Martial Law in the Philippines

The Period of Constitutional AuthoritarianismTHE MARCOS REGIME & THE NEW SOCIETY (1972-1986)

MARTIAL LAW“…in its comprehensive sense, includes all laws that have reference to & administered by the military forces of the State. They include the military laws enacted by the law-making body for the government of the armed forces and the rules governing the conduct of military forces in times of war & in place under military occupation.”

MARTIAL LAW“However, in its strict sense, it is the law which has application when the military arm does not supersede civil authority but is called upon to aid it in the execution of its vital functions.”

-Accdg. to the Constitution

WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

”…is used to bring a prisoner or other detainee before the court to determine if the person's imprisonment or detention is lawful.”

“A habeas petition proceeds as a civil action against the State agent (usually a warden) who holds the defendant in custody. It can also be used to examine any extradition processes used, amount of bail, and the jurisdiction of the court.”

A. The Political Milieu in 1972 (Prelude)• Communist Party of the Philippines (Jose Maria Sison)

December 1968• 1969 Elections• Battle of Mendiola / The First Quarter Storm• Moro National Liberation Front• Terror Bombing Incidents & Other Crimes• The Ambush of Juan Ponce Enrile (09-22-1972)

Communist Party of the Philippines

1969 Presidential Elections

The Battle of Mendiola (The 1st Quarter Storm)



The Moro National Liberation Front

Terror Bombing Incidents

• Joe’s Department Store on Carriedo Street, Manila• The constitutional site @ Q.C.• The Manila Water Works and Sewerage Authority (NAWASA)• City Hall building of Manila

PLAZA MIRANDA BOMBING

PLAZA MIRANDA BOMBING

The “Ambush” of Juan Ponce Enrile

The “Ambush” of Juan Ponce Enrile

B. The New Social Order• Declaration of Martial Rule (Proc. No. 1081) 09-21-1972• Martial Law Features (P-L-E-D-G-E-S)• Foreign Relations during the Marcos Era

Declaration of Martial Rule

Declaration of Martial Rule

Martial Law Features (P.L.E.D.G.E.S)P – Peace & OrderL – Land ReformE – Economic DevelopmentD – Development of Moral ValuesG – Government ReformsE – Educational ReformsS – Social Services

On Peace and Order• The suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus• The arrest of anti-Marcos individuals• Strict media censorship• Rallies & demonstrations, public meetings & assemblies,

labor strikes are prohibited• Curfew• Travel Ban• The surrender of firearms and other explosives

On Land Reform

Presidential Decree No. 27

Emancipation of Tenants from the Bondage of the Soil, Transferring to Them the Ownership of the Land They Till and Providing the Instruments and Mechanism Thereof.

On Economic Development• National Economic & Development Authority (NEDA)• Bolster & develop the Phil. geothermal plant in Tiwi, Albay,

Mt. Makiling & Mt. Banahaw in Laguna• Discovery of oil in the west coast off Palawan (Nido-Cadiao

Malintoc oilfields)• Construction of the 1st nuclear plant in the Phil. (Morong,

Bataan)• Infrastructure projects (water ports, airports, bridges,

dams, irrigation, communication facilities & school buildings

San Juanico Bridge

Philippine Heart Centre

Bataan Nuclear Power Plant

On Government Reforms• Reorganization Plan• Restructuring and creating new departments• Metro Manila Commission• The Elections to the Interim Batasang Pambansa• The Local Elections of 1980• The Barangay as the Basic Political Unit

On Educational Reforms• Technological and vocational courses• Educational Decree No. 6-A (10-Year Educational Program)

On Social Services• Ministry of Social Services and Development• Philippine Medical Care Commission• Social Security System (SSS)• Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)• Pagtutulungan sa Kinabukasan: Ikaw, Bangko, Industria at

Gobyerno (PAG-IBIG)

On Philippine Tourism

• P.D. No. 189 (Department of Tourism)• Balikbayan Program• Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in

Manila• Thrilla in Manila (Mohammad Ali vs

Joe Fraiser)

The Government & the Labor Market• Labor Code (May 1, 1974)• Overseas Employment Development Board• National Seaman Board• 11 regional skills training centres (National Manpower And

Youth Council)

A Policy for our Muslim Brothers• The use of local Muslim dialect in

elementary schools• Scholarships to colleges &

universities• Development of Mindanao• Golden Mosque in Quiapo, Manila• Islamic Studies Institute (UP)• Islamic Affairs Ministry• Tripoli Agreement (Autonomous

region on the Muslim Mindanao)

Foreign Relation during the Marcos Era• Assured the safety of the U.S. military bases (Subic Naval

Base & Clark Air Base)• ASEAN + Opened diplomatic relations with 14 more

countries (Yugoslavia & Romania)• On 1975, opened diplomatic relations with the People’s

Republic of China• On 1976, with Minister Romulo, opened relations with

U.S.S.R• Exchanged ambassadors with 54 countries and had

consulates in 23 countries

C. The Lifting of Martial Law• Amnesty International & local church organizations• 8,000 cases of salvaging (a local term for summary

executions) & kidnapping combined• 50,000 individuals arrested on mere suspicion of

subversion• P.D. 1784 (01-15-1981)• Proclamation No. 2045 (01-17-1981)• Writ of Habeas Corpus still suspended

D. The Apex of the Marcos Regime• The Visit of Pope John Paul II in the Philippines• The election of Ronald Reagan• Amendment proposals to the 1973 Constitution by the

Batasang Pambansa (National Assembly)• Proclamation No. 2077 (04-17-1981)• P.D. No. 1053 (failure to vote = imprisonment)• Ferdinand Marcos Re-elected for 6 years• The White House-Malacaňang Bond

President Ronald Reagan

R. Reagan & F. Marcos

E. The Beginning of the End

• Economic Crisis• Large Budgetary Deficits• External Debt Accumulations• Foreign Loans• Cumulative Capital Flights• Issue of CORRUPTION

F. The Ninoy Assasination• 1983 – rumours of a demised Marcos sparked• Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. as Marcial Bonifacio• August 21, 1983 – China Airlines Flight 811 – Arrival of

Aquino• Blamed Ronaldo Galman• Justice Corazon Agrava – Investigation of the double

murder (Nov 3, 1983 – Aug 20, 1984)

The Ninoy Assassination



Rolando Galman

Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino’s Funeral

Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino’s Funeral

Aquino Center at Tarlac & Manila Memorial Park at Paraňaque

G. The Fall of the Marcos Regime• United Nationalist Democratic Organization + CPP• Aquilino Pimentel’s Partido Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP) +

Lakas ng Bayan (LABAN)• Increasing anti-government oppositions, protests,

demonstrations, rallies emerged (Corazon Aquino)• Oct 23, 1984 – Justice Agrava’s & Fact-Finding Board’s

report re: Aquino-Galman murder case• Tanodbayan (Ombudsman)• Feb 22, 1985 – Court Proceedings re: The Crime of the

Century

Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr.

Anti-Marcos Protests & Demonstrations

Anti-Government Protests

The Trial of the Century: Aquino-Galman Murder Case



Aquino-Galman Court Proceedings

H. The Snap Presidential Election• Pressure on the Marcos regime• Salvador Laurel• KBL – Manila Hotel – Announced Arturo Tolentino as running

mate of Marcos• Dec 2, 1985 – Pamaran Court’s final verdict on Aquino-

Galman case• Cabinet Bill No. 7 (Snap Election on Feb 7, 1986)• Dec 3, 1985 – Corazon Aquino’s call for candidacy

Salvador Laurel

Arturo Tolentino

I. The Opposition Unites• Aquino-Laurel vs Marcos-

Tolentino• The campaign period• Defections on Marcos camp• NAMFREL & COMELEC• Tallying of votes – Incidents &

Issues• Feb 20, 1986 – Marcos-Laurel

proclaimed as snap election winners

Aquino-Laurel vs Marcos-Tolentino

Aquino-Laurel vs Marcos Tolentino




1986 Snap Election

1986 Snap Election

1986 Snap Election

Issues & Incidents Tallying the Votes



J. The EDSA People’s Power Revolt (February 22-25, 1986)• Juan Ponce Enrile & Lt. Gen. Fidel Ramos’ resignation at Camp

Aguinaldo (Feb 22. 1986)• Coup d’etat – Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) – Col,

Gregorio Honassan• The Radio Veritas broadcast re: protect the mutineers (EDSA) –

Jaime Cardinal Sin• Marcos’ call for Gen. Prospero Olivas & Col. Alfredo S. Lim• Feb 25, 1986 – C. Aquino’s oath-taking @ Club Filipino,

Mandaluyong • The Marcoses’ escape to Guam –> Hawaii (1989 death of Marcos)

Juan Ponce Enrile & Fidel Ramos


General Fabian Ver



Col. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan

EDSA People Power Revolution













Pres. Corazon Aquino’s Oath-taking

Pres. Corazon Aquino’s Oath-taking

F. Marcos’ Oath-taking

Escape to Hawaii

The Period of Constitutional AuthoritarianismTHE MARCOS REGIME & THE NEW SOCIETY (1972-1986)

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