On 23 September 1972, Ferdinand Marcos Sr went on television to declare martial law with the announcement of Proclamation No. 1081 dated September 21, 1972. Fifty-two (52) years later, we remember all the lives lost and commit to the continuing struggle to uphold democracy in these times of restricted civic spaces.
The Marcos dictatorship committed widescale human rights violations to institutionalize authoritarianism, enable unprecedented corruption, and start putting neoliberal economic policies in place. The systemic abuse of authority, corruption and poverty suffered by the country and tens of millions of Filipinos today is its continuing legacy.
The Marcos Sr era from 1965-1986 were not “golden years” but a perfect storm of economic and political upheaval. The effects of corruption, massive debt, and neoliberal policies of austerity and opening up the economy were devastating. The economic contraction in 1984-1985 remains the worst in the country’s history, collapsing even more than during the pandemic lockdowns. The worst inflation the country has ever seen were in 1971 (21%), 1974 (32%), and 1984 (50%). Conservative estimates of poverty saw this growing to six-of-ten (59%) Filipinos, with famines in provinces like Negros that affected 350,000 children. All this while the Marcos family and their cronies stole some US$5-10 billion.
Filipinos fought against the dictatorship and the suffering it caused millions of Filipinos. For this, the regime had 3,240 people extrajudicially killed, tortured 35,000, and illegally detained 70,000 to as much as 120,000. It abused the law and military powers to try and suppress dissent but activists, lawyers, humanitarian workers, indigenous people and even ordinary Filipinos fought through the fear and violence against them.
Civil and political rights are still brazenly violated for the same self-serving reasons 52 years later under the son of the dictator. The open warfare between the Marcos and Duterte political clans that is capturing the attention of so many should not distract from the larger and more important struggle of the Filipino people for democracy and development, including the demands for justice and accountability against persisting impunity.
The Marcos Jr. administration projects itself as a “human rights champion” but violates the Filipino people’s rights, as the Marcos dictatorship did. Pres. Marcos continues his fathers legacy with, to date, 15 enforced disappearances, 105 extrajudicial killings, 381 illegal arrests, 63,379 victims of indiscriminate firing, 44,065 victims of bombings, and 42,426 victims of forced evacuation. The “Bagong Pilipinas” today is inadvertently honest in echoing the rights violations of the dictatorship’s “New Society.”
The Marcos dictatorship’s official rationale for martial law was to protect the republic against lawless elements of communist insurgents and other rebels. In this regard, the Marcos Jr administration is no different today in using a barrage of so-called anti-terrorism laws against development workers, activists and social movements for democracy and development. Laws like the Anti-Terorism Act, Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act, Anti-Money Laundering Act, Executive Order No. 70 and others are weaponized against humanitarian workers, human rights defenders, environmental advocates, farmers and indigenous people.
The Council for People’s Development and Governance (CPDG) remembers the Marcos dictatorship’s abuse and plunder of the nation from 52 years ago. CPDG however also condemns the laws and policies that continue to hinder the Filipino people’s right to assert their own development. The abuse and plunder of Marcos Sr continues to this day under his son, and must be stopped.
There is no peace, when there is no justice. Never Again.
#MartialLaw@52
#NeverAgain
#AssertCivicSpaces
#StopTheAttacks
