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Ferdinand Marcos as a Leader: Impact of Martial Law on Philippines

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Words: 693 |

Published: Aug 31, 2023

Words: 693 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

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Introduction, ferdinand marcos: golden era illusion, dark legacy of ferdinand marcos as a leader.

• Amnesty International. (1982). 'The Philippines: Torture in the Marcos Era.' Retrieved from https://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA35/001/1982/en.
• World Bank Data. (1980s). Retrieved from World Bank database.
• National Historical Commission of the Philippines. (n.d.). 'The Martial Law Years.' Retrieved from https://www.nhcp.gov.ph/resources/online-resources/martial-law-years/.

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Martial Law, the dark chapter in Philippine history

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HISTORY. A bookstore owner shows a page of a book containing a newspaper clipping of the declaration of martial law, in Manila, Philippines, on May 19, 2022.

Lisa Marie David/Reuters

MANILA, Philippines – On the evening of September 23, 1972, the late president Ferdinand Marcos appeared on national television to formally announce that the Philippines was under Martial Law.

This began almost 10 years of military rule in the country. Marcos formally ended Martial Law on January 17, 1981, but it was not until 1986 when democracy was restored – after the dictator and his family were forced into exile, overthrown by a popular uprising that came to be known as the People Power Revolution.

On the anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, we take a look back at some of the lingering questions behind the declaration, and the consequent events that shaped Philippine history.

Why was Martial Law declared?

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.

There were subsequent reports that said the ambush was staged, with the Official Gazette citing Enrile’s admission in 1986 that it was faked to justify the imposition of Martial Law. (READ:  Martial Law 101: Things you should know )

There were also indications that the plan to declare Martial Law had long been in the works. According to the Official Gazette , several people had received prior information about Marcos’ plan. The late dictator had also hinted at it in his address to the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association as early as May 17, 1969 – more than 3 years before the actual declaration.

What happened under Martial Law?

Through various general orders, Marcos effectively put the entire power of government under the rule of one man: his own. He was to lead the nation and direct the operation of the entire government. He ordered the armed forces to prevent or suppress any act of rebellion. Curfew hours were enforced, group assemblies were banned, privately-owned media facilities shuttered. (READ:  Marcos’ Martial Law orders )

Those considered threats to Marcos – such as prominent politicians and members of the media – were rounded up and arrested by members of the military and the notorious Philippine Constabulary. ( LOOK BACK: The Philippine Constabulary under Marcos )

What did the Martial Law years look like?

There are those who hail the discipline and supposed order of the New Society, as Marcos called it, and considered that period as among the “best years” of the Philippines.

Among the myths: that the Philippines enjoyed a golden age under the Marcoses. Various reports and historical accounts debunk this; while it is true that infrastracture spending increased during that period, it came at a staggering cost: plunging the Philippines in billions of dollars in debt. From $8.2 billion in 1977, the country’s debt ballooned to $24.4 billion in 1982 – or within a period of just 5 years. (READ:  Marcos years marked ‘golden age’ of PH economy? Look at the data )

The Marcoses also plundered the country’s coffers, with various estimates putting the amount at between $5 billion to $10 billion. 

The Presidential Commission on Good Government, the body going after the Marcoses’ ill-gotten wealth, is still recovering this money; over the past 30 years, at least P170 billion have been recovered.

Aside from the billions in illegally amassed wealth, human rights abuses were rampant during those days. (READ:  #NeverAgain: Martial Law stories young people need to hear )

About 70,000 people were imprisoned and 34,000 tortured, according to Amnesty International, while 3,240 were killed from 1972 to 1981. During this dark chapter of Philippine history, thousands of people were subject to various forms of torture. Prisoners were electrocuted, beaten up, and strangled. They were burned with a flat iron or cigars. Water was poured down their throats, then forced out by beating. Women were stripped naked and raped, various objects forced into their genitals.

Historian Alfred McCoy wrote about Marcos’ elite torture units, whose specialty was psychological torture and humiliation aside from the physical pain.

It has been many years since then, but the victims have not forgotten – especially as the Marcoses have neither acknowledged their crimes nor made reparations for their sins.

At the Supreme Court hearing on the proposed Marcos burial at the Heroes’ Cemetery, victims were asked to speak before the Court to recount their horrifying ordeals.

The Chief Justice told them: “The Court is listening.” –  Rappler.com

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• WATCH: Rappler’s Martial Law playlist
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• Recovering Marcos’ ill-gotten wealth: After 30 years, what?
• Worse than death: Torture methods during martial law

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Essay – Martial Law in Philippines

Thirty-six years ago on September 21, 1972, then Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos signed the declaration of martial law. He then announced the deed on television on September 23, 1973. The proclamation ensured Marcos’ grip on power, in defiance of theconstitutional 2-term limit for Philippine presidents. The declaration alsomarked the darkest age in Philippine history. It was during this time thathundreds of Filipinos disappeared, presumably murdered (“salvaged” in localparlance).

It was also then that the Marcoses stole the country’s wealth andindulged First Lady Imelda Marcos’ taste for fine jewelry, shoes andhobnobbing with the rich and famous. A documentary of the events that marked this period has been to coincidewith these anniversaries. “Batas Militar”(Martial Law)was made by theFoundation for Worldwide People Power (FWWPP), the same group thatreleasedBeyond Conspiracy: A Documentary on the Assassination of NinoyAquino. For those who weren’t alive during the time of Marcos, these events mayseem like ancient history. But they shaped the Philippines that we see today.

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This is why we should not forget the sacrifice made by Ninoy Aquino. Why weshouldbe vigilant against graft and corruption. Why suppression of pressfreedom should be viewed with suspicion. This is an age of the Philippinesthat should never be replicated ever again. The extensive film footage and pictures of actual events that took place from1972 when Marcos declared martial law, to the EDSA uprising of 1986 thattoppled the dictatorship, bring back to life the monumental tyranny anddeception, the unprecedented violence and unparalleled greed that no oneever imagined could possibly emanate from one man.

If only for that single accomplishment, the documentary has excellentlyserved its purpose. But it is certainly more than that. It is solidly researched,done with more than 150 important personalities interviewed includingPresident Ramos, Cory Aquino, some generals, Imelda Marcos, other keyplayers and opposition leaders. Particularly interesting was the focus on the personality and political savvy of Marcos’ arch enemy Ninoy Aquino. He was clearly presented as the leaderand icon of the anti-Marcos opposition, the martyr whose assassinationtriggered the demise of the dictatorship.

But martial law was certainly more than that. It was more than the life anddeath struggle between Marcos and his opponents in the traditional politicalopposition. The video documentary certainly captured the drama of the era. But it ismostly the drama in stifling the elite opposition, like the Aquinos and theLopezes. It’s true they were jailed and they lost their properties and theirchances to assume a dominant role in the ruling elite. And a number of otherelite and middle class personalities were also imprisoned and tortured, someof them summarily killed.

But those who suffered the most in terms of prolonged detention, severe torture and salvaging or summary execution,were the leaders and activists of the Left, the armed rebels, the organizedworkers in the cities and the peasant leaders and the masses in the ruralareas. It really made my heart pound seeing the dictatorship of Marcos, his being greedyfor power, fame and wealth. He thought that he can be the lord of those three, buthis ambition was also the reason of his downfall.

For me the rules during that timethough it was so strict were just appropriate to create orderliness in the country,because all the people have that tinge of fear in their hearts. But we can’t be foreverbe silent and just let our fear eat our rights, so the people gathered and fought fortheir rights and not only for the freedom of his motherland. What were the rights violated during Martial Law? A bill of rights is a list of therightsthat are considered important andessential by anation. The purpose of these bills is to protect those rights againstinfringement by the government. During the Martial law, a lot of people’s rights wereviolated.

Almost all of the people’s rights were violated. The declaration of martiallaw was initially well-received by some sectors, but it eventually proved unpopularas excesses and human rights abuses by the military emerged, such as the use of torture as a method of extracting information. It was said that during Martial Law theConstitution may be suspended. The Constitution is the one protecting our rights aspeople, if this is suspended, then this also means that people have no rights duringtimes like this. Section 1,2, 3, 7,8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, and 19 of the Bill of Rightswere violated. Almost all of the people’s rights were violated.

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