GE 2 – Philippine History WORSENING ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL

HANDOUTS CRISES

Chapter 23 – From Martial Law to People Power Massive foreign loans, huge foreign debts, land
(1972-1986) reform proved slow and inadequate due to lack of funds,
low productivity, inflation, and budget cuts on education
Presidential Term – Until 1972, the Philippines held and other social services. At the same time, more money
elections regularly; was being allotted to the military.
every four years for the president, vice-president, and
“Marco’s family and friends enjoyed the privileges of power”
congressmen, and
every two years for a third of senate. Poor farmers began to be deprived of their
leasehold arrangements to give way to the forest, mining,
The president was allowed to run for a second term and and marine reserves arrangements by the rich, as well as
thus, stay in power for a maximum of eight years. foreign corporations.
PRES. FERDINAND E. MARCOS To prevent the further deterioration of the
Economy, the government sent out 1.3 million overseas
In 1972, he was able to extend his stay in office
contract workers and domestic helper. But this could not
for a third term. He was able to do this through the 1935
stop the continued rise in prices of commodities and poor
constitution which provided for martial rule.
salaries. Unemployment ballooned from 6.73% in 1985.
Through what he called “Constitutional
Authoritarianism”, he extended his presidency that lasted Imelda Romualdez Marcos was appointed as
twenty years or two decades – the longest term in governor of Metro Manila, and concurrently, head
Philippine history. ministry of human settlements and Ecology. This gave
rise to charges of “conjugal dictatorship”.
MARCOS’ NEW SOCIETY In 1978, Marco’s called for the elections to be
Revolution from the center – The center would held under martial rule. The opposition’s party LABAN
bring about a “New Society” (Ang Bagong Lipunan) that (Laban ng bayan) versus Marco’s KBL (Kilusang
was self-disciplined, self-reliant, prosperous, and Bagong Lipunan) completed for victory. While Ninoy
peaceful. Aquino campaigned behind bars, his fellow party mates
were divided by favored boycott campaign. As a result,
Thus, Marcos, through the several Presidential
they lost KBL who dominated the IBP (Interim Batasang
Decrees; reorganized the bureaucracy; formed the
National Economic and Development Authority or Pambansa). The same defeat happened to the opposition
NEDA; and instituted the National Grains Authority or in the 1981 local elections. KBL candidates won with the
support of government funds and machinery.
NGA. He regionalized the provinces, and set up the
Population Commission. In 1981, Marcos announced the holding of
presidential elections on June 16, 1981. The opposition
Marcos placed the whole country under land
decided to participate under united party called UNIDO
reform and issued, at same time, a complementary
(United Nationalist Democratic Organization). They
proclamation freeing the tenant farmer from his landlord.
He built more schools, marketplaces, hospitals, roads, asked for electoral reforms, such as, purging of voters’
lists, equal media space and time, and a reorganized
bridges, and ports. He also developed energy sources such
COMELEC (Commission on Elections). Marcos refused
as geothermal plants, oil fields, including a nuclear plant
in Bataan. the call for reforms and hence, UNIDO boycotted the
election, Marcos was left competing with an unknown,
In foreign affairs, the government entered a former defense secretary, Alejo Santos. As expected,
diplomatic relations with socialist and communist Marcos won with 88% majority votes. The Fourth
countries. Philippines joined the Association of South Republic was finally inaugurated on June 30, 1981.
East Asian Nation or ASEAN in 1976. The U.S naval base
in Subic Bay closed in September 1971, while the U.S MASS MOVEMENT TO END MARTIAL LAW
military agreement, which was amended the previous year
The declaration of martial law effectively
(1970), reduced the original 99-year lease to 25 years. For
silenced the protest movement of the first quarter storm.
the first time also, security for the military bases, where
From 1972 to 1973 hundreds were detained.
the Filipino flag flew alongside the American flag.
 Leaders of “leftist” organization
 Kabataang Makabayan especially to the opposition which had been deprived of
 Samahan ng Demokratikong any fair electoral process for more than a decade already.
Kababaihan On August 21, 1983, Ninoy Aquino returned to
 Panulat para sa Kaunlaran ng
the Philippines using an assumed name, Marcial
Sambayanan
Bonifacio.
 Leaders of the traditional political parties
 Liberal Party Upon his arrival, he was gunned down and fell on
 Nacionalista Party the airport tarmac. The assassin, allegedy a lone gunman
hired by the communist, also lay dead after being gunned
During the 1978 local elections, the opposition down by the soldiers belonging to the airport security
candidates had no access to pro-administration media, command.
which were owned by Marcos cronies and relatives.
The double-murder at the Manila International
With the restriction on rallies and public for a, the Airport was later tried by a supposedly independent
opposition discovered the power of “noise barrage” as a Agrava Commission. The result pointed to Marco’s chief
means of mass tin cans, pieces of wood, or steel to of staff, General Fabian Ver, General Proper Olivas,
signify their protest against Marcos and the KBL. Brigadier General Luther Custodio, and other
Many also wore T-shirt with the word. “No” (to the commissioned and noncommissioned officers of the
administration candidates) printed across the front, which armed forces of the Philippines (AFP). Later, they were
indicated disapproval of administration. all acquitted by the Sandiganbayan, for lack of conclusive
evidence.
The Catholic Church through the Archbishop of
Manila, Jaime Cardinal sin, issued a strongly-worded On August 31, 1983, Ninoy Aquino’s funeral
Pastoral letter asking parishioner to vote according to procession took eleven hours from Quezon City to the
their conscience and guard their votes. Other church Memorial park in Paranaque. It was described as more of
leaders followed suit. The church protest was triggered by a protest march than a funeral procession.
the rise in “salvaging” or summary executions and
THE 1986 SNAP ELECTIONS
desaparecidos or disappearances and kidnappings of
suspected “subversives,” which included priest, pastors, From 1983, a new wave of protest rallies called
nuns, lay church workers, tribal minorities, and urban “Parliament of the Streets” rocked Manila and other cities
poor. like Cebu, Davao and Iloilo. Although Marcos’s term was
yet to end in June 1987, the protesters asked him to resign
Between 1978 to 1981, Amnesty International and hold an early election.
recorded 8, 000 cases of salvaging; and 50,000 people
arrested and detained in at least 20 main detention The U.S. with its interest in the Philippines, was
centers, 80 provincial detention centers, and an also disturbed and began pressuring Marcos for an early
undetermined number of “safe houses” throughout the election date. Marcos announced that he was ready for
country. “snap” presidential election on February 7, 1986.
Opposition’s candidate for President: Corazon Aquino
Safe houses- were secret places for the torture killing of
For Vice President: Salvador H. Laurel
anti-Marcos activists, communists, and other rebels,
whose right to trial and human dignity were totally National Movement for free Elections (NAMREL) - To
disregarded. ensure a clean and fair counting of votes, concerned
businessmen and others cause-oriented groups organized.
THE ASSASSINATION OF NINOY
Initial count by the COMELEC showed Marcos
Without the declaration of martial law, former
leading 1.2 million votes, which was contrary to the
senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. might have
overall NAMFREL tally that gave Cory and Doy a
become the next president in 1972. Instead, he was
consistent lead. On the second day after the election,
imprisoned and later, allowed to go to the U.S for medical
thirty-eight computer programmers of the COMELEC
treatment when he got very ill while in detention.
walked out in the protest of the COMELEC’s attempt to
In 1973, Marcos, stricken with lupus, was very manipulate the result shown in the rally board.
sick and lack of vice president to succeed him posed a big
On February 20, 1986, Marcos was declared
problem in leadership. Imelda R. Marcos, as his possible
President-elect, 375 along with Arturo Tolentino as Vice
successor was definitely unacceptable to the people,
President. On the same day Cory in a “people’s victory
rally” at Rizal park called for civil disobedience.
According to NAMFREL’s tally the final votes are;
Ferdinand Marcos: 7,053,068
Corazon Aquino: 7,835,070

PEOPLE POWER AT EDSA

The event on February 22, 1986 triggered the
downfall of the Marcos government Government in an
unsuspected move by Juan Ponce Enrile, then Secretary
of National Defense and Fidel V. Ramos (Vice chief of
staff) who defected and severed their ties with Marcos.
Prayers, flowers, bread, and drinks offered by the
people stopped the attacking Marcos’ soldiers who were
aboard trucks and tanks.
Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) was occupied by
people from all walks of life. The climax of the event
came when crowds, and instead, landed the helicopter to
join the people power revolution at EDSA.
On the morning of February 23, 1986, the oath-
taking of Marcos as newly-elected president was hastily
stopped. The U.S government offered to help Marcos and
his family, along with the crony, Danding Cojuangco, to
flee to Hawaii “to escape the wrath of the avenging
horde”.