Conflict Situations and the Development of Internally Displaced People During Marcos

Sr.’s Regime (IDPs)

A. Conflict Situations

Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)

Santillan (2021) states that the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) was only
established in 1974 as a secessionist movement stemming from the Muslim
Independence Movement (MIM), a largely political movement. This secession
movement was branded by Marcos Sr. as a threat to national security due to the «
violence inflicted by the Christians, the Muslims, the “Ilagas”, the “Barracudas”,
and the Mindanao Independence Movement against each other and against our
government troops, a great many parts of the islands of Mindanao and Sulu are
virtually now in a state of actual war » as stated in Proclamation No. 1081, s.
1972. It, then, became one of the reasons why the former president declared
martial law, which was not correctly justified. The declaration of martial law, in
1972, and the establishment of the MNLF, in 1974 as the military splinter group
of the MIM (Stanford University, 2019) do not fall in line with Marcos Sr.’s
claims. Further, McKenna (1998) states that the declaration of martial law was not
the result of an armed Muslim insurgency against the state. Marcos Sr.’s claim of
the massacres inflicted upon Muslims that Nur Misuari called “genocide”
occurred after the declaration of martial law (Santillan, 2021). Some conflict
situations the occurred during the martial law that involved the MNLF, the
government, and other actors include:

Malisbong Massacre also known as the “Palimbang Massacre”

The Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC)

recorded that “1,500 Moro men and women were killed by military
and paramilitary forces in September 1974 at the coastal
community of Malisbong in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat” (Vera
Files, 2021). People were initially locked in a mosque and a small
group were to be taken out to be executed daily. Survivors recall
the excessive human rights violations that were committed.
Further, victims of the massacre were buried alive, nailed to a
cross, stripped of clothing and forced to dug their graves then
killed afterwards (Vera Files, 2021).

Patikul Massacre
 Pata Island Massacre

Maulana (2016) states that “3,000 Taosug civilians, including women and
children, were killed in months of Philippine military artillery shelling on
Pata Island, Sulu.” This artillery shelling were conducted due to a major
loss on the part of the Philippine government and military against the
Moro. Furthermore, this event was branded as a massacre.

Tran Incident

This event was a series of military operations by the government against

the MNLF from June to August 1973. The Moro people, specifically in
Populacion, Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat were confined and imprisoned in
a military camp, in which they were interrogated and tortured, and
possibly killed. In addition, Moro women were taken on vessels and raped.

Involvement of Paramilitary Groups

Opposition groups clash against each other in the war in Mindanao with
the Ilagas working with the Philippine Armed Forces and the Barracudas
allied with other Muslim rebels like the Blackshirts of the MIM. Pro-
government militias were the proponents of twenty-one (21) massacre
cases. While these actors were already engaged in war and violence before
the declaration of martial law, it continued upon its imposition.

● Some 100 individuals were killed in religious violence in Lanao del Norte
province on September 2-4, 1971
● Some 75 individuals were killed in religious violence in Zamboanga del
Sur province on July 4-6, 1972
● Some 30 individuals were killed in religious violence in southern
Mindanao island on August 22-26, 1972
● Some 2,000 individuals, mostly Muslims, were killed during the crisis.
● Some 35,000 fled as refugees from six towns as a result of the violence
● Some 100,000 individuals were displaced during the crisis

● Government troops captured Labangan in Zamboanga province from

Muslim rebels on March 22-24, 1973, resulting in the deaths of some 200
rebels and ten government soldiers.
 ● Government troops and MNLF fighters clashed in the Zamboanga
peninsula on July 14-21, 1973, resulting in the deaths of some 350 rebels
and 25 government soldiers.
● Some 50,000 individuals were killed during the conflict, and some
500,000 individuals were displaced during the conflict.

Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA)

The CPP-NPA was one of the major reasons why Marcos was able to justify the
implementation of Martial Law, citing dangers of insurgence and overthrow despite the
group’s small number at the time. The CPP aims to overthrow the Philippine government
using guerrilla-style warfare. Tactics include kidnapping locals and foreigners, extortion
and killings. The group’s first known attack was throwing 4 grenades at the stage of Plaza
Miranda during the Liberal Party’s rally at the time in August of 1971 and this was
actually, ironically, initially blamed on Marcos Sr. as the attack ended up killing much of
his opposition. The Martial Law era was specifically significant for the group, it was the
time they were particularly active, as martial law and its atrocities gave reason for people
to join the group. The CPP-NPA was able to spread beyond Luzon to Visayas and
Mindanao. Between fighting the NPA and the MNLF, the Philippine military’s strategic
priority was the MNLF. Because of this, the CPP-NPA conducted increasingly successful
attacks against the government throughout the country, but civilians were not spared. By
1985, CPP-NPA-related violence reached its height with over 1,200 military and police
deaths, over 1,300 civilian deaths, and over 2,000 CPP-NPA deaths.

Sources:
MMP: Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/mappingmilitants/profiles/communist-party-philippines-
new-peoples-army
Project Ploughshares. (2021, June 7). Philippines-CPP/NPA (1969 - 2017). Retrieved
from https://ploughshares.ca/pl_armedconflict/philippines-cppnpa-1969-first-combat-
deaths/

Human Rights Violations

● The Marcos dictatorship was marked by 3,257 known extrajudicial killings, 35,000
documented tortures, 77 “disappeared”, and 70,000 incarcerations.
● At least 9,000 victims of human rights violations were monitored by the Task Force
Detainees of the Philippines from 1969 to 1986.
○ The number of victims of human rights violations increased gradually during the
17 year period - there were only 16 victims who were recorded in 1972, the year
in which Martial Law was declared.
○ The number of victims increased more in the two years preceding EDSA People
Power, where in 1984, 1808 victims were recorded and in 1985, 3124 victims
 were recorded. These were the highest annual number of victims reported in the
17-year period.
● First Quarter Storm
○ There was a period of civil unrest in the Philippines that took place during the
first quarter of the year 1970, and it officially began on January 21,1970, when
President Marcos delivered the first state of the Nation Address of his second
term.
■ It was spearheaded by Student organizations such as the National Union of
Students of the Philippines with the support of workers and members of
the urban poor.
■ It included a series of demonstrations, protests, and marches against the
administration of President Ferdinand Marcos. Protesters at these events
raised issues that related to social problems, authoritarianism, alleged
election cheating, and corruption under the administration of Marcos.
■ Inflation and social unrest
● It was due to the disappointing economic performance of the
government, and the nation was experiencing a crisis as the
government was falling into debt, inflation was uncontrolled and
the value of the peso continued to drop with continuous price
increases and unemployment.
■ There were also 7 deadly protests in the First Quarter Storm namely:
● 1970 State of the Nation Address protest
○ This marked the beginning of the First Quarter Storm
during the State of the Nation Address of President
Ferdinand Marcos.
● Battle of Mendiola
○ Happened four days after the SONA, and its aim was to end
fascism and police brutality, protesters that marched back
to the congress
● Rally at Plaza Miranda
○ This was organized by the Movement for a Democratic
Philippines at Plaza Miranda outside the Quiapo Church on
February 12,1970.
○ The protesters sat on the streets, climbed trees, and stood
on the roofs of low buildings to spend hours listening to
speakers discuss and oppose the concepts of imperialism,
feudalism, and fascism.
● First “People’s congress” and demonstrations in the U.S. Embassy
○ It was also organized by the Movement for a Democratic
Philippines on February 18,1970 and it was dubbed as the
People’s congress.
 ○ Protests broke off from the crowd and marched towards the
U.S. Embassy and attacked them with rocks and pillboxes
as a way of expressing their denunciation of U.S.
imperialism, and accused the United States as a fascist and
a supporter of Marcos.
● Second “People’s congress”
○ It was planned and organized by the MDP Militants and
was dubbed as the Second People’s Congress on February
26,1970 even though they were not given a permit for the
rally.
○ The Manila Police and the Philippine Constabulary
Metropolitan Command attacked the rallyist in Plaza
Miranda which made them transfer to the Sunken Garden
outside Intramuros, after which they stoned the Embassy
and fought against the police that arrived.
● The People’s March from Welcome Rotonda to Plaza Lawton
○ The protest of March 3, 1970 was organized by the MDP
students and urban groups in support of jeepney drivers
who held a citywide strike on that date to protest
"tong"(bribe)-collecting traffic policemen. Dubbed the
"Peoples’ March," it involved a protest march from
Welcome Rotonda on the boundary of Quezon City and the
City of Manila, and passed by Tondo and Plaza Lawton
before ending up at the U.S. Embassy.
● Second "People’s March" and "People’s Tribunal" at Plaza
Moriones
○ Militants organized a second "People’s March" on March
17, in what would come to be recognized as the last major
demonstration during the First Quarter Storm proper.
○ The protest was focused on the issue of poverty and the
march occurred through the poor streets of Manila.

References:
Castillo, A., & Maglipon, J. (2012). Not On Our Watch: The Martial Law Really

Happened, We Were There.

Dacanay, B. M. N. (2018). The 7 deadly protests of the First Quarter Storm.

news.abscbn.com. Retrieved October 19, 2022, from

 https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/02/24/20/the-7-deadly-protests-of-the-

first-quarter-storm

Hilario, E. M. (2020, February 6). The First Quarter Storm of 1970 revisited. RAPPLER.

Retrieved October 19, 2022, from https://www.rappler.com/nation/251141-first-quarter-

storm-1970-revisited/

Lacaba, J. F. (1982). Days of Disquiet, Nights of Rage: The First Quarter Storm &

Related Events. Manila: Salinlahi Pub. House. pp. 11–45, 157–178.

Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. (n.d.-a). A History of the Philippine

Political Protest | GOVPH. Retrieved October 19, 2022, from

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/edsa/the-ph-protest/

Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. (n.d.-b). APPENDIX: A History of the

Philippine Political Protest | GOVPH. Retrieved October 19, 2022, from

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/edsa/the-ph-protest-appendix/

the ABS-CBN Investigative & Research Group. (2019). BY THE NUMBERS: Human

rights violations during Marcos’ rule. news.abscbn.com. Retrieved October 19, 2022,

from https://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/09/21/18/by-the-numbers-human-rights-violations-

during-marcos-rule

B. Development of Internally Displaced People

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/featured/the-fall-of-the-dictatorship/

- The government’s use of communist and secessionist threats as justification for Martial
Law only contributed to the growth of the political opposition and the amassing of
 recruits to the New People’s Army (NPA) and the Moro National Liberation Front
(MNLF) in the provinces in the 1970s.
- When Martial Law was declared, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) was
immediately mobilized. Formed by students and politicians from Mindanao, its goal was
to create the Bangsa Moro Republik (Moro National Republic), composed of Mindanao,
Sulu, and Palawan. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) attempted to seize their
“illegal” firearms supplied by Libya, sparking a war that lasted from 1973 to 1977.
- Over the course of the war, 13,000 people were killed while over a million were
displaced. At the height of the conflict, the government spent an estimated $1 million a
day to contain the rebellion. However, internal problems within the MNLF prevented
them from exploiting Marcos’ weakness.
- In contrast, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) strengthened as the Marcos’
dictatorship weakened; as opposed to the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP), which
surrendered in 1974. Following the principle of “centralized command, decentralized
operations,” the CPP established autonomous, regional, self-sustaining chapters all over
the Philippines. Not only did this give CPP cadres more freedom to experiment with
tactics appropriate to their localities, it also helped them survive the loss of many original
leaders, either to prison or death. In November, 1977, the Armed Forces scored an
important victory over the communist rebels with the capture of Jose Maria Sison and
other important party leaders leading to the disarray of the Communist Party. But the
triumph was short-lived and was too late as the influence of the CPP grew stronger within
the provinces.
- Party growth was fastest in areas where human rights violations were high due to military
presence. By the late 1970s, the CPP could claim a guerrilla force of 15,000, around the
same number of cadres, and a “mass base” of around one million. While AFP forces also
experienced rapid growth during this period and were better equipped, there was a
difference between the two.
- Through the Kilusang Mayo Uno (the May First Labor Movement) and the League of
Filipino Students, the CPP was able to gather labor unions and solidify its control of
important schools. The CPP also made “anti-imperialist” alliances with nationalist
senators like Lorenzo Tañada and Jose Diokno, who could lend credibility and publicity
to claims of the Marcos government’s human rights violations.

SCRIPT:
During the dictatorship of Marcos Sr, he and his wife, Imelda Marcos, fantasized about the
development of the Philippines. Both had sought the beautification of the country but at the
expense of the Filipino citizens. Marcos Sr and Imelda Marcos took on drastic measures to
obtain their goal, the following cases that our group will be presenting feature the impulsiveness
and selfishness of the Marcoses that led to the displacement of numerous Filipino citizens and
indigenous tribes from different regions of the Philippines. The first case that we’d like to shed
light on is the case of Calauit Island. The island is located in Palawan and Imelda Marcos
decided to depopulate the island in order to make way for numerous wild animals that have been
shipped all the way from Kenya. It is estimated that 200 Tagbanua people were forcefully
displaced from the island to make way for the establishment of a safari park. The families were
moved to another island in Palawan known as Halsey Island where they were left to fend for
themselves because of the sudden displacement. The second case that we’ll be tackling is the
Tondo urban renewal project, Imelda Marcos was in charge of rehabilitating the slum areas of
Tondo. She was granted $32 million to execute the plan, but despite this large sum of budget, she
decided that it was too late to push through with it. This is because Imelda was rushing to
beautify Manila in preparation for the foreigners who were visiting the Philippines for the World
Bank and International Monetary Fund meeting. 400 families were thrown out of their homes
and placed into garbage trucks with armed policemen as they were sent to the outskirts of
Manila. Adding to this, their homes were demolished leaving them with no place to come home
to. Such acts of the Marcoses depict their profligate and reckless dictatorship during their rule in
the Philippines.

Read more: https://opinion.inquirer.net/100336/ips-remember-marcos-atrocities#ixzz7iERAgS1r

https://opinion.inquirer.net/100336/ips-remember-marcos-atrocities
 References

The Fall of the Dictatorship. (n.d.). Official Gazette.

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/featured/the-fall-of-the-dictatorship/

IPs remember Marcos atrocities. (2016, December 28). Inquirer.net.

https://opinion.inquirer.net/100336/ips-remember-marcos-atrocities

https://nolisoli.ph/95061/calauit-safari-park-island-marcos/

https://opinion.inquirer.net/100336/ips-remember-marcos-atrocities

https://martiallawmuseum.ph/magaral/edifice-complex-building-on-the-backs-of-the-

filipino-people/

https://www.nytimes.com/1976/10/07/archives/slam-evictions-in-manila-embarrass-the-

world-bank-evictions-from.html