK YOU!