Keith Mack
The Philippines endured a dark period in its history during the martial law era from 1972 to 1981. On September 23, 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos announced that he had placed the country under martial law, citing the need to defend against violent student demonstrations, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), and the Muslim separatist movement of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). This marked the beginning of a repressive regime characterised by human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests, torture, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings. The period also witnessed a consolidation of political and economic control by Marcos and his associates, leading to widespread discontent and a revolt that ultimately drove him from power in 1986. The legacy of martial law continues to shape the country's ongoing fight for truth, justice, and reparations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of declaration | 23 September 1972 |
| Who declared it | President Ferdinand Marcos |
| Reason for declaration | To counter the "communist threat" posed by the newly founded Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the sectarian "rebellion" of the Muslim Independence Movement (MIM) |
| Other reasons | To save the republic from various plots, to reform society, to consolidate power, to stay in power past the two presidential terms allowed by the 1935 Constitution, to cover up the Marcos family's ill-gotten wealth, to protect foreign investors and grant incentives for oil exploration, to reduce violent urban crime, to collect unregistered firearms, to suppress communist insurgency, to counter violent student demonstrations, to counter the Muslim separatist movement of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) |
| Actions taken | Arrested opposition politicians, closed down media outlets, arrested outspoken journalists and academics, suspended the writ of habeas corpus, assumed legislative and executive powers, dissolved Congress, ratified a new constitution in 1973 |
| Human rights violations | 3,257 known extrajudicial killings, 35,000 documented tortures, 737 enforced disappearances, 70,000 incarcerations, arbitrary arrests and detention |
| End of martial law | 17 January 1981 |
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What You'll Learn
The human rights abuses committed under the Marcos administration
The administration of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos in the 1970s and 1980s is historically remembered for its human rights abuses. Marcos's regime targeted political opponents, student activists, journalists, religious workers, farmers, and others who fought against his dictatorship.
Amnesty International, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, and other human rights monitoring entities have documented the Marcos dictatorship's abuses, including 3,257 known extrajudicial killings, 35,000 cases of torture, 737 disappearances, and 70,000 incarcerations. Some 2,520 of the murder victims were tortured and mutilated before their bodies were dumped in public places to sow fear, in a tactic known as "salvaging". Some victims were also subjected to cannibalism. The international community eventually became aware of these human rights violations and pressured the Marcos dictatorship to end them.
In 1975, Marcos aide and chief propagandist Primitivo Mijares defected and revealed to US lawmakers that torture was routinely practised within the Marcos regime. Mijares' admission attracted international criticism and led to Amnesty International's first report about the Philippines, which revealed the “systematic and severe torture” handled by the Fifth Constabulary Security Unit (5CSU).
The irregular paramilitary forces known as the Civilian Home Defense Forces (CHDF) were supervised and deployed by local government heads, such as provincial governors and mayors. These paramilitary forces also became notorious for various human rights abuses.
Despite denying all allegations of his involvement in human rights abuses, Ferdinand Marcos's regime was marked by a record of abuses, with continued impunity for perpetrators under his administration.
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The public's response to the declaration of martial law
The public response to the declaration of martial law in the Philippines was mixed, with some initially accepting it while others, especially in Muslim areas of the south, strongly opposed it.
When Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law on September 21, 1972, he claimed it was necessary to address violent acts, such as the Plaza Miranda bombing and an alleged assassination attempt on Defense Secretary Enrile, and to counter the "communist threat" posed by the newly formed Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the sectarian "rebellion" of the Mindanao Independence Movement (MIM). Marcos also asserted that martial law was a response to various leftist and rightist plots against his administration and the need to "reform society" after the failure of American-style democracy to take root in the Philippines.
The initial public reaction to martial law was largely favourable, with Marcos having carefully crafted a public relations environment that ensured the majority of Filipino citizens would initially accept it. Under martial law, the regime reduced violent urban crime, collected unregistered firearms, and suppressed communist insurgency in certain regions. However, there were also widespread human rights abuses, with over 70,000 cases of human rights violations, including torture, extrajudicial killings, and mass incarcerations. The shutdown of media outlets and the arrest of journalists silenced the Philippines' culture of press freedom.
As the 1970s progressed, disillusionment with martial law and the consolidation of political and economic control by Marcos, his family, and their associates grew. Despite the country's economic growth, workers' real incomes declined, land reform failed to benefit most farmers, and the sugar industry suffered. The non-Muslim indigenous peoples of Mindanao, known as Lumads, have consistently opposed martial rule due to their past experiences during the Marcos dictatorship, including human rights violations committed by the Armed Forces and police, such as the bombing of Lumad schools and food blockades.
Public anger over abuses and corruption eventually led to pro-democracy protests in 1986, forcing the Marcos family into exile. However, the Marcos family has never apologised for their actions during martial law, and attempts to revise the history of this period have emerged, downplaying the human rights violations that occurred. Amnesty International continues to call for truth, justice, and reparations for the victims of martial law, with over 11,000 victims having received reparations from the government as of 2018.
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Marcos' justifications for imposing martial law
On 23 September 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos announced that he had placed the Philippines under martial law. This marked the beginning of a 14-year period of one-man rule, which ended when Marcos was exiled from the country on 25 February 1986.
Marcos offered several justifications for imposing martial law, including:
- To save the republic from various plots, including leftist and rightist plots against his administration.
- To reform society after the failure of American-style democracy to take root in the Philippines.
- To protect the authority of the republic and guarantee the security of its citizens against lawless elements, particularly the communist threat posed by the newly founded Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the sectarian "rebellion" of the Muslim Independence Movement (MIM). Marcos also cited the acquisition of arms by the New People's Army as justification.
- To address rising disorder caused by increasingly violent student demonstrations.
- To reflect Filipino society's history of authoritarianism and supposed need for iron-fisted leadership.
The imposition of martial law by Marcos was characterised by human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary arrests and detentions of tens of thousands of people. It also resulted in a significant decline in the standard of living, with decreased real wages and increased levels of poverty, inflation, and unemployment.
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The impact of martial law on the Philippines' economy
On September 23, 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos announced that he had placed the Philippines under martial law, marking the beginning of a 14-year period of one-man rule. This era had a significant impact on the country's economy, leaving a lasting legacy.
During the martial law era, the Philippines experienced a mix of economic growth and decline. Initially, there was a surge in GDP growth, with the country achieving impressive rates in 1973 and 1976. However, this growth proved to be short-lived, as the Philippines faced its worst economic contraction in 1984 and 1985. This downturn was attributed to multiple factors, including the assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino, the government's mounting foreign debts, and a plunge in GDP per capita. By the time Marcos was ousted in 1986, the country had lost its standing as one of the economic leaders in Asia, and it took decades to recover economically.
One of the consequences of martial law was the consolidation of political and economic control by Marcos, his family, and their associates. This concentration of power contributed to a general sense of disillusionment among the public. Despite growth in the country's gross national product, workers' real incomes decreased, and the benefits of land reform eluded most farmers. Additionally, the sugar industry faced confusion and turmoil.
The declaration of martial law also enabled the Marcos family to amass unexplained wealth. After Marcos was removed from power, investigators uncovered secret stashes of wealth, which various courts later determined to be of criminal origin. This hidden wealth further exacerbated the economic challenges faced by the Philippines during and after the martial law era.
The impact of martial law on the Philippines economy extended beyond the years of authoritarian rule. The country experienced a significant loss in economic growth compared to its Southeast Asian neighbours. It was overtaken by countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia in terms of per-person income. The Philippines struggled to regain its economic footing, and it wasn't until the early 2000s that GDP per capita recovered to pre-martial law levels.
In conclusion, the martial law era in the Philippines had a complex and far-reaching impact on the country's economy. While there were periods of growth, the overall effect was detrimental, leaving a lasting imprint on the economic landscape of the Philippines. The country faced a challenging road to recovery, working to undo the consequences of this tumultuous period in its history.
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The role of the media during martial law
The media played a pivotal role during the period of martial law in the Philippines, which lasted from 1972 to 1986. Before martial law was imposed, the mass media in the Philippines functioned as a government watchdog and a source of information for citizens. However, once martial law was in effect, the media faced significant restrictions and censorship.
Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who imposed martial law on September 21, 1972, via Proclamation 1081, recognised the crucial role of the media and worked to suppress press freedom. He issued Letter of Instruction No. 1, authorising the military to seize control of major media outlets, including television stations, radio stations, newspapers, and magazines. This move effectively silenced public criticism and allowed Marcos to control the information accessible to the Filipino people.
The Media Advisory Council, led by Primitivo Mijares, served as a tool for the Marcos regime to dictate and censor content across all forms of media. Mijares himself later confessed to aiding in silencing stories exposing government abuses and fabricating successes of the administration. Marcos also shut down media outlets that were critical of his regime, including church publications and radio stations.
The clampdown on the media resulted in the loss of jobs for thousands of people and the arrest and imprisonment of journalists and media owners. Notable figures arrested during this time included Teodoro Locsin Sr., publisher of the Philippines Free Press, Manila Times publisher Chino Roces, and ABS-CBN owner Eugenio Lopez Jr. Additionally, 34 journalists were killed during the Marcos dictatorship, with student journalist Liliosa Hilao being the first political detainee murdered under martial law.
Despite the restrictions, some media outlets played a pivotal role in overthrowing Marcos. Radyo Veritas 846 and DZRJ-AM, operating as non-government radio stations, aired the appeal of Cardinal Jaime Sin, Archbishop of Manila, urging Filipinos to gather and prevent Marcos from killing the leaders of a failed coup attempt. These stations also provided updates to local and international audiences during the ensuing People Power Revolution, which ultimately led to the end of Marcos' dictatorship in February 1986.
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Frequently asked questions
Martial law is when the military takes control of the government and suspends civil law and rights. Civilians who defy martial law may be subjected to military tribunals.
On September 23, 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos announced that he had placed the Philippines under martial law. This marked the beginning of a 14-year period of one-man rule, during which there were numerous human rights abuses, including thousands of extrajudicial killings, tortures, enforced disappearances, and incarcerations.
There are several explanations for why President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law. The official reason was to protect the authority of the republic and guarantee the security of its citizens against violent rebellion, communist insurgency, and other rebellious tendencies. However, others believe that Marcos declared martial law to consolidate power, extend his tenure beyond the two presidential terms allowed by the 1935 constitution, and hide secret stashes of unexplained wealth.
