Martial Law

Era (1972-
1981)
In 1965, Ferdinand Marcos was
elected to the presidency
In 1969, he ran for reelection and succeeded, making
him the only president under the 1935 Constitution
to be elected for a second term.

That time, however, the

country was undergoing
worsening economic
condition, deteriorating
peace and order, social
discontent, and a growing
Communist insurgency.
Marcos, on 23 September
1972, announced on
nationwide radio and
television that he was
placing the entire country
under martial law.
Marcos rationalized that martial law was the only option that would
solve the rebellion which posed a threat to the peace and order of
the country.
Under Marcos’s administration,
a new constitution was
adopted in 1973. The 1973
Constitution provided that the
Philippines will have a
modified parliamentary form
of government.
He shall ―continue to exercise all his powers even after the
interim Batasang Pambansa is organized and ready to discharge
its functions. Likewise, he shall continue to exercise his powers
and prerogatives under the 1935 Constitution and the powers
vested on the President and the Prime Minister under this
Constitution.
During martial law, the political rights and civil liberties of the
people as well as their human rights were suppressed and
violated.
Through Letter of Instruction No. 1, Marcos ordered
the closure of media establishments in the country.
While Marcos already lifted martial law by 1981, he continued to
exercise dictatorial powers. Calls to end his dictatorial regime
brought Filipinos to take to the streets to participate in a popular
and nonviolent uprising called the EDSA People Power, which
ousted Marcos and ended his dictatorial rule.
Post-EDSA or the
Fifth Republic (1986-
present)
The period from 1986
onward is the restoration
of democracy.

A revolutionary
government was created
following Corazon
Aquino’s ascent to
presidency.
The post-EDSA era, also known as the Fifth Republic, saw the
revival of democracy, wherein governmental powers emanate
from the people.
Civilian authority (through
the president) was
recognized supreme over
the military.

The Philippine legislature also returned to a bicameral form,

with the rebirth of the Senate and the House of
Representatives.
Corazon Aquino (in office 1986–1992) served as the first
president of the Fifth Republic. She was followed by Fidel
Ramos (1992–1998) and Joseph Estrada, who only served
half of his term (1998– 2001) after being deposed by the
EDSA People Power II.
Estrada was succeeded by his vice president, Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo, who eventually won the 2004
presidential election and thus served as executive for almost
a decade (2001–2010). She was followed by Benigno
Simeon Aquino III (2010– 2016), son of former president
Corazon Aquino
What struggles does the nation face at
present? Are the Filipinos bound to repeat
history? Explain your answer.