- Martial Law in the Philippines
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Martial law in the Philippines (Tagalog: Batas Militar sa Pilipinas) refers to the period of Philippine history where Philippine Presidents declare a proclamation to control unpacified places under the rule of Military, it is usually given when threatened by popular protests, or to crack down on the opposition. Martial law can also be declared in cases of major natural disasters, however most countries use a different legal construct like "state of emergency".
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Proclamations of Martial Law
Ramon Blanco
Governor General Ramon Blanco declared martial law on August 30, 1896 to localize the rebellion that was launched by the Katipunan. The declaration of such emergency covered the first eight provinces, which declared war against colonizers in Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, Tarlac, Laguna, Batangas, and Nueva Ecija. These provinces later represented the rays of the sun in the Filipino flag
Jose P. Laurel
President Jose P. Laurel of the wartime Second Philippine Republic (puppet-government under Japan) placed the Philippines under martial law in 1944 through Proclamation No. 29, dated September 21. Martial law came into effect on September 22, 1944. Proclamation No. 30 was issued the next day, declaring the existence of a state of war between the Philippines and the US and Great Britain. This took effect on September 23, 1944.
Ferdinand Marcos
Main article: History of the Philippines (1965–1986)Authoritarian president Ferdinand Marcos declare martial law from 1972 to 1981 to suppress increasing civil strife and the threat of communist takeover following a series of bombings in Manila. The declaration of martial law was initially well-received by some segments of the people but became unpopular as excesses and human rights abuses by the military emerged. Torture was used in extracting information from their enemies. Proclamation No. 1081 (Proclaiming a State of Martial Law in the Philippines), some famous words were:
“ My countrymen, as of the twenty-third of this month, I signed Proclamation № 1081 placing the entire Philippines under Martial Law... ” — Ferdinand Marcos, September 21, 1972 The proclamation of Martial law was signed on September 21, 1972, And came into force on September 22 - interestingly enough exactly 28 years after President Jose P. Laurel's similar proclamations.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was planning to impose martial law to put an end to military coup plots, general civilian dissatisfaction, and criticism of the legitimacy of her presidency due to dubious election results. Instead, a "State of National Emergency" was imposed to crush a coup plot and to tackle protesters which lasted from February 24, 2006 until March 3 of the same year.
On December 4, 2009, through Proclamation No. 1959, President Macapagal-Arroyo has officially placed Maguindanao province under a state of martial law.[1] The declaration also suspended the writ of habeas corpus in the province.[2] The announcement was made days after hundreds of government troops were sent to the province, which would later raid armories of the powerful Ampatuan clan. The Ampatuan family was implicated in the massacre that saw the murder of 57 persons, including women members of the rival Mangudadatu clan, human rights lawyers, and 31 media workers, in the worst incident of political violence in the nation's history. It has also been condemned worldwide as the worst loss of life of media professionals in one day in the history of journalism.[3]
See also
- Proclamation № 1081
- Philippine Martial Law referendum, 1973
References
External Links
Categories:- History of the Philippines
- 1972 in the Philippines
- Military history of the Philippines
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