Martial Law (1972) PDF

Martial Law Chris Jezrel B. Barleta Part-time Instructor, LSPU-SPCC  01 Why was Martial Law declared? 02 What happened under Martial Law? 03 What did the Martial Law years look like? TABLE OF CONTENTS 04 The young victims of Martial Law  FM Decla...

Martial Law Chris Jezrel B. Barleta Part-time Instructor, LSPU-SPCC  01 Why was Martial Law declared? 02 What happened under Martial Law? 03 What did the Martial Law years look like? TABLE OF CONTENTS 04 The young victims of Martial Law  FM Declares Martial Law  Sa Kapit ng Kamao https://youtu.be/hW6MsxK bKlE?si=gitbaqbOxV-zpsUj  Declaration of Martial Law  On the evening of September 23, 1972, the late president Ferdinand Marcos appeared on national television to formally announce that the Philippines was under Martial Law. INTRODUCTION This began almost 10 years of military rule in the country. Marcos formally ended Martial Law on January 17, 1981, but it was not until 1986 when democracy was restored – after the dictator and his family were forced into exile, overthrown by a popular uprising that came to be known as the People Power Revolution. Today, we take a look back at some of the lingering questions behind the declaration, and the consequent events that shaped Philippine history. Why was Martial Law declared?  Why was Martial Law declared? When Marcos signed Proclamation 1081 on September 21, 1972, he cited the communist threat as justification. His diary, meanwhile, said the proclamation of Martial Law became a "necessity", following the supposed ambush of then defense secretary Juan Ponce Enrile.  Why was Martial Law declared? There were subsequent reports that said the ambush was staged, with the Official Gazette citing Enrile's admission in 1986 that it was faked to justify the imposition of Martial Law.  Why was Martial Law declared? There were also indications that the plan to declare Martial Law had long been in the works. According to the Official Gazette, several people had received prior information about Marcos' plan. The late dictator had also hinted at it in his address to the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association as early as May 17, 1969 – more than 3 years before the actual declaration. What happened under Martial Law?  What happened under Martial Law? Through various general orders, Marcos effectively put the entire power of government under the rule of one man: his own. He was to lead the nation and direct the operation of the entire government. He ordered the armed forces to prevent or suppress any act of rebellion. Curfew hours were enforced, group assemblies were banned, privately-owned media facilities shuttered.  What happened under Martial Law? Those considered threats to Marcos – such as prominent politicians and members of the media – were rounded up and arrested by members of the military and the notorious Philippine Constabulary. What did the Martial Law years look like?  What did the Martial Law years look like? Some argue that though abuses were indeed committed during Martial Law, life was good for those who did not try to fight the government. In fact, there are those who claim that the Marcos era was a Golden Age for the Philippines, characterized by booming infrastructure and a tiger economy. In this exhibit, we examine the data from the 1960s to the end of the 1980s, with the goal of rigorously assessing the truth of these claims. No matter where one’s political sympathies lie, a look at the numbers can give us an objective idea of the status of the Philippine economy under Marcos, and the mark that his rule left on our country.  What did the Martial Law years look like? There are those who hail the discipline and supposed order of the New Society, as Marcos called it, and considered that period as among the "best years" of the Philippines.  What did the Martial Law years look like? Among the myths: that the Philippines enjoyed a golden age under the Marcoses. Various reports and historical accounts debunk this; Philippines’ GDP from 1965 to 1986, based on data from the World Bank and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Philippines’ GDP from 1965 to 1986, based on data from the World Bank and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Poverty in the Philippines Wages of Workers Wages of Workers Prices of Goods Massive Deforest ation Massive Deforest ation  What did the Martial Law years look like? While it is true that infrastructure spending increased during that period, it came at a staggering cost: plunging the Philippines in billions of dollars in debt. From $8.2 billion in 1977, the country's debt ballooned to $24.4 billion in 1982 – or within a period of just 5 years. Internati onal Debt  What did the Martial Law years look like? The Marcoses also plundered the country's coffers, with various estimates putting the amount at between $5 billion to $10 billion.  What did the Martial Law years look like? On Dec. 21, 1990, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court decided that the dictator and his family hid $356 million in Swiss banks. The Philippine Supreme Court, in 2003, allowed the forfeiture of the finances in favor of the government of the Philippines.  What did the Martial Law years look like? In 2018, the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan convicted the dictator’s widow of seven counts of graft related to private foundations established in Switzerland while she was a government official from 1978 to 1984. She was sentenced to imprisonment of six years and one month to 11 years for each count, but she has served none after posting bail worth P300,000.  What did the Martial Law years look like? The Presidential Commission on Good Government, the body going after the Marcoses' ill-gotten wealth, is still recovering this money; over the past 30 years, at least P170 billion have been recovered. Fact or fiction? Marcos built power structures that benefit Filipinos Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) The Manila Film Center tragedy Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) The Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas (Folk Arts Theater) Coconut Palace (Tahanang Filipino) Coconut Palace (Tahanang Filipino) Nayong Pilipino San Juanico Bridge Makiling Center for the Arts (National Arts Center) People's Park in the Sky People's Park in the Sky Philippine Heart Center Philippine Heart Center National Kidney and Transplant Institute Lung Center of the Philippines  What did the Martial Law years look like? Just a facade Were the Marcoses really concerned about the arts, health and transportation that is why they built all these cultural centers, hospitals and bridges? In "Dead Aim," De Quiros warns that all these are just a facade for the real motive. "Maybe Marcos truly could not curb his wife's 'edifice complex,' as the press called it, and her constant need for self-advertisement," De Quiros writes in the book.  What did the Martial Law years look like? De Quiros adds: "But even more possibly, he (Ferdinand) encouraged it, as it diverted attention from the real pillage. The real pillage was not in the taxpayers' money being frittered away in Roman circuses; it lay elsewhere...The rape and pillage was Marcos's other compelling reason to want to stay in power...He needed wealth to acquire power, and he needed power to acquire wealth."  What did the Martial Law years look like? According to De Quiros and Lico, when these infrastructure were made, aesthetics was prioritized over function as these edifices served as a mask to hide the atrocities of the regime, to give the world the illusion that the Philippines was progressive and Filipinos were not living in trees.  What did the Martial Law years look like? Aside from the billions in illegally amassed wealth, human rights abuses were rampant during those days.  What did the Martial Law years look like? About 70,000 people were imprisoned and 34,000 tortured, according to Amnesty International, while 3,240 were killed from 1972 to 1981. During this dark chapter of Philippine history, thousands of people were subject to various forms of torture.  What did the Martial Law years look like? Prisoners were electrocuted, beaten up, and strangled. They were burned with a flat iron or cigars. Water was poured down their throats, then forced out by beating. Women were stripped naked and raped, various objects forced into their genitals.  What did the Martial Law years look like? Historian Alfred McCoy wrote about Marcos' elite torture units, whose specialty was psychological torture and humiliation aside from the physical pain.  What did the Martial Law years look like? It has been many years since then, but the victims have not forgotten – especially as the Marcoses have neither acknowledged their crimes nor made reparations for their sins. Worse than death: Torture methods during martial law During the Marcos regime, San Juanico Bridge did not just refer to the longest bridge in the country. It had a far more sinister meaning.  Torture Methods Amnesty International (AI) has estimated that during martial law, 70,000 people were imprisoned, 34,000 were tortured, and 3,240 were killed. The AI mission, which visited the Philippines from November to December 1975, found that 71 of the 107 prisoners interviewed alleged that they had been tortured.  Torture Methods Historian Michael Charleston Chua published a study entitled, “TORTYUR: Human Rights Violations During The Marcos Regime,” that detailed the different kinds of torture used by authorities during this dark chapter in Philippine history, as recounted by victims and published in different reports. According to Chua, here’s what physical torture looked like during martial law: Electric shock Electric wires are attached to the victim’s fingers, arms, head and in some cases, genitalia. San Juanico Bridge The victim lies between two beds and if his/her body falls, he/she will be beaten. Truth serum An injection administered in hospitals and used for interrogation, making a victim “talk drunkenly.” Russian roulette Loading a bullet into one chamber of a revolver, spinning the cylinder, and then forcing the victim to pull the trigger while pointing the gun at his/her own head. Beating Victim is beaten by a group of soldiers. Pistol- whipping The victim is beaten with a rifle butt. Water cure Water is forced through the victim’s mouth and then forced out by beating. Strangulation Constriction of the victim’s neck done by hand, electric wire, or steel bar. Cigar and flat iron burns Victims of torture are inflicted with burns using cigarettes, and even a flat iron. Pepper torture A “concentrated pepper substance” is put on the victim’s lips or rubbed on his/her genitalia. Animal treatment The victim is shackled, caged, treated, and fed like an animal. Other forms of torture  Other forms of torture Torture during martial law also came in non- physical forms. Chua noted that the regime also inflicted psychological and emotional torture to “shake one’s principle.” This is done through solitary confinement and isolation. Some reported mental torture by threats of imminent death, rape, and harm to their families. Sexual Abuse  Other forms of torture Stories of sexual abuse were also prevalent inside detention centers. Women were stripped naked, made to sit on ice blocks, stand in cold rooms, and raped and sexually assaulted using objects such as eggplants smeared with chili peppers. The list of different methods of torture recounted by victims go on.  Other forms of torture Even during martial rule, no amount of censorship nor state control could stop the horror stories from spreading then, as they got more and more atrocious every day.  Other forms of torture Survivors and families left behind by victims of the regime are still haunted by the trauma they and their loved ones suffered at the hands of those who had sworn to protect them. Decades after the Marcos regime, these stories continue to be told, serving as stark reminders of the country’s darkest years. The young victims of Martial Law They were young and idealistic individuals who only wanted to see their country free from the dictatorship. They were killed for speaking the truth and for wanting a change. They are the young victims of Martial Law. Liliosa Hilao  The young victims of Martial Law Liliosa Hilao, known as Lili to friends was a consistent honor student at the PLM. She was the editor-in-chief of the campus publication, which openly criticized the Marcos administration. She used the power of the pen to express her dismay to the regime. Lili was the first female to die in detention during Martial Law.  The young victims of Martial Law Soldiers from the Constabulary Anti-Narcotics Unit beat up Lili and threw her to Camp Crame. The Constabulary said the Liliosa committed suicide by drinking muriatic acid, but her body showed otherwise. There were clear signs of torture: cigarette burns in her lips, injection marks in her arms, and bruises all over her body. Archimedes Trajano  The young victims of Martial Law Archimedes Trajano, then a 21-year-old student of the Mapua Institute of Technology, stood up in an open forum in 1977 at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and asked Imee Marcos, the eldest daughter of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos on her capability to lead the youth, as she was appointed to head Kabataang Barangay.  The young victims of Martial Law Trajano told Imee that she wouldn’t have been the head of KB hadn’t she been the president’s daughter. He also questioned her father’s role in many human rights violations. On Sept. 2, 1977, his body, covered in blood, was found on the streets of Manila. Trajano’s parents were told their son got involved in a dorm brawl.  The young victims of Martial Law Witnesses, however, said Trajano was last seen forcibly removed from the university forum by Imee’s security detail. He was believed to have suffered from torture methods for 12 to 36 hours. Ishmael “Jun” Quimpo Jr.  The young victims of Martial Law Jun was a college dropout who dedicated his life to the poor and downtrodden. At an early age, he became involved in community organizing, devoting most of his time in urban poor communities. Quimpo became a member of the Alyansa ng Maralita sa Tatalon, an organization in a huge slum in Quezon City.  The young victims of Martial Law Often he would resort to singing and songwriting to express his dismay at the Marcos regime. With his guitar and strong passion to awaken the minds of many, he would sing, inspire people, and make them feel strong. In 1976, Quimpo decided to quit school and joined an anti-martial law organization. He lived in rural areas of Luzon.  The young victims of Martial Law In December 1981, Quimpo was mercilessly killed by someone he trusted, a member of his unit. He was unaware that his friend, who turned out to be his killer, joined the military. Ferdie Arceo  The young victims of Martial Law When martial law was imposed in 1972, Ferdie Arceo was about to take his last semester of studies for humanities degree, but school authorities warned him to halt his activism to enroll. He decided to drop out and join the New People’s Army in Panay island.  The young victims of Martial Law Arceo, a middle-class man, lived with the poor to understand them, know their needs, know their way of life so he can speak for them. Exactly eight months after he left home for the Madya-as mountains, Arceo and a companion were shot by policemen along a beach in San Joaquin, Iloilo.  The young victims of Martial Law The incident was part of an operation by state security forces against “subversives” in Panay. Arceo died at age 21.  Martial Law Museum To explore more about Martial Law, you can visit the Martial Law Museum through this link: https://martiallawmuseum.ph/  Present-day dictatorship The Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Selda) said 49 years since martial law was declared, “similar issues continue to plague the country” as President Rodrigo Duterte’s regime “zealously followed the path of Marcos’ rule.” “The nation is again living in such dark times, even darker to what we endured under Marcos’ rule,” Selda said.  Present-day dictatorship Xandra Bisenio, daughter of martial law victim Rey Casambre, said as violations that were the mark of the dictatorship continue to be committed, “it shows that the system has not, at the very least, changed.” “It has gotten worse, considering that even without having to declare martial law today, the law has been weaponized to persecute activists,” she said. Films about Martial Law  Martial Law Films Dekada ‘70 https://youtu.be/tpHfXPEhILM?si=-EHWqAEJgk4zJJkB  Martial Law Films The Kingmaker (2019) - Dir. Lauren Greenfield https://youtu.be/5gNujHs-Gho?si=a2_ bicSplKEiA5sT  Martial Law Films ML Film - Eddie Garcia - Cinemalaya 2018 https://youtu.be/C_ 5Zvkl1RgI?si=s6H_ foNdp3XQew82  Martial Law Films Alaala: A Martial Law Special | Full Episode https://youtu.be/ULUgKp7EbYg?si=ovoDqkMwN4Eq4s-f  Martial Law Films Liway (2018) - film by Kip Oebanda https://youtu.be/jVzF8xqctco?si=oa1xG6f_ nGZbR332  Martial Law Films Barber's Tales (2013) https://youtu.be/ga086A6Gq6c?si=y6WWgo42gGGwWsS9 Thank you for Listening! Chris Jezrel B. Barleta Part-time Instructor, LSPU-SPCC [email protected]