My views on Marcos and Martial Law

N.B. – A student from Ateneo de Manila University emailed nine questions about Marcos and Martial Law. I think my answers are worth sharing, hence this post.

What did Marcos do to help in the development of the country?

Absolutely nothing. He committed grave human rights violations and amassed ill-gotten wealth particularly during the dark years of Martial Law. To say that he helped develop the country is like saying that the edifices built like the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and bridges like the San Juanico Bridge in Leyte could make up for the oppression and repression that happened.

What was it like during Marcos’ time?

I was four years old when Martial Law was declared in 1972 and was graduating from high school when EDSA 1 happened in 1986. I remember that during my youth, there was a semblance of normalcy as our minds were conditioned that censorship was necessary and that any negative news about the Marcos regime was false. It was during my high school days, particularly when Ninoy Aquino was assassinated in August 1983 that I realized the oppression that was happening.

If you were on the shoes of His Excellency Benigno Aquino III, what would you do to resolve the the issue of the burial of Marcos at Libingan ng mga Bayani?

If I were President, I would not allow his burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Doing so would be ignoring the repression that happened during Martial Law.

What would be the greatest achievement Marcos accomplished during his tenure?

His greatest “achievement” was uniting a broad number of people against the dictatorship. At that time, the running joke was that Marcos was chiefly responsible for increasing the number of rebels as a result of the repression that was happening then.

In your experience, was the declaration of Martial Law necessary?

It was not necessary and Marcos only created an illusion that the republic was threatened by the alleged communist insurgency. It was during Martial Law that the conjugal dictatorship and Marcos cronies amassed wealth.

What was the state of the Philippine economy during his time?

There was, of course, an illusion of growth and the crony press focused on the “good news” then, particularly the so-called benefits of Martial Law. But it cannot be denied that there was widespread poverty then, particularly in the countryside. This explains why the insurgency became stronger outside the cities as the economic deprivation was felt more there.

It has been said that problems arose in the Marcos administration when Imelda Marcos intervened. How true is this statement? What can you say about it?

Her intervention was expected because what existed then was a “conjugal dictatorship.” Both of them were responsible for what happened. There is no basis exonerating Ferdinand Marcos and blaming the wife for the problems of the administration then.

Apart from the Martial Law, what other factors marred Marcos in the eyes of the Filipino people?

Martial Law was the main factor. Prior to its declaration in 1972, of course the ambition of Marcos to perpetuate himself in power was already apparent. He could be driven mainly by the economic benefits of being in power.

My thesis statement for my research paper: Ferdinand Marcos was a decorated war hero and an accomplished president so President Aquino should approve his burial at the Heroes’ Cemetery. The question is what do you think of my recommendation?

His being a war hero is beside the point. His being an “accomplished” President is subject to debate. In the final analysis, he does not deserve to be given state honors as a result of what he did. He is a dictator and the chief architect of the regime that resulted in loss of lives and livelihood of many Filipinos. How can he be “honored” for that?

9 thoughts on “My views on Marcos and Martial Law”

  1. No one likes your answer and we don’t wanna hear your views as an individual…your views still doesn’t solve poverties in the Philippines so wake up and smell your environment.

    Reply: I respect your opinion. I agree that my views can’t directly solve social problems but they can help in the shaping of public opinion. You have the option not to read further if you don’t like my answer. Thank you and I wish you all the best.

  2. I think with all due respect ,you’re answers are in the form of what had media said for the last 40 years about Pres. Marcos. It was not to make up to the oppression and repression (as what you say) is the reason for the making of San Juanico Bridge or even the CCP, It was his duty as a PRESIDENT because even if you say /have witnessed the time of Pres. Marcos, I think you just don’t appreciate of what he had done during his term And you have been deceived as to what you have witnessed. Besides your thesis is too concentrated to what kind of violations that you think, what have Pres. Marcos did. Then let me ask you this during your time and the time that Pres. Marcos is still on the position what have you done/ accomplished as citizen or rather as FILIPINO Citizen?(this question is pertaining to your mass criticisms about him and about the answers on your thesis guide questions. I am just disappointed to what kind of thesis you have I mean the statements because it is concentrated to the biased side about him) but still this is not personal I still respect your view.

    Reply: Everyone’s entitled to his or her own opinion but the opinion that matters more is the one based on evidence. There is proof of human rights violations during the time of Marcos. Atrocities during his regime are well-documented, hence the lawsuit filed against him. If you have proof to dispute this, I would welcome your presentation of evidence, not just conjectures as regards his alleged duty as President. Next time, I would also appreciate a comment that is less grammatically challenged. Thank you.

  3. Wow lalalim nyo guys,.. Haha di nyo ba naiisip no matter how much pag aralan nyo history,… Wla nmn tlgang nkakaalam nangyari behind close door of either ninoy or marcos,… Kaya nagkaron ng window of opportunity mga naingit sa yaman ng marcos eh,… Di nyo ba naisip bakit naun npaguuspan n yung life during the time of marcos nd now,… Hindi bat ang state n si marcos n after 20 years from the time na bumaba sya pwesto, babagsak ang pinas, it happened “been there and still there ika nga!!! Ang akin lng nmn pag isipan nlng ntin kung anu pwede ntin magawa para sa bansa ntin,… Dahil kahit anung aral o nllman ntin before ang daming blanks dahil wla nmn nkkaalam kung anu ba nanyari dati,… History is suppose to be the guide for a brighter future right,…. Pero nging paraan to para mtigil ang pag unlad ng pilipinas!!!

  4. Let me share to you the achievements of President Ferdinand Marcos:

    It is a Filipino trait to have long memories on the mistakes one has done and has short memories on the good one has accomplished. This axiom defines the invictus of President Ferdinand Marcos. The fictioned awful acts attributed to him and to his family shunned his achievements and contributions to our country.

    Looking back at history, during the Marcos administration, social justice finds concrete translation in development plans and programs. These interventions were focused on eliminating illiteracy, expanding employment opportunities, sharing the fruits of development equitably and introducing requisite of institutional change. The measures of development—the Gross National Product (GNP), literacy rate, and life expectancy had been secured during his lead. Let us count the ways:

    I. Food sufficiency
    A. Green Revolution
    Production of rice was increased through promoting the cultivation of IR-8 hybrid rice. In 1968 the Philippines became self-sufficient in rice, the first time in history since the American period. It also exported rice worth US$7 million.
    B. Blue Revolution
    Marine species like prawn, mullet, milkfish, and golden tilapia were being produced and distributed to farmers at a minimum cost. Today, milkfish and prawns contribute substantially to foreign exchange income.
    C. Liberalized Credit
    More than one thousand rural banks spread all over the country resulting to the accessibility of credit to finance purchase of agricultural inputs, hired labor, and harvesting expenses at very low interest rate. During 1981-1985, credit was available without interest and collateral arrangements. Some of the credit programs were the ff:
    1. Biyayang Dagat (credit support for fishermen)
    2. Bakahang Barangay –supported fattening of 40,000 head of cattle in farmer backyards
    3. Masaganang Maisan, Maisagana, and Expanded Yellow Corn Program –supported 1.4 Million farmers through P4.7 Billion loans from 1975-1985
    4. Gulayan sa Kalusugan and Pagkain ng Bayan Programs –provided grants and loans of P12.4 Million to encourage backyard and communal production of vegetables and improve nutrition of Filipino households
    5. Kilusang Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran (KKK)—supported 25,000 entrepreneurial projects through P1.8 Billion and helping 500,000 beneficiaries
    D. Decontrol Program
    Price control polices were implemented on rice and corn to provide greater incentive to farmers to produce more. Deregulation of trading in commodities like sugar and coconut and agricultural inputs like fertilizer were done for more efficient marketing and trading arrangements.
    II. Education Reform
    Access to free education widened during the Marcos Administration. The biggest portion of the budget was allotted for Educational Programs (P58.7 Billion in 20 years). The literacy rate climbed from 72% in 1965 to 93% in 1985 and almost 100% in Metro Manila on the same year.

    III. Agrarian Reform
    Tenant’s Emancipation Act of 1972 or PD 27 was implemented without bloodshed. This was the first Land Reform Code our country. Since it was implemented until December 1985, 1.2 million farmers benefited, either they became the owner or leaseholder in more than 1.3 million hectares of rice and corn lands.

    IV. Primary Health Care
    The Primary Health Care (PHC) Program made medical care accessible to millions of Filipinos in the remotest barrios of the country. This program was even awarded by United Nations as the most effective and most responsive health program among the third world countries. With PHC life expectancy increased from 53.7 years in 1965 to 65 years in 1985. Infant mortality rate also declined from 73 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1965 to 58 in 1984.

    V. Housing for the masses
    Bagong Lipunan Improvement of Sites and Services (BLISS) Housing project had expanded the government’s housing program for the low-income group. Massive slum upgrading projects have improved to 14,000 lots in 1985 from 2,500 in 1976. The Tondo foreshore, for instance, is one of the biggest and most miserable slum colonies in Asia was transformed into a decent community. A total of 230,000 housing units were constructed from 1975-1985.
    The laws on socialized housing were conceptualized by President Marcos through a series of legal issuances from the funding, the lending, mortgaging and to the collection of the loans. These are governed by the Home Mutual Development Fund (Pag-Ibig Fund), the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) and the National Home Mortgage Finance which remain intact up to the present

    VI. Energy Self-Reliance
    Indigenous energy sources were developed like hydro, geothermal, dendrothermal, coal, biogas and biomass. The country became the first in Asia to use dendrothermal and in five years we became number two, next to US, in geothermal utilization. The extensive energy resource research and exploration and development resulted to reduction of oil imports from 100% in 1965 to 40% in 1985 and in the same year, more than 1,400 towns and cities were fully energized.

    VII. Export Development
    During 1985 textile and textile products like garments and embroideries, furniture and rattan products, marine products like prawns and milkfish, raw silk, shoes, dehydrated and fresh fruits were exported aside from the traditional export products like coconut, sugar, logs, lumber and veneer. The maritime industry was also dominated by Filipinos wherein 50,000 seamen were employed by various world shipping companies.

    VIII. Labor Reform
    The Labor code was promulgated which expanded the concerns of the Magna Carta of Labor to extend greater protection to labor, promote employment, and human resource development. The minimum wages of the workers were boosted through the guaranteed 13th month pay and cost of living allowances. Employment potentials of Filipinos were enhanced through skills training. During that time, there were 896,000 out-of-school youths and unemployed graduated from various training centers all over the country.

    IX. Unprecedented Infrastructure Growth
    The country’s road network had improved from 55,778 kilometers in 1965 to 77,950 in five years (1970), and eventually reached 161,000 kilometers in 1985. Construction of irrigation facilities was also done that made 1.5 million hectares of land irrigated and increased the farmer’s harvest and income. In addition, nationwide telecommunication systems—telephone systems, telex exchange too centers, and interprovincial toll stations were also built.

    X. Political Reform
    The structure of government established by President Marcos remains substantially the same except the change of name, inclusive of superficial features in laws, to give a semblance of change from that of President Marcos regime.
    The only significant department that was abolished after the departure of President Marcos was the Department of Ministry of Human Settlements under Imelda Romualdez Marcos. It was dismantled but the functions were distributed to different offices.

    XII. Fiscal Reform
    Government finances were stabilized by higher revenue collections and loans from treasury bonds, foreign lending institutions and foreign governments.

    XI. Peace and Order
    In 1966, more than 100 important smugglers were arrested; in three years 1966-68 they arrested a total of 5,000. Military men involved in smuggling were forced to retire.
    Peace and order significantly improved in most provinces however situations in Manila and some provinces continued to deteriorate until the imposition of martial law in 1972.

    Source: http://rommelsibay.wordpress.com/iv-marcos-deserted-achievements/

    Reply: Administrations past and present will always have a long list of “achievements” defining their respective legacies. The Marcos regime proves to be no different. But despite the so-called achievements, it cannot be denied that human rights violations happened during his more than 20 years in power. There is also evidence as regards the ill-gotten wealth of the conjugal dictatorship. There is a actually a book titled “The Conjugal Dictatorship” which presents evidence-based arguments on the oppression during the Marcos regime.

  5. Read the title, people. Those are HIS views.

    I agree with him though. I would never, for the life of me, follow a leader who has no regard for the human life. There’s no amount of goodness that can make up for the excessive human rights violation he carried out during his time. Imagine if you lost someone dear to the Marcos’ regime. Imagine if your father got killed, or your sister raped. These things happened(and a lot more) and if one of these happened to you, I don’t think you’ll be singing praises about Marcos. If you so love Martial Law, then go live in Egypt.

  6. Would just like to mention that it wasn’t Marcos who committed those human right violations. He was unaware of what the Military did during those days. Remember all Marcos said was to arrest those against the law. He was unaware of the treatment the military did those days. I would know because I was told by many of my tactical officers who served during those days what they did and how many military personal were sentenced to hard labor (a military punishment) when Marcos found out during the later years. Of course Marcos didn’t bother telling the public this because already the people did not want to listen to Marcos. But as you so mentioned earlier everyone is entitled to their opinion. If you view what I just said nothing but an opinion then so be it. If not and you would kindly take in what I’ve just said earlier then consider it a good short lesson in history.

    -Cadet of the Philippine Military Academy

    Reply: I can’t imagine how Marcos cannot be aware of what the military did when in fact he was Commander-in-Chief at that time. I would just let the readers decide if they would believe a person like you who prefers to be anonymous or someone like me whose transparency and accountability are beyond question. Thank you for your comment.

  7. there is no human rigths violation at that time, if you want peace and order you must do something about it, elimenate the criminals, people who againts the govt. communist smuggler , traitor, marxist people who wants to lead a revulotion, . even the obligarch support those criminal just to topple the govt, martial law is a war between rich people and the govt. pres marcos dont want the obligarch to monopolize the economy,they dont want land reform or price control, they are selling sugar and rice without govt knowledge or without taxes, china send 2000 rifle to the communist insurgent but it was discovered, note, victor curpoz, obligarch hire criminals and hostile people just to provoke the govt to make mistake during every rally. even benigno ask help to jose marie sison just to destroy marcos, thats still politics, about benignon, he was the bait of the obligarch, if he die, they can restore the power of the rich people, what ill gotten wealth? marcos have lots of gold before becoming a president, he was the lawyer of the talliano royal family. gold minning and gold reseve, not yet including the ww2 lost gold, yamashita treasure, he had bullions of gold, try to reallize, economic budget of marcos regime for 20 yrs total only 480 billion peso, cory 4 yrs only 1.3 trillionn now emagine, can marcos steal 10 billion dollars , the ill gotten wealth of marcos is none exist, the CIA and the obligarch and the present regime are afterring the gold bullion of marcos. did you know who is the benefeciary? the pilipino people, because marcos is faithful to the pilipiol people , sorry cant see no more, ok

    have more reseach about the truth, i think you read only the negative side of pres. marcos, what about the people who ousted him, the CIA and the rich people in our country the obligarch, the oppossition who try everything to topple him, they are now in the administration. present power control the past. project built by pres. marcos for the people now owned by private sector esrecially 20 power plant did you know that, if you studied in private school you will not appreciate the wellness and support of marcos regime, did you know that majority share of meralco is owned by the pilipino people, and cory rise up lopez claim meralco again without paying the pilipino a cent. is thats ok with you? qne pres, vs all the 5 pres. thats include pinoy. 20 yrs vs 28 yrs, i think you better include all the past pres. before marcos, marcos built 20 power plant, 47 colleges and universities, 11477 meters long total of bridges, also marcos is the one who create 13th month bunos. i was there also during marcos time, my father was a writter author and a journalist and a commentator, did you know that oppossition and the obligarch are killing those commentator who againts them. did you know who owns the hazienda luisita. not the quangqu or aquino. it must be given to the farmers during marcos time, because the contract is already due for so long, sorry for the wrong spelling, i cant see very well., so more reseach

    Reply: Your long, circuitous comment deserves a short and sweet answer. Martial Law DID happen from 1972 to 1986 (although you can argue that it was officially lifted when Pope John Paul II visited the country in 1981). Human rights violations did happen, in the form of, among others, killings and disappearances. There are numerous studies done by local and international scholars on what has been described as the conjugal dictatorship – feel free to read those done by Constantino, Lichauco, Mijares and Schirmer. Contrary to your views, there is substantial research on what happened when Marcos was in power. Thank you for reading.

  8. My father told me a story here in Naga City during Martial Law years. When you speak bad about the Marcos government. You will be jailed or penalized. The difference right now, if I said that President Noynoy Aquino is “panot” in public. I feel free to say it in public forums. I was not born in those times but I think the Philippines right now is way better during Martial Law times.

    Reply: Thank you for your comment. While it is true that Martial Law started in September 1972 and ended in February 1986 (as a result of EDSA 1), we can still see evidence of human rights violations like extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances. Freedom of speech may be guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution, but freedom after speech is another matter altogether, especially for selected journalists and media workers who are permanently silenced under a culture of impunity. This reality must be considered in comparing the situation then and now.

  9. Martial law ended 1981.
    Not 1986
    Do some research

    Reply: Martial Law was lifted in 1981, but this was done only because of the Pope’s upcoming visit. In other words, the “end” of Martial Law was only on paper, not in practice. The authoritarian rule of Marcos ended in February 1986 when he was ousted.

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