Thirty-six years ago on September 21, 1972, then Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos signed the declaration of martial law. He then announced the deed on television on September 23, 1973. The proclamation ensured Marcos’ grip on power, in defiance of theconstitutional 2-term limit for Philippine presidents. The declaration alsomarked the darkest age in Philippine history. It was during this time thathundreds of Filipinos disappeared, presumably murdered (“salvaged” in localparlance).
It was also then that the Marcoses stole the country’s wealth andindulged First Lady Imelda Marcos’ taste for fine jewelry, shoes andhobnobbing with the rich and famous. A documentary of the events that marked this period has been to coincidewith these anniversaries. “Batas Militar”(Martial Law)was made by theFoundation for Worldwide People Power (FWWPP), the same group thatreleasedBeyond Conspiracy: A Documentary on the Assassination of NinoyAquino. For those who weren’t alive during the time of Marcos, these events mayseem like ancient history. But they shaped the Philippines that we see today.
This is why we should not forget the sacrifice made by Ninoy Aquino. Why weshouldbe vigilant against graft and corruption. Why suppression of pressfreedom should be viewed with suspicion. This is an age of the Philippinesthat should never be replicated ever again. The extensive film footage and pictures of actual events that took place from1972 when Marcos declared martial law, to the EDSA uprising of 1986 thattoppled the dictatorship, bring back to life the monumental tyranny anddeception, the unprecedented violence and unparalleled greed that no oneever imagined could possibly emanate from one man.
If only for that single accomplishment, the documentary has excellentlyserved its purpose. But it is certainly more than that. It is solidly researched,done with more than 150 important personalities interviewed includingPresident Ramos, Cory Aquino, some generals, Imelda Marcos, other keyplayers and opposition leaders. Particularly interesting was the focus on the personality and political savvy of Marcos’ arch enemy Ninoy Aquino. He was clearly presented as the leaderand icon of the anti-Marcos opposition, the martyr whose assassinationtriggered the demise of the dictatorship.
But martial law was certainly more than that. It was more than the life anddeath struggle between Marcos and his opponents in the traditional politicalopposition. The video documentary certainly captured the drama of the era. But it ismostly the drama in stifling the elite opposition, like the Aquinos and theLopezes. It’s true they were jailed and they lost their properties and theirchances to assume a dominant role in the ruling elite. And a number of otherelite and middle class personalities were also imprisoned and tortured, someof them summarily killed.
But those who suffered the most in terms of prolonged detention, severe torture and salvaging or summary execution,were the leaders and activists of the Left, the armed rebels, the organizedworkers in the cities and the peasant leaders and the masses in the ruralareas. It really made my heart pound seeing the dictatorship of Marcos, his being greedyfor power, fame and wealth. He thought that he can be the lord of those three, buthis ambition was also the reason of his downfall.
For me the rules during that timethough it was so strict were just appropriate to create orderliness in the country,because all the people have that tinge of fear in their hearts. But we can’t be foreverbe silent and just let our fear eat our rights, so the people gathered and fought fortheir rights and not only for the freedom of his motherland. What were the rights violated during Martial Law? A bill of rights is a list of therightsthat are considered important andessential by anation. The purpose of these bills is to protect those rights againstinfringement by the government. During the Martial law, a lot of people’s rights wereviolated.
Almost all of the people’s rights were violated. The declaration of martiallaw was initially well-received by some sectors, but it eventually proved unpopularas excesses and human rights abuses by the military emerged, such as the use of torture as a method of extracting information. It was said that during Martial Law theConstitution may be suspended. The Constitution is the one protecting our rights aspeople, if this is suspended, then this also means that people have no rights duringtimes like this. Section 1,2, 3, 7,8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, and 19 of the Bill of Rightswere violated. Almost all of the people’s rights were violated.
