Ano nga ba ang martial law?

Martial law is the imposition of direct military control of normally civilian functions of government,
especially in response to a temporary emergency such as invasion or major disaster, or
in occupied territory.

Proclamation of Martial Law: On September 21, 1972, President Ferdinand E. Marcos placed the
Philippines under Martial Law. The declaration issuedunder Proclamation 1081 suspended the civil
rights and imposed military authority in the country. Marcos defended the declaration stressing the need
for extra powers to quell the rising wave of violence allegedly caused by communists. The emergency
rule was also intended to eradicate the roots of rebellion and promote a rapid trend for national
development. The autocrat assured the country of the legality of Martial Law emphasizing the need for
control over civil disobedience that displays lawlessness. Marcos explained citing the provisions from
the Philippine Constitution that Martial Law is a strategic approach to legally defend the Constitution and
protect the welfare of the Filipino people from the dangerous threats posed by Muslim rebel groups and
Christian vigilantes that places national security at risk during the time. Marcos explained that martial
law was not a military takeover but was then the only option to resolve the countrys dilemma on
rebellion that stages national chaos threatening the peace and order of the country. The emergency rule,
according to Marcoss plan, was to lead the country into what he calls a New Society.

Marcos used several events to justify martial law. Threat to the countrys security was intensifying
following the re-establishment of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in 1968. Supporters of
CPPs military arm, the New Peoples Army, also grew in numbers in Tarlac and other parts of the
country. The alleged attempt to the life of then Minister of Defense Juan Ponce Enrile gave Marcos a
window to declare Martial Law. Marcos announced the emergency rule the day after the shooting
incident. Marcos also declared insurgency in the south caused by the clash between Muslims and
Christians, which Marcos considered as a threat to national security. The Muslims were defending their
ancestral land against the control of Christians who migrated in the area. The minority group organized
the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Malaysia and pushed for the autonomy of Mindanao from
the national government.

The move was initially supported by most Filipinos and was viewed by some critics as a change that
solved the massive corruption in the country. Martial law ceased the clash between the executive and
legislative branches of the government and a bureaucracy characterized by special interest. Marcos
started to implement reforms on social and political values that hindered effective modernization. To
match the accomplishments of its Asian neighbors, Marcos imposed the need for self-sacrifice for the
attainment of national welfare. His reforms targeted his rivals within the elite depriving them of their
power and patronage but did not affect their supporters (US Library of Congress, Martial Law and the
Aftermath).

Thirty-thousand opposition figures including Senator Benigno Aquino, journalists, student and labor
activists were detained at military compounds under the Presidents command (Proclamation 1081 and
Martial Law). The army and the Philippine Constabulary seized weapons and disbanded private armies
controlled by prominent politicians and other influential figures (Proclamation 1081 and Martial Law).
Marcos took control of the legislature and closed the Philippine Congress (Proclamation 1081 and
Martial Law). Numerous media outfits were either closed down or operated under tight control
(Proclamation 1081 and Martial Law). Marcos also allegedly funnelled millions of the countrys money by
placing some of his trusted supporters in strategic economic positions to channel resources to him.
Experts call this the crony capitalism.

The deterioration of the political and economic condition in the Philippines triggered the decline of
support on Marcos plans. More and more Filipinos took arms to dislodge the regime. Urban poor
communities in the countrys capital were organized by the Philippine Ecumenical Council for
Community and were soon conducting protest masses and prayer rallies. These efforts including the
exposure of numerous human rights violations pushed Marcos to hold an election in 1978 and 1981 in
an aim to stabilize the countrys chaotic condition. Marcos, in both events, won the election; however,
his extended term as President of the Republic of the Philippines elicited an extensive opposition against
his regime. Social unrest reached its height after former Senator Benigno Aquino was murdered. The
incident sent thousands of Filipinos to the streets calling for Marcos removal from post. Turning again to
his electoralstrategy, Marcos held a snap election in 1986 but what he hoped will satisfy the masses only
increased their determination to end his rule that seated Corazon Aquino, widow of Benigno Aquino,
as President of the Philippines ousting Marcos from Malacaang Palace and ending the twenty-one years
of tyrant rule.
(May 23, 2017)
MANILA (3rd UPDATE) - President Rodrigo Duterte on 10 p.m. Tuesday declared martial law in the entire
Mindanao island amid the ongoing clashes between government troops and Maute group terrorists in
Marawi City, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said.
Abella, in a briefing in Moscow, said the President ordered him to make the announcement.
He said martial law in the area will be in effect for 60 days, as stipulated in the Constitution.
"This is on the grounds of resistance and rebellion based on what is happening," he said.
"What the President has done is only for Mindanao including Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-tawi," added.
Duterte's meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will be postponed as he will leave
Russia at 10 p.m. Moscow time, to return to Manila, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.
He said he has spoken to his counterpart in Moscow and Russian officials understand the situation.
Putin will meet Duterte later Tuesday, rather than Thursday, the Russian press secretary Dmitry Peskov
was quoted as TASS news agency.
"They understand that the President has to return to the Philippines. I will stay behind to sign
agreements. The President feels he is needed in Manila ASAP," Cayetano said.
3 GOV'T TROOPERS KILLED IN MARAWI CLASHES
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said 2 soldiers and one police officer were killed, while 12 others
were wounded in ongoing clashes in Marawi City.
He said the Maute group still occupies a street and two bridges leading to Marawi City.
"The whole of Marawi City is blacked out. There is no light and there are Maute snipers all around so the
troops are still on holding and several groups of element already joined them from other neighboring
units," he said.
Lorenzana said more troops will be brought into the city on Wednesday.
He added that the Maute group has torched several facilities: St. Marys Church, the city jail, the Ninoy
Aquino School, and Dansalan College.
"No civilians are roaming around, theyre all in their houses but there are several houses that were
burned surrounding the other facilities that were burned earlier," he said.
The government urged civilians on Mindanao to stay in their homes or flee if it was safe, and the military
said reinforcements of an initial 500 soldiers were on the way, but were being hamstrung by rebels
blocking roads.
The militants belong to the Maute group, which has pledged allegiance to Islamic State in the Middle
East. Previous military offensives against the Maute, based in Lanao del Sur province, have lasted several
days.

WATCH: What is the Maute terrorist group?

Witnesses told local television that gunfire was clattering sporadically around the city.

WATCH: Shots heard amid live interview of Marawi resident

Brigadier General Rolando Bautista, commander of the Philippines' First Infantry Division, said security
forces were trying to locate the militants.
"Based on our assessment right now there are more or less 100 divided into groups of 10 in different
locations," he told ANC.
"Since they are advocating ISIS ideology they have to show ISIS that they are a force to be reckoned
with," he said, using an acronym for Islamic State.
Public Affairs Office chief Marine Col. Edgard Arevalo, in a statement late Tuesday night, said "the
situation in Marawi has stabilized".
Security forces are in full control of the situation," he said. The armed men we are dealing with are not
ISIS but members (of a) local terrorist group."
He denied initial reports that the Amai Pakpak Hospital was occupied by Maute members and the people
there were held hostage.
The Marawi City Hall was not occupied," he said. The sporadic firefights heard were harassment
actions by terrorist sympathizers that were conducted as diversionary tactics to divide the attention of
the reinforcing AFP personnel."
Follow-up operations are ongoing. We cannot reveal other details so as not to compromise operational
security," Arevalo said. Meanwhile, we fervently urge our people to refrain from posting in social media
information that would tend exacerbate the situation. Especially of photos and videos on the
movements of our troops and on terrorist propaganda circulating through social media."