The Declaration of Martial Law: Proclamation No. 1081

The Declaration of
Martial Law
Proclamation No. 1081
Philippine History
By: Maria Christine N. Halili

Who is Maria Christine N. Halili?
 She is a graduate of Master of Arts major in History as a

magna cum laude at the University of Santo Tomas.
 She is a History instructor at Bulacan State University

Context of the Primary Source
It is all about the history of the Philippines authored by Maria Christine N.

Halili.
And of the topic discussed in this book is all about the administration of
President Ferdinand E. Marcos on how he govern the Philippines.
It also talk about President Marcos’s declaration of Martial Law, the reason
behind why he impose it.
It also record what happen during Martial Law, and also record about the down
fall of the Marcos regime.
Who is Marcos?
 Born as Ferdinand Emannuel Edralin Marcos on
September 11, 1917 at Sarrat, Ilocos Norte
 Graduated as cum laude from University of the
Philippines, College of Law
 Top notched the 1939 Bar examination for Lawyers
with a rating of 92.35%
 Married to Imelda Romualdez Marcos on May 1,
1945
 A member of the Philippine House of
Representative from 1949-1959
 A member of Philippine Senate from 1959-1965
and became a Senate President from 1963-1965
 Marcos won the Presidency and was inaugurated on
December 30, 1965 and stayed until February 25,
1986
 He was the 10th President of The Philippines, the 6th
President of the 3rd Republic and the 1st President of
the 4th Republic.
 Died on the 28th of September 1989 in Hawaii,
USA.
Pre Declaration of Martial Law
During the first term of his administration, President Marcos was able to
stabilize the government finances by means of effective collection of taxes
and getting loans from the foreign banks and governments. In the
relevance of rapid development and economic progress, the people were
satisfied by the President’s performance.
With the global economic crisis brought by the rising oil price, the
Philippine economy was adversely affected in the 1970’s. Also, the dirt
politics, graft and corruption contribute to afflict the nation. And an
upsurge of communism and subversion was evident.
Due to the deplorable conditions of the country, the occurrence of various
protestants and terrorism were rampant, among them were the following.
 Student militarism that includes the groups of Kabataang Makabayan (KM)

and the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) that associates
student activism
 Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the New People’s Army (NPA)
wages guerilla warfare against the Marcos administration
 Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) imposed the so-called “Plaza
Mirranda Massacre” that killed 8 lives and injured 120 people.
President Marcos blamed the communist for the bombing incident and vowed to
impose the Martial Law if the communist attack persist. Unfortunately, terrorist
bombings of public and private property and residences ensued. Causes to these
the destabilization efforts would ostensibly warrant imposition of Martial Law in
the country.
The Declaration of Martial Law
On September 23, 1972 at 7:30 PM, President Marcos appeared on nationwide

radio and television to formally announce that he had placed entire Philippines
under Martial Law as of 9pm the previous day.
The implementation of martial law in the country was pursuant to

Proclamation No. 1081, which he had signed on September 21, 1972. This law
was declared by the President to “save the Republic” from lawlessness and
civil strife.
During martial law, the constitution was suspended, the congress was dissolved
and President Marcos governed by issuing presidential decrees, letters of
instruction and other rules deemed favorable to the society.
Under martial law, President Marcos being the Chief executive had emergency
powers. The President suspended the writ of habeas corpus and curtailed the freedom
of speech, press and assembly.
Also, political opponents and detractors were arrested and detained. Among them
were Senators Ninoy Aquino, Jose Diokno and Ramon Mitra, Teofisto Guingona,
Jose Nolledo, Jose Mari-Velez(radio-televison commentator) and journalist Maximo
Soliven.
With the martial law going on, mass media were closed and placed under military
control. Some of them were later permitted to reopen but under strict censorship.
Even public utilities and industries were seized and placed under government control.
These include Manila Electric Company (Meralco), Philippine Long Distance
Telephone Company (PLDT) and the Illigan Integrated Steel Mill.
Student demonstrations, public political meetings and labor strikes were strictly
prohibited. All schools were closed for one week. Curfew were imposed from
midnight to 4am, the travel ban was imposed on Filipinos who wanted to go abroad
except on official mission. The ban was lifted on August 22, 1977 together with the
curfew.
A new constitution was promulgated. The 1973 constitution established a modified
parliamentary form of government with the Prime Minister as the head of government
and the President as the ceremonial head of state. Both were to be elected by the
unicameral National Assembly.
President Marcos ruled as Prime Minister and President under martial law powers until
1981.
Aside from saving the Republic, President Marcos aimed to form the New Society. His
proposed reforms for the building of this new society are based on the acronym
PLEDGES.
 P – Peace and Order

 L – Land Reform
 E – Economic Development
 D – Development of Moral Values
 G – Government Reforms
 E – Educational Reforms
 S – Social Services
Several opposition groups including the church hierarchy sought for the end of martial
law. Urban insurgents carried out series of bombings in Manila in defiance to military
rule.
Finally on January 17, 1981, President Marcos signed proclamation No. 2045 ending
martial law in the country. Changes in 1981 gave birth to the “New Republic”
historically speaking, the Fourth Philippine Republic.
After Martial Law
On June 16, 1981 the first presidential election after the lifting of martial law was
held. President Marcos (KBL presidential candidate) won a new six-year term. He
prevailed over other candidates Alejo Santos of Nacionalista Party and Bartolome
Cabangbang of the Federal Party.
Opposition to the Marcos administration persisted as the condition during the

martial law ensued. Protestations against the administration continued to be
restricted under the provisions of the Presidential Commitment Order (PCO) and
arrest and seizure without warrant orders (ASSO). These laws allowed the president
to order the detention of anyone suspected of subversion or rebellion.
After the 3 year exile to the United States, former Senator Ninoy Aquino returned to the
Philippines via China Airlines on August 21, 1983 at around 1pm. When he decided to
comeback in 1983, the government tried to stop him noting that some people tried to kill
him. Yet he was able to fly back to the country.
Upon Aquino’s arrival at the Manila International Airport, he was shot dead while going
down the plane. The assassination lead the country into the forefront of international
news. Thousands of Filipinos sympathized with Aquino’s bereaved family.
The battlecry “Ninoy, hindi ka nag-iisa” and other similar slogans were heard in various
demonstrations that had erupted in Metro Manila and other areas in the country.
Militant and caused oriented groups were organized and they call for an end to Marcos
regime. These groups included the following:
ATOM – August Twenty One Movement

JAJA – Justice for Aquino, Justice for All
BAYAN – Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
The opposition members of the Batasan took the step in filing a case for the impeachment
of the President for graft and corruption, culpable violence of the Constitution, gross
violation of his oath of office, and other high crimes. On August 13, 1985, the
impeachment signatories filed the resolution. On the same date the pre-government KBL,
with the majority vote of 105(over 55 opposition members) decided to reject the
resolution to impeach the President.
On February 22, 1986, at 6pm Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Deputy Chief of Staff, Lt
General Fidel V. Ramos, gave a press conference announcing their withdrawal of support
for the President. Minister Enrile admitted that it was Aquino who won the elections.
Marcos had won through fraud. He called on Marcos to step down from his office. He
also asked the people to support the military defectors. Immediately Jaime Cardinal Sin
through the Radio Veritas, appealed for public support.
Thousands of people went to EDSA to form human barricade. On February 23, the
Marcos loyalist troops under Gen. Ver prepared to attack. At about 8pm of the same day,
armored tanks and carriers under the command of Brig. Gen. Artemio Tadiar arrived at
EDSA in front of Camp Crame to assault the Camp.
On the morning of February 25, Ferdinand Marcos took his oath of office at the
Malacañang Palace grounds. By 9pm of the same day Marcos and his family and some
friends fled Malacañang Palace and were taken by four U.S. helicopters to Clark
Airbasein Pampanga, then to Guam then to Honolulu, Hawaii by US military planes.
Many Filipinos celebrated the downfall of despotism after the four day People Power
Movement that prompted President to seek for refuge in America.
Marcos died on September 28, 1989 in Honolulu. His body was returdned to the
Philippines in 1992.
Valuing Primary Source
 It promotes the need of understanding history especially the declaration of

martial law
 It promotes participatory governance
 It promotes constructing criticism about the issue of martial law.
 It educate the readers through details written
 It provide statement to view the situation as a whole
 It let us understand the positive and negative sides of martial law.

The End.
Thank You.

The Declaration of Martial Law: Proclamation No. 1081

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The Declaration of

By: Maria Christine N. Halili

 She is a graduate of Master of Arts major in History as a

 She is a History instructor at Bulacan State University

It is all about the history of the Philippines authored by Maria Christine N.

 Student militarism that includes the groups of Kabataang Makabayan (KM)

On September 23, 1972 at 7:30 PM, President Marcos appeared on nationwide

The implementation of martial law in the country was pursuant to

 P – Peace and Order

Opposition to the Marcos administration persisted as the condition during the

ATOM – August Twenty One Movement

 It promotes the need of understanding history especially the declaration of

 It promotes participatory governance

 It promotes constructing criticism about the issue of martial law.

 It educate the readers through details written

 It provide statement to view the situation as a whole

 It let us understand the positive and negative sides of martial law.

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