Cameron Miranda
In the Philippines, the president, as head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, has the power to declare martial law in response to an invasion or rebellion, or when public safety is deemed to require it. This power has been used several times in the country's history, most notably by President Ferdinand Marcos in 1972, which marked the beginning of a 14-year period of one-man rule and widespread human rights abuses. The declaration of martial law has significant implications, often resulting in the suspension of civil rights and the expansion of military power.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can declare martial law in the Philippines | The President of the Philippines, as the head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces |
| When can martial law be declared | In case of invasion or rebellion, when public safety requires it |
| What does martial law in the Philippines typically include | Curfews, suspension of civil law, suspension of civil rights, suspension of habeas corpus, and the application or extension of military law or military justice to civilians |
| Who enforces martial law | The Armed Forces of the Philippines |
| What happens to civilians who defy martial law | They may be subjected to military tribunals (court-martial) |
| Example of martial law declaration | On September 23, 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos announced that he had placed the entirety of the Philippines under martial law |
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What You'll Learn
The President of the Philippines can declare martial law
In April 1871, Governor-General Rafael de Izquierdo declared martial law in the provinces of Cavite and Pampanga as a measure against banditry. Following the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution in 1896, Governor-General Ramon Blanco declared martial law in eight provinces: Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, Tarlac, Laguna, Batangas, and Nueva Ecija. Military governor Gen. Arthur MacArthur Jr. placed the country under martial law in 1900, and it was proclaimed in Leyte in 1907.
In 1944, President José P. Laurel of the wartime Second Philippine Republic placed the Philippines under martial law. On September 23, 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos announced that he had placed the entire country under martial law, marking the beginning of a 14-year period of one-man rule. Marcos justified his decision by citing threats from communist and Islamic insurgencies and claiming that it was necessary to maintain order in the face of rising disorder. This period was marked by widespread human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary arrests.
After Marcos was ousted in 1986, his declaration of martial law was found to have allowed him and his family to amass secret wealth of criminal origin. Marcos's son, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., was democratically elected as President in 2022, marking a comeback for the Marcos family.
Under the current Constitution of the Philippines, the president, as head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, may declare martial law "in case of invasion or rebellion, when public safety requires it." This power has been historically utilized by presidents to exert control and consolidate political power.
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Marcos' declaration of martial law was supported by the US
Under the current constitution of the Philippines, the president, as head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, may declare martial law "in case of invasion or rebellion, when public safety requires it". Typically, the imposition of martial law is accompanied by curfews, the suspension of civil law, civil rights, habeas corpus, and the extension of military law or military justice to civilians.
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. Marcos claimed that it was the last defence against rising disorder caused by increasingly violent student demonstrations and 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).
Marcos's declaration of martial law was supported by the US. As early as 1971, Marcos had reached out to US Ambassador to the Philippines, Henry Byroade, to seek assurance of US support should he proclaim martial law. Byroade discussed the matter with President Richard Nixon, who declared that they would "absolutely" back Marcos "to the hilt" as long as he was trying to preserve the system. The US support for Marcos continued under the Ford and Reagan administrations. While the Carter administration expressed diplomatic concerns over human rights abuses, it could not withdraw its support due to the need to renew the lease on US bases in the Philippines.
The Marcos dictatorship was marked by 3,257 known extrajudicial killings, 35,000 documented tortures, 737 'disappearances', and 70,000 incarcerations. Marcos's regime also engaged in graft and corruption, resulting in a national loss of 5-10 billion US dollars. The imposition of martial law generated intense social conflicts and a worsening economic crisis, leading to growing civil discontent and political opposition.
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Human rights violations during martial law
In the Philippines, the president, as head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, can declare martial law "in case of invasion or rebellion, when public safety requires it". Historically, martial law has been implemented through the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and it typically involves curfews, the suspension of civil law and rights, and the application of military law or military justice to civilians.
The Philippines has a history of human rights violations during periods of martial law, most notably during the 14-year rule of President Ferdinand Marcos, which began in 1972. This period was marked by a wave of crimes under international law and grave human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, enforced disappearances, and suppression of press freedom.
During the Marcos regime, there were 3,257 known extrajudicial killings, 35,000 documented cases of torture, 737 people who 'disappeared', and 70,000 incarcerations. One of Marcos' first actions after declaring martial law was to arrest opposition politicians in Congress and the Constitutional Convention. This period also allowed the Marcos family to hide secret stashes of unexplained wealth, which was later determined to be "of criminal origin".
The human rights violations during the Marcos dictatorship targeted political opponents, student activists, journalists, religious workers, farmers, and others who fought against the dictatorship. The administration justified the declaration of martial law as a defence against rising disorder caused by violent student demonstrations, alleged threats of communist insurgency, and the Muslim separatist movement of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
The impact of martial law extended beyond the immediate human rights violations. The coalition that brought an end to the Marcos regime inherited an enormous external debt, a severely depleted economy, and a growing threat from Moro and communist insurgents.
In more recent years, the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte has been criticised by Amnesty International for a "murderous 'war on drugs'" and a rise in impunity for human rights violations. As the Philippines prepares for the 2022 national elections, there is concern about a disturbing revisionist narrative that attempts to play down the human rights violations committed during the Martial Law regime of the 1970s.
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Marcos' authoritarian rule
In the Philippines, the president, as head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces, may declare martial law "in case of invasion or rebellion, when public safety requires it." Historically, martial law has been implemented through the Armed Forces of the Philippines, serving as the head of state's primary tool for implementing political power.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos ruled under martial law from 1972 to 1981. During this period, Marcos exercised authoritarian power, undermining democratic processes and committing human rights abuses. Marcos's regime was marked by corruption, extravagance, brutality, and the suppression of media outlets.
Marcos justified the declaration of martial law by citing the presence of ""lawless elements" and rising disorder caused by violent student demonstrations, threats of communist insurgency, and the Muslim separatist movement of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). One of his first actions under martial law was to arrest opposition politicians, and the armed forces became an arm of the regime.
The period of martial law under Marcos was characterised by widespread human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and detention. Amnesty International and other civil society organisations have documented these crimes, which clearly showed a pattern of abuses committed by the government.
Marcos's authoritarian rule also had significant economic consequences for the Philippines. While the economy grew during the beginning of his rule, it eventually led to a loss of livelihood and extreme poverty for almost half the population, combined with a debt crisis. Marcos pursued infrastructure development funded by foreign debt, triggering an inflation crisis and social unrest.
In summary, Ferdinand Marcos's authoritarian rule in the Philippines was marked by human rights abuses, corruption, and economic mismanagement, leaving a legacy of widespread poverty and social unrest.
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Marcos' declaration of martial law led to his exile
In the Philippines, the president, as head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, may declare martial law "in case of invasion or rebellion, when public safety requires it". Historically, martial law has been implemented through the Armed Forces of the Philippines, serving as the head of state's primary tool for implementing political power. Typically, its imposition is accompanied by curfews, the suspension of civil law, civil rights, habeas corpus, and the application or extension of military law or military justice to civilians.
On September 23, 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos announced that he had placed the Philippines under martial law, citing 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's declaration of martial law led to the arrest of opposition politicians and the shutdown of media outlets, effectively silencing press freedom in the country. The period under martial law was marked by widespread human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary arrests and detention.
The declaration of martial law also enabled the Marcos family to amass secret stashes of unexplained wealth, which was later determined to be "of criminal origin". The country's external debt also rose significantly during this period, and reports of widespread corruption and plunder of public funds by Marcos and his associates began to surface. By the early 1980s, there was growing discontent with the economic situation in the country, as well as the consolidation of political and economic control by Marcos and his family.
In 1980, Benigno Aquino was allowed to go into exile in the United States. His assassination in August 1983 became the focal point of a renewed and more heavily supported opposition to Marcos's rule. By late 1985, Marcos was under mounting pressure and called a snap presidential election for February 1986. Corazon Aquino, Benigno's widow, became the candidate of a coalition of opposition parties. Despite Marcos being declared the official winner, a public outcry over the election results precipitated a revolt that drove him from power. On February 25, 1986, Marcos was exiled from the country, bringing an end to his 14-year rule.
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Frequently asked questions
The president of the Philippines, as the head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, can declare martial law.
Yes, martial law has been declared in the Philippines several times in history, including:
- In 1871, Governor-General Rafael de Izquierdo declared martial law in the provinces of Cavite and Pampanga.
- In 1896, Governor-General Ramon Blanco declared martial law in eight provinces: Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, Tarlac, Laguna, Batangas, and Nueva Ecija.
- In 1944, President José P. Laurel placed the Philippines under martial law.
- In 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law, marking a 14-year period of one-man rule.
Under martial law, there is typically a suspension of civil law and civil rights, including habeas corpus. Military law or military justice may be applied to civilians, who can be subjected to military tribunals if they defy martial law.
The declaration of martial law by President Ferdinand Marcos in 1972 led to a period of human rights abuses and widespread political repression. There were thousands of arbitrary arrests, detentions, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings. The military's role expanded significantly, and the judiciary became ineffective in preventing human rights violations.
No, martial law is typically declared for the entire country by the president. However, historically, governors or military leaders have declared martial law in specific provinces or regions within the Philippines, such as in the cases mentioned above.
