Marcos Administration and Martial Law Period

Ferdinand E. Marcos• The sixth president of the third Philippine Republic , the dictator of the

Philippines (Dec. 30, 1965-Feb. 25, 1986)• In 1965, under the Nacionalista party he ran and became president,

defeating Macapagal in an overwhelming result. • Some of his accomplishments include the signing of investment Incentive Act

of 1967. • It was his term that local government heads could appoint office heads; this

was the Decentralization Act• In his administration, the Phil. Became the member of the ASEAN• He had programs for diplomatic relations with communists and socialist

states.• He established the Land Bank of the Phil. In 1972, he declared Martial Law• By suspending the 1935 Constitution he was able to prolong his term• He removed the office vice president

During the first term of President Marcos, he improved agricultural productivity, he was successful in his infrastructure program and had established an effective way of collecting taxes.

However, on his second term, peace and order had become the primary problem with the founding of NPA and the MNLF. The martial law allowed him to stay long in office and control other branches of the government like Congress and Supreme Court. After 11 years, martial law was lifted before the scheduled visit of Pope John Paul II. But lifting the martial law did not solve the peace and order problem of the country.

President Ferdinand Marcos’ First Term (1965-69)

On Dec. 30, 1965, President Marcos with Vice-president Lopez were sworned into office as the President and Vice-president of the Philippines.

At the beginning of his administration, President Marcos inherited a lot of problems in the government.

Among the achievements of President Marcos during his first term were the ff:1. Stabilization of government finance by means of more effective collection of taxes, imposing new tax

laws, and getting loans from foreign banks and governments2. Greater production of rice by promoting the cultivation of “miracle rice” and other fast growing rice

seeds, the construction of more irrigation systems, and giving financial and technical assistance to the farmers

3. Building of more roads and bridges, schoolhouses, and public works. The philippine National Railways was also improved to foster land transportation

4. Intensive drive against smuggling, crime syndicates, and the communist New People’s Army (NPA)5. Holding of the Manila Summit Conference on Oct. 24-25, 1966, attended by the heads of the state of

Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, Philippines, South Vietnam, Thailand and the United States

Reeclection of President Marcos (1969)

• In the national election of Nov. 14, 1967, the Nacionalista Party almost won all seats in the senate, except for one liberal party candidate, Benigno Aquino Jr., a former governor of the province of Tarlac and the youngest of all senatorial candidates

• The reeclection of Marcos in 1969 was unique because of two reasons: one, he was the first president to be reelected for the 2nd term and secondly, he was the first president to take oath of office in the native language unlike his predecessors who took their oath of office in the English language

Problems during Marcos Second Term

• Prevalence of dirty policies• Rampant graft and corruption • Increasing gap between rich and poor• ineffectiveness of some provisions of the 1935

Constitution addressed the new socio-economic problems of the times

• Peace and order(crime, communism,subversion)

1971 Constitutional ConventionThe Constitution was believed to be anachronistic because it no longer addressed the

current problems in the Philippines.Its defects became apparent:1. It was a relic of colonialism, for it was drafted during the American regime and was

copied from the United States constitution2. Too much powers were given to the president may spawn a dictator3. Imbalance among three branches of government: legislative, executive and judicial4. Lack of provision regarding election protest in the position of president5. Its Parity amendment was a momento of American Imperialism6. COMELEC (Commission of Elections) was not granted enough powers to avoid

anomalies in election7. GAO( General Auditing Office) was virtually a watchdog without teeth8. It had no provision on autonomy of local government units

June 17, 1967, Congress enacted R.A. No. 1913 submitting to the people for approval or disapproval two amendments to the Constitution, as follows:

1. increasing the number of congressmen from 120 to 1802. Allowing senators and congressmen to serve as delegates to

the 1971 Convention without forfeiting their seats in CongressThese two amendments were submitted to the people in the

local elections of Nov. 14, 1967 and both were rejected by overwhelming vote

A. Political Condition Under Marcos Administration

Road to Martial Law• The creation of New Peoples Army by the Communist Party of the Philippines while the Moro

Liberation Front fought for independent Mindanao• The attempt on the life of Pope Paul VI when he visited Manila in Nov 1970• Various student demonstrations and labor strikes• Bombings in Plaza Miranda in Qiuapo on Aug. 21, 1971 during proclamation rally of the

senatorial slate of the Liberal Party

Marcos blamed the communist for the tragic incident prompted him to suspend the writ of habeas corpus to maintain peace and other

Proclamation of Martial LawSept. 23, 1972, President Marcos appeared in television and radio to formally

announce that he placed the whole nation under Martial Law as of 9pm of the previous day, Sept. 22, 1972, by way of implementing Proclamation No. 1081, w/c he signed even earlier, on Sept. 21, 1972.

Legality of Martial LawMartial Law was an extraordinary measure used by heads of states to defend or to

protect the people from extreme danger to lawlessness, violence, anarchy and rebellion or invasion.

however, his critics pointed out that the declaration was made. The country was not invaded or threatened w/ invasion, anarchy, insurrection rebellion.

While there were demonstrations and strikes, it was not enough for the president to take extreme measure.

Martial law (1972-1981)

• Using lawlessness & threat of communist insurgency to justify the declaration of martial law. President marcos ruled the country as a dictator; he governed using decrease, suppressing freedom of the press, shelf down media establishments, closed down congress, and order for the arrest of opposition leaders & activists like senator Benigno Aquino Jr. & senator Jose Diokno.

• At first the martial law was accepted, given the Philippine condition. Crime rate decreased with curfew hours implemented. Political opponents were given chance to go into exile. But, as martial law dragged on for the next nine years, abuses by the military emerged.

• Despite prohibition from holding another team and with political opponents in jail on exile, Marcos reconvened the constitutional convention and maneuvered the proceedings to adopt a parliamentary form of government giving way to remain in power beyond 1973

• Even before the Constitution be fully implemented, several amendments were introduced including prolongation of martial law and permitting himself to be President and concurrent Prime Minister.

Foreign Relations

• President Marcos inherited the territorial dispute over Sabah. In 1968 he approved a congressional bill annexing Sabah to the Philippines. Malaysia suspended diplomatic relations and matters was referred to the United Nations. The Philippines became one of the founding countries of ASEAN in 1967.

B. Economic Development Under Marcos Administration

GDPAnnual average growth of GDP was only 1.4% as compared to 3.5 from 1951-1965, entire duration of

Marcos administration from 1966 to 1986.To help finance various projects and programs, the government engaged in borrowing money. Foreign

investors invited to certain industrial projectsHe embarked on a massive spending in infrastructural development as well as intensifying the tax

collection w/c gave the Phil. A taste of economic prosperity throughout 1970s.

Kilusang Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran-a program that started in 1981-its aim was to promote the economic dev. Of barangays by encouraging the residents to engage in

their own livelihood-it resulted in the increase of nation’s economic growth rate to an average of 6% to 7% from 1970 to

1980-GDP increase from 55 billion pesos in 1972 to 193 billion pesos in 1980 - Tourism rose, contributing to the growth of economy