Martial law

1. Ang Martial Law/ Batas Militar PROKLAMASYON BLG. 1081

2. Mga naging dahilan ng pagdeklara ng Martial Law
3. Pambabato ng mga aktibista kay Pangulong Marcos noong SONA niya gamit ang bungkos
ng pera, at madalas na pagwewelga ng mga estudyante mula Enero- Marso 1970. Tinatawag
itong “First Quarter Storm”
4. Ang pagbagsak sa kamay ng pamahalaan ng mga armas na pinaghihinalaang ibibigay sa
mga NPA.
5. Pagsabog ng bomba sa Plaza Miranda, Maynila na nagdulot ng kaguluhan. Maraming
nasugatan kasama ang mga pulitikong nagsasagawa ng miting de avance.
6. (Plaza Miranda Bombing, August 21, 1971)
7. Tangkang pagpatay sa Defense Secretary, Juan Ponce Enrile.
8. Pag-usbong ng mga “black propaganda” mula sa mga samahan:  Communist Party of the
Philippines (CPP)  National Democratic Front (NDF) at New People’s Army (NPA) 
Kabataang Makabayan  Lapiang Manggagawa  Malawakang Samahan ng mga Magsasaka
 Movement for Advancement of Nationalism  Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
9. Ang dahilan ni Marcos ay “sagipin ang Republika at magtatag ng isang bagong lipunan”.
10. Setyembre 21 1972-Nilagdaan ni Pangulong Marcos ang Proklamasyon Blg. 1081 na
nagpasailalim ng buong bansa sa Batas Militar. Ito ay ipinahayag sa radyo at telebisyon.
11. Q-Ano ang Batas Militar? A-Isang sistema ng mga patakaran kapag ang militar ay
magkaroon ng malakas na kapangyarihan sa pamahalaan sa bansa.
12. May karapatan ba si Pangulong Marcos na ideklara ito?
13. Mga pangyayari matapos ideklara ang Martial Law
14. 1. Nagkaroon ng malawakang blackout 2. Ipinasara ang mga istasyon ng radio at
telebisyon 3.Sinuspinde ang writ of habeas corpus.
15. 4. Marami ang ikinulong bilang “Political-Prisoners” 5. Pinagbawal ang pagtitipon- tipon ng
limang tao at inilagay ang bansa sa curfew. 6. Marami ang napabalitang na-salvage
16. 7. Bawal ang magsalita laban sa pamahalaan. 8. Nawala ang karapatan ng mamamayan.
17. Mga pagbabago sa pamahalaan
18. 1. Nawalan ng kapangyarihan ang Kongreso at Senado. 2. Nagpatuloy ang Korte
Suprema ngunit nagtatag si Pang. Marcos ng hukumang militar. 3. Pinagtibay ang Batas
Republika Blg. 6132 (Constitutional Convention Act)
19. 4. Nabuo ang Saligang Batas ng 1973 5. Binalangkas ang isang parlamentaryong uri ng
pamahalaan dahil sa Saligang Batas ng 1973
20. Tumagal ang Martial Law sa loob ng 8 taon.

The Philippines During Martial Law

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.

The 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.”

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.