Table of Contents

I. Introduction………………………………………. 1

II. Declaration of Martial law…………………….... 3

III. Martial law Human Rights Violation…………… 6

IV. Martial law’s Good Effects……………………… 8

V. Conclusion ………………………………………. 10

Bibliography………………………………………11
I. Introduction

People claim, not just the youth, but also those who lived through Martial
Law, that "Marcos is the greatest president," they say, remembering how easy life
was back then. Because President Ferdinand Marcos imposed discipline and
everyone feared him, was a state of peace and order. And those who have been
tortured are few in number. Martial Law in brief is a state declared in an area
where there is extensive civil unrest or some incidents which we don’t have
control of, such as major natural disasters. When this is in place – civil rights, civil
laws, habeas corpus and such are suspended. Military rule is even extended to
civilians.

Ferdinand Marcos, the sixth president of the postwar Republic of the

Philippines, ruled his country with cruelty and vindictiveness during his reign.
President Marcos served as President for about 20 years (December 30, 1965 -
February 25, 1986). On September 11, 1917, Marcos was born. During WWII, he
joined the military and guerilla forces. Marcos was appointed Special Assistant to
the President in 1946-1947 after the war. He was also a member of the Philippine
Veterans Commission, and after the Philippines gained independence, he ran as
a representative of the 1st district of Ilocos Norte, and was elected twice between
1949 and 1959.He was named Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce
and Industry and member of the Defense Committee headed by Ramon
Magsaysay. He became Senate President in 1963. Being a lawyer and master
politician, he is one of the legislators who had established a record of introducing
a number of significant bills, many of which passed to the Republic statute books.
The power that Marcos gained made him superior in implementing Martial Law in
his countrymen (Agoncillo).

Marcos imposes Martial Law in 1971. Marcos declared Martial Law in the
form of Proclamation 1081 over the entire country on September 21, 1972, using
the activity of leftist student groups and insurgent groups such as the New
People's Army (NPA), anti-Vietnam-War demonstrations and a series of bomb

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explosions in downtown Manila as an excuse.1 Sec. Juan Ponce Enrile was ambushed near
Wack-Wack at about 8:00 p.m. tonight. It was a good thing he was riding in his security car as a protective
measure... This makes the martial law proclamation a necessity.".

Marcos declared martial law, claiming that it was the last defense against the
rising disorder caused by increasingly violent student demonstrations, the alleged
threats of communist insurgency by the new Communist Party of the Philippines
(CPP), and the Muslim separatist movement of the Moro National Liberation
Front (MNLF).

Statement of the Problem

The study discussed the “How Martial law affected the Philippines”. Its purpose is

to explain further the effects of Martial Law in the lives of every Filipino citizen.

Specifically, this study aims to:

1. Identify the advantages and disadvantages of the implemented Martial Law

during the Marcos regime to this current generation.

2. Know the bad effects it causes to the Filipinos; and

3. Understand the effects it brings to the country.

Celoza, Albert: Ferdinand Marcos and the Philippines.

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United States of America: Greenwood Publishing Group,1997.

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 This study would help them understand the cause and effects of Martial Law

to the Filipinos and to this generation. It would surely enlighten their minds and

would surely pursue greater research about Martial Law.

II. DECLARATION OF MARTIAL LAW

The days after the proclamation became lugubrious and became the darkest
days in Philippine History. When martial law was imposed, Congress and the
ongoing Constitutional Convention were shut down. Newspapers and radio-TV
broadcast facilities were either closed or taken over by the military. Marcos
dissolved Congress, suspended rights of habeas corpus, freedom of speech,
press, and assembly: and imprisoned the opposition Liberal Party Leaders.

Thousands were arrested and detained without charges, among them

prominent elected officials and high-profile opposition personalities led by then
Senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino, Jr.

The democracy during Marcos leadership was no more. Why? Because

even the Newspapers was under control and unfortunately were shut down. The
mass media doesn’t have the freedom to reveal their sides. So, people, that time
was empty and blinded on what is really happening in their society.

An important feature of any democracy is the free circulation of information.

For people to properly assess what is happening in the country, what their
leaders are doing, and how all these affect them, they have the fundamental right
to obtain and engage this information. Forms of media like the newspaper, radio,
and television play a vital role in ensuring that key information reaches the
people. As they carry out their duty, journalists that report on the activities of
government, businesses, and civil society may often expose errors and even
wrongdoing by certain individuals and groups. This is also important to

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democracy: freedom of information also entails freedom to criticize. This allows
citizens to make better choices when it comes to selecting their leaders, and it
even challenges leaders to perform their duties better with competence and
integrity, knowing they will be held accountable to their people for what they say
and do.

Marcos had violated popular sensibilities of what was acceptable behavior

even for Filipino politicians. He ignored even polite protest to such an extent that
these groups which supported Marcos when he declared Martial law in 1972
began to leap off the fence in packs. If you are not for Marcos, then you must be
a Communist. He would never accept that he was forcing the Filipino people into
a corner.

In his ascent to power, Marcos was well-aware of the role that the media
played in society, and he exerted considerable effort to exercise control over it.
By shutting down competing voices and setting up a media outlet that was under
his control, Marcos silenced public criticism and controlled the information that
the people had access to. By doing so, Marcos had the final say in whatever
passed for the truth.

Teodoro Locsin, Sr., publisher of the Philippines Free Press, was arrested
and imprisoned on the first week of Martial Law, along with Manila Times
publisher, Chino Roces, and several well-known journalists including Amando
Doronila, Luis Beltran, Maximo Soliven, Juan Mercado, and Luis Mauricio. On
the night of their arrest, the detainees were led to a room by Col. Generoso Alejo
where they were met by then Philippine Constabulary chief, Fidel V Ramos, who
told them:

“Nothing personal, gentlemen. I was ordered to neutralize you. Please

cooperate. We’ll try to make things easier for you.”

The declaration of martial law and the suspension of the writ of habeas
corpus open up the real possibility of the abuse of civil rights. The effect of

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suspension of the writ of habeas corpus are suspect can be arrested without an
arrest warrant and a house can be searched without a search warrant. But, this
privilege may abuse by an influential citizen which may result that an innocent
suspect may put in jail without due process (McDougald, 1987)

The writ of habeas corpus, which in Latin refers to “having the body”, is a citizen’s
protection against unlawful imprisonment. This is suspended in times of crisis to expedite
justice. Habeas Corpus has traditionally been an important instrument to safeguard
individual freedoms against overreaching government power2 The privilege of the writ was
suspended precisely to authorize the detention of persons believed to be plotting against the
security of the State until the courts can act on their respective cases. To require their
peremptory release upon the mere filing of charges against them, without giving the proper court
opportunity and time to decide the question of probable cause, would obviously be to defeat the
very basic purpose of the suspension. To uphold its validity and then try to dilute its efficacy in
the name of personal liberty is, we believe, actually to doubt the constitutionality of the exercise
of the Presidential prerogative.

. Without habeas, a person could be detained unlawfully without recourse for

securing their release.

HRVVMC said there were 699 and 1,417 approved claims for those
victims of illegal detention during the Marcos dictatorship.

Within forty-eight hours from the proclamation of martial law or the

suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, the President shall
submit a report in person or in writing to the Congress. The Congress, voting
jointly, by a vote of at least a majority of all its Members in regular or special
session, may revoke such proclamation or suspension, which revocation shall
not be set aside by the President. Upon the initiative of the President, the
Congress may, in the same manner, extend such proclamation or suspension for
a period to be determined by the Congress, if the invasion or rebellion shall
persist and public safety requires it.

2
1971 Habeas Corpus Cases (p. 52)

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III. MARTIAL LAW HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

However, as terrible as this already sounds, from lies to theft to repression to

corruption, the history of Martial Law gets worse as we dig deeper. While
corruption ensued, media was repressed, cronies were favored, lies were
propagated, shoes were collected, Filipinos’ human rights were also being
directly violated.

According to an Amnesty International report that documents the human

rights abuses during Martial Law, there are around 3,240 known extrajudicial
killings, 34,000 documented tortures, 70,000 imprisonments, and 77 recorded
disappearances. It’s important to note that these are just the recognized ones,
meaning that the numbers are even higher when we consider the cases that
went unrecorded. With these large statistics, we must remind ourselves that
Martial Law victims are more than just numbers. These are fellow Filipinos, most
of them political rivals, student activists, journalists, religious workers, farmers,
peasant organizers; most of them fought the dictator (McDougald).

Torture is used to extract confessions from people suspected to be involved

in treason, insurrection and rebellion, or to make the victim implicate somebody.
To do this to a small sector of our society is meant to scare the community at
large. The desired effect of this kind of ordeal inflicted on political detainees was
beyond physical. Unlike the wounds that are temporary and may heal in a matter
of days, being subjected to such an extreme kind of pain traumatized the victims.
They aim to break the spirit. But the spirit of freedom despite torture, soared
among many of these freedom fighters who carried on fighting until victory was
achieved in 1986.
Many of the cases of torture and illegal detention happened in undisclosed
safe houses and military camps. In Metro Manila, detained activists joke about
how they get locked in “ABC and back to B”—Camp Emilio Aguinaldo (Quezon
City), Camp Bagong Diwa (Bicutan, Taguig), Camp Rafael Crame and Fort

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Bonifacio (Taguig) or proceed to D—Death. After a few days, they would be
confined in the military hospital or detained and kept incommunicado for long
periods of time.
The different techniques of torture. Aside from deadly weapons, unassuming
everyday items like water, pliers, thumb tacks, ball pens, flat iron were used to
create constant and enduring pain that even time can hardly heal:
Electric Shock—one of the frequently used techniques. Usually, the electric
wires were attached to fingers and the genitalia of the victim.
San Juanico Bridge—the victim lies between two beds and if his/her body
falls or sags, the victim will be beaten.
Russian Roulette—the victim is forced to aim a revolver with a bullet at
his/her own head and then pull the trigger.
Beating—another favorite technique where a group of soldiers would beat
with “fists, kicks and karate blows” manacled victims.
Pistol-Whipping—beating with rifle butts; Water Cure—another favorite
technique. Huge amounts of water would be forced through into the victim’s
mouth, and by beating would be forced out.
Cigar Burns—bonus you would get under torture. Flat Iron burns—Despite
being old in his fifties, Cenon Sembrano’s foot was heated with a flat iron.
Animal Treatment—victims are manacled and caged like beasts.
In contrary side, there are disadvantages during the said event that marked in
the history of our country. There were over 10,000 citizens tortured, imprisoned,
and killed because Marcos administration was powerful over the ordinary
citizens. And even today, we can still feel the sufferings that they have before
and the truth is, they can't fight against the enemy because they were already
losing the battle.

Rape and other sexual indignities were meant to isolate the individual from
his or hercompatriots and the society. The violation of what they held sacred was
so shameful that there could never be an actual count of how many detainees
were raped or molested. In some cases, the pain of wives and mothers almost
destroyed their families. After her husband’s detention, Fe Mangahas marriage

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almost broke down, as she and her husband felt very estranged from each other.
Her husband and son experienced health problems, and her career track as an
educator at that time was ruined. Yet many of those women who suffered, like
Rosales, Narciso and Taguiwalo strengthened their principles and are continuing
the fight for what they believe up to now. Even Mangahas recovered and is now
a board member of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.Women
were not spared from the torture because patriotism does not choose any
gender.

IV. MARTIAL LAW'S GOOD EFFECTS

In the case of Phil. Martial Law, discipline in cleaning up the streets
happened also, more orderly traffic flow. So, see? Unlike what we have right
now. Unfortunately, as we observed that in every place we can witness the
garbage and also, the traffic flow that may ruin our day most especially if people
will go in their respective work areas

February 25th, Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Vice Chief of Staff Lt.
Gen. Fidel V. Ramos announced their break with Marcos. Enrile was alarmed by
reports of pending mass arrests of Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM)
officers and opposition leaders, which he preempted by gathering some 400 of
his men in defensive position at Camp Aguinaldo. Enrile sought Cardinal Sin's
support and thousands of people responded to the Cardinals appeals for "our two
good friends" and began massing outside the rebel camps on EDSA. An
estimated one to two million people converged on Camp Crame and Camp
Aguinaldo, immobilizing the military counter-force that was ordered by Gen.
Fabian Ver, Marcos Chief of Staff, to neutralize the military rebellion. For four
days, from February 22nd to 25th, Corazon Aquino and Salvador Laurel were
sworn in as president and Vice-president, respectively,by Supreme Court Justice
Claudio Teenhankee. Enrile was named defense Minister in the new government
and Ramos became Armed Forces Chief of Staff. On the same day, at noon,
Ferdinand Marcos took his oath of office in ceremonies at Malacanang Palace,
attended by several thousand flag waving loyalist. Marcos's running mate,

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Tolentino, failed to attend the inaugural. That evening, Marcos could no longer
hold on in the midst of of people power support the new government of Cory
Aquino. Under pressure from US Ambassador Stephen Bosworth and the US
government to step down in order to avoid violence, Marcos and his family left
the Palace, accompanied by General Ver and small of close supporters and their
personal staff. They were taken to Clark Air Base en route to Hawaii.
As news of Marcos flight spread, crowds converged on the palace grounds,
chanting "Cory! Cory! Cory!" and "It's Liberation Day!" As the palace gates were
thrown open, thousand charged into the compound. Some looting was reported
but by midnight, tens of thousands gathered all over the city to pray, cheer, and
celebrate.
The four days of the February "Revolution" were marked by the outpouring of
love, anger, hysteria and courage by a people desiring for change or renewal.
Amidst the euphoria which accompanied the rejection of Marcos, restoration of
the nation had to be undertaken (Agoncillo).

In July 1972, the CPP-NPA received its first shipment of weapons from the
Chinese government, which had been supporting the group rhetorically since its
1969 establishment. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was able to
seize most of the weapons, and it then conducted additional massive military
operations against the CPP-NPA.
In 1976, the CPP-NPA lost the Chinese government’s support when the
Philippines and China normalized their relations after years of severed ties after
the Chinese Communist Party rose to power in 1949,. Throughout 1976, the
Philippine government captured and jailed many important CPP-NPA members,
including Buscayno. After Buscayno’s capture, Rodolfo Salas served as the
NPA’s commander, and when Sison was captured the following year, Salas also
assumed chairmanship of the CPP. Despite the removal of key figures, the CPP-
NPA was able to spread beyond Luzon to Visayas and Mindanao, the
Philippines’ other major regions. At the time, the Philippine military was fighting
the CPP-NPA as well as the Muslim separatist rebels in the south, prioritizing the
latter.

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 The late 1980s and early 1990s, the CPP-NPA suffered various
organizational losses. The Philippine government captured key leaders, and
internal purges again resulted in dozens of CPP-NPA members’ deaths. Internal
debate over the organization’s future further weakened it.
V. Conclusion
President Ferdinand Marcos announced that he had placed the entirety of
the Philippines under martial law. This marked the beginning of 14yr. Period of
one rule which would effectively last until Marcos was exiled from the country on
February 25, 1986. Even though the formal document proclaiming martial law -
Proclamation No. 1081 was formally lifted on January 17, 1981, Marcos retained
virtually all of his powers as dictator until he was ousted by the EDSA Revolution.
While the period of Philippine history in which Ferdinand Marcos was in power
actually began seven years earlier, when he was first inaugurated president of
the Philippines in late 1965, this article deals specifically with the period where he
exercised dictatorial powers under martial law and the period in which he
continued to wield those powers despite technically lifting the proclamation of
martial law in 1981. When he declared martial law in 1972, Marcos claimed that
he had done so in response to the "communist threat” posed by the newly
founded Communist Party of the Philippines. This 14 years period in Philippine
history is remembered for the administration record on human rights abuses,
particularly targeting political opponents, student activists, journalist, religious
workers, farmers and others who fought against the Marcos dictatorship. Based
on the documentation of Amnesty International, Task Force Detainees of the
Philippines and similar human rights monitoring entities, historians believe that
the Marcos dictatorship was marked by 3,257 known extrajudicial killings,
350,000 documented tortures, 77 disappeared and 70,000 incarcerations.
Numerous explanations have been put forward as reasons for Marcos to declare
Marti law enforcement in September 1972, some of which were presented by the
Marcos administration as official justification, and either mainstream political
opposition or by analysis studying the political economy of the decision

References

10
Agoncillo, Teodoro. History of Filipino People Eight Edition. Quezon: GAROTECH
Publishing, 1990.

—. Histrory of Filipino People Fifth Edition. Quezon: Publishers Association ofthe

Philippines,Inc, 1977.

McDougald, Charles. THE MARCOS FILE. United States of America: San Francisco
Publishers, 1987.

Moyer, Robin. Bayan ko!Hong Kong:Project 28 days,1986.

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