ON SEPTEMBER 21, 1972, President Ferdinand E. Marcos placed the Philippines under Martial Law, suspending the civil rights and imposing military authority. Congress was also abolished.
Sept. 21 is the official date of the declaration but was formally announced on TV and radio live by Marcos on Sept. 23. Marcos who stayed in office for more than 20 years – from 1965 to February 1986, explained that martial law was intended to suppress civil strife and the threat of communist takeover following the series of bombings in Manila.
Martial law became unpopular due to human rights abuses and excesses by the military. Numerous media outfits were either closed down or operated under tight control. Businesses owned by the oligarchy were confiscated and were taken over by Marcos’ family members and close personal friends, and were allegedly used as fronts to launder proceeds from institutionalized graft and corruption in the different national governmental agencies.
Martial law was lifted on Jan. 17, 1981, although the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus continued in the autonomous regions of Western and Central Mindanao.
