SCHOOL NAME

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

First Semester S.Y. 2020-2021

MODULE 12
PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND
GOVERNANCE

Name: _______________________________ Date :__________

Grade/Section: ________________________ Week : 12
Track/Strand: _________________________
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF PHILIPPINE
Lesson 12 POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT:
Martial Law and Marcos Era
WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

Ferdinand Marcos assumed office as president from December 30, 1965 – February 25,
1986. He treated himself as the destiny of the Filipino People and he aimed to change the society
as what he stated on his slogan, “Ang Bagong Lipunan”. A top lawyer who was able to pass
the BAR examination with the grade of 99 percent and graduated as Cum Laude of their batch
in the University of the Philippine, a good speaker and a lawyer, he was able to handle a lot of
sensational case which made him popular. Consequently, you will be learning more on the
Martial Law and the Marcos era, his programs and down fall.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO LEARN?

Content Standard:
 The learners demonstrate an understanding of the historical background
of Philippine democratic politics, the executive, the legislative, the
judiciary, and decentralization and local governance.

Performance Standard:
 The learners explain the roles of different political institutions.

Objectives:
After the lesson, the learners should be able to:
1. articulate description of Philippine government during the Martial Law; and
2. differentiate the various views on politics during the Martial Law.

PRELIMINARY ACTIVITY

Interview a family member who experienced Martial Law on 1970’s. Reflect on its effect
to the society of the Philippines during those times. Write it in a paragraph form in not less than
200 words.

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MARIAL LAW AND THE MARCOS ERA

THE DECLARATION OF MARTIAL LAW

 Ferdinand Marcos managed to win the elections in spite of the criticism of some people
and some members of the legislative body. The student activists were having their rallies in the
street especially in Mendiola and aside from the plan of assassination against the members of
the administrations. Since 1966, the unsatisfied people had their rally especially those who were
the victim of the relatives of the physical abuse by the members of the military.

In August 21, 1971 in the Miting de Avance of the Liberal party a mysterious bombing
incident occurred resulted to the injury of the hundreds of civilians and political candidates of
Liberal party including Jovito Salonga. The mysterious bombings were attributed to the
Communist group of the country but according to other sources the bombings were part of the
plan in rationalizing the declaration of the Proclamation 1081 or the Martial Law. In September
22, 1971, after the unsuccessful assassination of Juan Ponce Enrile which according to some
critic was also a plan of the administration, the Martial Law was declared.

THE LEGITIMACY OF THE GOVERNMENT

In September 23, 1972, after the declaration of the Martial Law, the president ordered for
the arrest of the enemies of the government including the members of the Constitutional
Commission. A set of transitory provisions was drafted in Malacañang confirming the
legitimacy of the Presidential Decrees and orders from the president. Within the week the 16
members of the Constitutional Commission were able to finish the draft of the 1973 Constitution
and in November 29, 1972, the Constitutional Commission was able to finish the framing of the
New Constitution and in January 10, 1973, it was submitted to a referendum of the people. And
in January 17, 1973, President Marcos issued the Proclamation Number 1102, announcing that
the people already ratified the Constitution thru Citizens Assembly in each barangay.

THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT

The 1973 Philippine Constitution implemented a Parliamentary form of Government

wherein the Executive and the Legislative body were fused into one. The Transitory Provision
of the 1935 Philippine Constitution which stated that the incumbent president would continue
to assume his office until he called for the interim National Assembly to elect the President.
Thus Marcos continued to be the president of the government and then he appointed General
Fabian Ver as the Prime Mininister.

In early December 1992, Marcos asked the members of the legislative body to vote for
the abolition of the legislative and he promised that those members of the legislative body
would be part of the interim parliament after the framing of the 1973 Constitution. The majority
of the body voted for the abolition of the body while the minority continued to hold their
offices. In January 22, 1973, Marcos abolished the congress but did not call for the establishment
of the interim Parliament and those who opposed him were imprisoned including Benigno
Aquino. In September 10, 1976, Marcos formed the Legislative Advisory Council or the
Batasang Bayan composed of the members of the presidential cabinet and 91 members of the
executive committee of the Local Councils.

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The Local government during the old era was maintained: however, Marcos failed to
win the cooperation of the Provincial and Local Government so he established the Baranggay
Assemblies and the Kabataang Baranggay and allotted the big amount of the Pork Barrel for the
Baranggay instead of giving budget for the local and provincial offices. In the virtue of the
Presidential Decree no. 684, he recruited the youth with age of fifteen to eighteen years old as
the Youth Council and gave them a lot of benefits and training to mobilize them in line with the
government and disallowed them to be part of the New People's Army. In 1976, the term of
office of the local officers which was elected by the people expired and then Marcos replaced
them by his appointees from the provincial governors to the municipal mayors. He did not
permit the local elections until 1978 and appointed his relatives including his wife Imelda
Marcos as the governor of Manila and put his cronies into power in the local government.
THE JUDICIAL BRANCH

Like the other branches, Ferdinand Marcos also controlled the judicial branch. He had
the power to dismiss the judge in the lower courts and to appoint the justices of the Supreme
Court. Using his power, the judicial branch could not contradict or declare unconstitutional all
the laws and decreed he had implemented.

THE PROGRAMS OF MARCOS

1. To solve the problem regarding the budget, Marcos sought the help from IMF
(International Monetary Fund) and WB (World Bank). To ensure the payments for the
obligation in the said financial agencies, he imposed new taxes and method for the tax
collection.
2. The development of the infrastructure in the country thru building roads and bridge
that could enhance transportation of products from different part of the Philippines.
3. Miracle rice was launched to increase the production of rice. Education is also
prioritized by the building of schools in the rural areas.
4. The different infrastructure projects of Marcos required a lot funds because of this the
foreign debt of the country doubled.
5. The Presidential Decree 27 or the Agricultural Land Reform Program which aim the
distribution of lands to the landless farmers.
6. The South East Asian countries created the Association of South East Asian Nation
(ASEAN) in August 8, 1967 to foster diplomatic relationship in the region and to
strengthen the Economic interactions among the members.
7. The encouragement of Tourism.
8. The development of art and culture.

HIS DOWN FALL

The "revolution from the center" was one of the propaganda used by the Marcos regime
in order to gain the trust of the people. Under his various Presidential Decree, he ordered for
the reorganization of the bureaucracy in the government, the land reform that would allow the
tenant or farmer to gain land, the creation of NEDA (National Economic Development
Authority) to oversee and plan for the economic programs needed by the country, the creation
of Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and the wider infrastructure that would reach the
different parts of the country. However like his previous projects the needed reform to attain
the objectives of the new society required a lot of budget e.g. the nuclear power plant in Bataan.
And aside from the amount of the projects, corruption in the government was rampant.

In January 17, 1981, Martial Law was lifted; however, the write or Habeas corpus was
still suspended in ARMM and in some areas where there were cases of rebellion and conspiracy
against the government. But still the continuous economic crisis, Violation of human rights of
the officers of the military against the critic of Marcos, the oppression of the freedom of speech
led to social unrest. In August 21, 1983, one of the known rivals of Marcos, Benigno Aquino Jr.
was assassinated in the airport terminal. And the event was attributed to Marcos
Administration and this event triggered the anger of the Filipinos since in the interview of
Ninoy Aquino in an international magazine he said that he was willing to die for the Filipinos
"The Filipinos is worth dying for". Thus the former senator and good journalist Benigno "Ninoy"
Aquino emerged as the new hero for the Filipinos. The continuous mass actions which showed
the distrust and the hatred of the other Filipinos to the administration of Marcos were part of
the scenery in the country and President Marcos refused to accept his decreasing popularity so
the people challenged him to allow the Snap Election. The other members of the civil society
encouraged the widow of Ninoy, Corazon Aquino to run as president in the snap election to
challenge President Marcos and even if she did not have any experience in politics she accepted
the appeal of the people and work to bring back democracy in the country.

Marcos allowed the holding of the Presidential election in June 16, 1981 but the Liberal
party demanded for the electoral reform such as the equal time, space in Media and the
reorganization of the COMELEC. However, Marcos did not grant the electoral reforms so the
Liberal party withdrew their support in the election. In December 2, 1985, Marcos signed
Cabinet Bill number 7 which allowed the Snap election to happen because of the pressure to
Marcos to prove that the Philippine society was still supported his leadership amidst of
economic problems and his problem regarding his kidney.

THE SNAP ELECTION AND EDSA REVOLUTION I

In February 7, 1986, the Presidential election was held and at the end of the counting the
COMELEC and the NAMFREL announced the different winners. The Commission of Election
announced Ferdinand Marcos as the winning president while the National Movement for Free
Election announced Corazon C. Aquino as the president. Marcos refused to recognize the
legality of the presidency of Aquino and the later also accused Marcos manipulating the Snap
election. The report of cheating, ballot box snatching and other violence and the tally of the
National Movement for Free Election of NAMFREL that Corazon Aquino was the real winner,
convinced the people that it was time to fight for their rights and end the conjugal dictatorship
of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos. In February 22, 1986, the Minister of Defense Juan Ponce
Enrile and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Fidel V. Ramos
withdrew their loyalty to Marc0s and encouraged the Filipino people to revolt against the
dictatorship together with Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin. They encourage of the people to join
the revolution in EDSA and prayed for its success.

The Generals who were loyal to Marcos threatened to attack using tanks and artilleries.
This information frighten the people in ESDA but Jaime Cardinal Sin appealed for the prayers
and support of the people. The tanks and the military faced the people who did not fear to lose
their lives and instead of resulting to violence they gave rosary and flowers to the military. The
members of the Military refused to follow the order from their Commander-in-Chief and
instead walked with the people and they made the EDSA Revolution as the peaceful revolution
of the history of all nations.

In February 25, 1986, Corazon Aquino took her oath of office before Justice Claudio
Teehankee at Club Filipino in Greenhills. While Ferdinand Marcos with 89 members of his
entourage and help of the American government, left the palace and in helicopters they
travelled to Clark Air base and from Clark they travelled to Guam and then to Honolulu,
Hawaii as exile. However, while President Marcos was in Hawaii, he and his family needed to
face two cases, first was because of the ill-gotten wealth which amounted from 5 to 10 billion
dollars and second was because of the human violations.

1. President Ferdinand Marcos declared the Presidential Decree

1081 which placed the whole country into Martial Law.
2. He abolished the congress and created the 1973 Philippine
Constitution.
3. The government of the Philippines was changed from
Republican to Parliamentary.
4 President Ferdinand Marcos had different projects for
agrarian reform, infrastructures and transportation.
5. He challenge the Civil society and allow the snap election
ASSESSMENT6. The Filipino people launch a peaceful Revolution in EDSA to
end his dictatorship for almost twenty years.
I. Read the items carefully. Encircle the correct answer.

1. What was the theme of the government of Ferdinand Marcos?

A. Philippines 2000

B. Angat Pinoy

C. Ang Bagong Lipunan

 D. Matuwid the Landas

2. What was the event that lead to the declaration of Martial Law?

A. Plaza Miranda Bombing

B. Assassination of Benigno Aquino II

C. Snap Election

D. Japanese invasion

3. What kind of government was implemented by the 1973 Philippine Constitution?

A. Presidential

B. Parliamentary

C. Revolutionary

D. Dictatorship

4. What was significance of the PD 1081?

A. The implementation of the Martial Law.

B. The abolition of the legislative body.

C. The creation of the Constitutional Commission.

D. The creation of the Interim Batasang Pambansa.

5. Who was appointed Prime Minister of the country?

A. Fidel V. Ramos

B. Juan Ponce Enrile

C. Fabian Ver

D. Imelda Marcos

6. What was the purpose of the Batasang Bayan?

A. To implement new policies.

B. To act as the legislative body.

C. To advice to president.

D. To control the judicial branch.

7. Why Marcos did not allow the election of the local government?

A. To control the local government.

B. To avoid election related violence.

C. To cut the expenses of the government.

D. All of the above.

8. What was the effect of the implementation of Presidential Decree no. 684?

A. The creation of the Provincial board.

B. The imprisonment of the people who opposed Marcos.

 C. The formation of the Barangay Youth Council.

D. The suspension of Martial Law.

9. Who was the dominant opponent of Marcos when he abolished the legislative body?

A. Fabian Ver

B. Benigmo Aquino II

C. Jovito Salonga

D. Fidel Ramos

10. What was the result of the Snap Election?

A. Marcos won the election.

B. Corazon Aquino won the elections.

C. The COMELEC and NAMFREL announced different winners.

D. The EDSA Revolution.

II. Arrange the following events. Write letter A-E in the space before the number.

A.

_____1. The Plaza Miranda Bombing.

_____2. The Framing of the 1973 Constitution.

_____3. The Congress was dissolved.

_____4. The Declaration of Martial Law.

_____5. The Inauguration of the Parliament Government.

B.

_____1. The Snap Election

_____2. The assassination of the Benigno Aquino II

_____3. The EDSA revolution

_____4. The exile of Marcos

_____5. The lifting of Martial Law

TEACHER’S FEEDBACK

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REFERENCE

Francisco, P. & Francisco, V. (2016). Philippine Politics and Governance for Senior High School.
Mindshappers Co., Inc., Intamuros, Manila.