Republic of the Philippines

Mindanao State University-General Santos City

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RULES AND POLICIES UNDER THE MARTIAL

LAW OF FERDINAND MARCOS
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A Synthesis Paper
Presented to
College of Social Sciences and Humanities
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
Prescribed in Readings in Philippine History (GEC105)

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By:

Renny B. Vallespin Jr.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS

MANAGEMENT

January 2021
Introduction

Ferdinand Marcos is one of the presidents of the Philippines and ruled with an

iron fist. According to Szczepanski (2019) Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. also

known as Ferdinand Marcos was born in the village of Sarrat, on the island of Luzon, the

Philippines, to Mariano and Josefa Marcos on Sept. 11, 1917. Persistent rumors say the

biological father of Ferdinand was a man called Ferdinand Chua, who acted as his

godfather. Officially, however, Mariano Marcos, the partner of Josefa, was the father of

the child. Ferdinand Marcos died in September 28, 1989 when he was 72 years old he

died in exile here today at St. Francis Medical Center after a long battle with heart, lung

and kidney ailments. In Manila, Marcos attended school. Ferdinand Chua, his godfather,

may have helped pay for his education expenses. The young man practiced law at the

University of the Philippines, outside Manila, during the 1930s. This legal experience

would come in handy when Marcos was arrested and tried for a political assassination in

1935. Currently, while in jail, he continued his studies and even passed the bar

examination with flying colors from his cell.

Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law in 1972; he claimed that he had done so

in response to the "communist threat" posed by the newly-founded Communist Party of

the Philippines (CPP), and the sectarian "rebellion" of the Mindanao Independence

Movement (MIM). He used his constitutionally legal powers to consolidate all state

authority on himself as Ferdinand Marcos proclaimed Martial Law in the Philippines.

Ferdinand Marcos took great pains in everything he did to ensure that his actions would

align with the law's dictates. When required steps fall beyond the control of current

legislation, before continuing, he modified the laws to solve his problems. Marcos has
been labeled a constitutional dictator for implementing such a strategy his rapid ascent to

what appeared to be absolute power at the time.

In accordance, Sounds (2020) stated the definition of Martial Law that in general;

martial law will be implemented as civil government collapses, Government laws

immediately being replaced by military authority in a moment of crisis. While

uncommon, martial law has come into effect in a series of prominent U.S. cases,

including in times of war, natural disaster, and civic disagreement. Although there is no

clear concept of martial law, there is a context for it in which such civil rights, such as the

right to be free from arbitrary searches and arrests, freedom of expression and freedom of

travel, can be revoked. And the habeas corpus could be (the right to a hearing until

imprisonment) could be withdrawn. Martial law may be declared by both the president

and by Congress. State officials may also declare martial law, according to the Brennan

Center for Justice. When President Ferdinand Marcos starts the declaration of Martial

Law on September 21, 1972 every government rules and policies change to Military law,

the law was tainted with violence.

This Synthesis paper talks about how the Ferdinand Marcos administration

implements their rules and policies to the people. The main point of this research is to

know how Rules and Policies under Martial Law of Ferdinand Marcos affect the daily

life of many individual.

Rules and policies under Martial law

Under the declaration of martial law all government rules will immediately

change into military authority and that’s the reason why many people experience abuses
from military because the government can’t provide the people the human rights they

need. Military authority will implemented all the policies that people should follow. If

one person doesn’t follow those policies they will immediately capture and get imprison.

According to Francisco (2016) stated that using different general commands,

Marcos essentially put the whole force of government under one man's rule: his own.

Marcos was to lead the country and direct’s entire government to operate. He directed the

armed forces to stop or prevent any act of uprising. Curfew hours were implemented,

group assemblies were prohibited, and private media facilities were shuttered. Members

of the military and the infamous Philippine Constabulary rounded up and detained those

perceived threats to Marcos, such as influential politicians and members of the media.

Disaster that what Martial law years look like About 70,000 people were imprisoned and

34,000 tortured, 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, and then forced out by beating. Women were

stripped naked and raped, various objects forced into their genitals.

Additionally, Santos (2020) indicated that in relation to signing Proclamation no.

1081, 6 general orders and one letter of instruction were also issued by then-President

Ferdinand Marcos to fully implement his martial law. On September 21, 1972, Marcos

signed the popular decree that placed the country under Martial Law for over a decade,

and then directed the armed forces to prevent or suppress many act of insurrection or

rebellion. He then handed out detailed directives by separate commands to his officials

and the public. Marcos published a letter the next day in which he called for the closing
of media facilities that are privately owned. Since then, it has been many years, but the

victims have not forgotten, especially since the Marcoses have not acknowledged their

offenses nor made restitution for their crimes. In a letter addressed to Francisco Tatad,

then press secretary, and Juan Ponce Enrile, national security secretary, Marcos directed

them to take over and control or cause all such newspapers, magazines, radio and

television facilities and all other media communications to be taken over and controlled.

Marcos controlled the access of people and the kind of information they received

and ensured that he had the final say on his so-called reality. Furthermore, Elemia (2020)

stated that a free press is a core aspect of a functioning democracy, where the media

functions as a watchdog for the government and a source of citizens' data. Marcos

understood the media's pivotal role and made sure that the moment he proclaimed Martial

Law; he eliminated all their rights and privileges. In order to avoid the use, for

propaganda purposes against the government and its legitimately constituted authorities

or for any reason which tends to undermine the confidence and trust of the people in our

government and to aggravate the current national emergency, of privately owned

newspapers, magazines, radio and television facilities and all other media of

communication. "The order of Marcos stated that the networks "actively collaborated in"

or "allowed the use of their facilities and staff to broadcast and disseminate subversive

materials," as well as "slanted," "overly inflated news reports and remarks," "fake, vile,

foul and scurrilous statements and utterances.

Moreover. Almendras (2019) stated that martial law experience in the Philippines

and in the other countries may be indicative of long-term martial rule's socio-political

effects. The direct consequences of long-term martial law are extensive limitations on
civil rights and freedoms, violations of human rights, denial of press freedom, repression

of social opposition, one-party dominance, no real elections, social immobility, and

unjustified detention and killings. The more martial law is in force, the more serious and

violent the authorities' crimes are. Martial law is catastrophic for the economy. Martial

law is disastrous on the economy. The more it encroaches on the free enterprise market

mechanism, the slower the economic growth, then stagnation and recession.

Martial Law implementation of Ferdinand Marcos is one of the darkest days the

Philippines experience. Many civilians have suffered because of the unfair justice system

of the Marcos Administration during martial law times.

Conclusion

The Martial law Policies and rules under the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos

give traumatized to the people, many experience violence, abuse and fear because of how

the system works in those times. During those days the justice system don’t work to

those people who don’t have power or position in the economic system and even those

people who have powers that defy the martial law system suffer and even worst died.

What happen in the past under the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos make people

realized and learn an important the lesson that they should vote the president that fit the

position to lead its country to be successful, protect its people from any harm and develop

the economic status of the country. People in the Philippines should always remember

choosing the right leaders can lead us to better future.

 References

Almendras, R. (2019) Consequences of Martial Law Retrieved:

https://www.philstar.com/the-
freeman/opinion/2019/09/24/1954486/consequences-martial-law

Elemia, C. (2020) FAST FACTS: How Marcos silenced, controlled the media during
Martial Law Retrieved: https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/how-marcos-
silenced-media-press-freedom-martial-law

Francisco, K. (2016) Martial Law, the dark chapter in Philippine history Retrieved:
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/martial-law-explainer-victims-stories

Santos, R. Jr (2020) DOCUMENTS: Marcos' Martial Law orders Retrieved:

https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/documents-ferdinand-marcos-martial-law-
orders

Sounds, S. 2020 What is martial law? And how the president could invoke one?
Retrieved:https://strangesounds.org/2020/10/what-is-martial-law-and-how
president-can- invoke-martial-law.html

Szczepanski, K. (2019) Biography of Ferdinand Marcos, Dictator of the Philippines

Retrieved: https://www.thoughtco.com/ferdinand-marcos-195676