CHAPTER 22
CRISES IN THE SOCIETY The conditions in the country that caused so much cynicism and hopelessness that forced primarily the youth to protest were: Inflation and the devaluation of the Philippine peso Higher fuel prices Low wages High unemployment rate Rice importation in the hands of cartels Largest number of NPA recruits Growing police brutality and violent dispersals of rallies Abuses in the military and naval bases ETC.
Because of all these crises during the time of Marcos reign in the country, he was referred to by the Filipinos as Hitler, Diktador, Tuta! And a protector of U.S. imperialist interest and its local allies. The First Quarter Storm Refers to the first three months of 1970a tumultuous year in the country. Jan 26, 1970, hundreds of students gathered to before the Legislative building to convene Marcos plan to convene a Constitutional Convention. Liza Balando, a young labor leader who was killed by a stray bullet and fell dead. Jan 30, 1970, the Battle of Mendiola happened.
THE 1971 CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION AND THE 1973 CONSTITUTION Meanwhile, academics, professionals, businessmen, including nuns, seminarians, and priests who were all formerly disinterested in politics, joined forces. They wanted a new Constitution to replace the 1935 Constitution which they described as colonial being a product of U.S. dictation. June 1971----The constitutional Convention opened, electing former President Carlos P. Garcia as its President. Garcia was succeeded by Diosdado Macapagal, President Marcoss predecessor. Under 1935 Constitution, the tenure of the President was limited to two terms or a Maximum of eight years. Marcos was on his second term was barred from running for a third term. Marcos intended to run in Ilocos Norte, under a parliamentary form of government, to become the Prime Minister. On August 21, 1971, the Liberal party miting de avance was held in Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila. The audience expected to hear from the exposes about the excesses of the Marcos government such as: Overpricing of government purchases Millions of pesos worth of reparations Goods just rotting away Millions of funds unaccounted for from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Diversion of calamity funds to the Armed Forces and the Navy The unexplained delay of a quarter of a million pesos for the teachers salary increase. Golden Buddha incident The administrations plan to cheat in the upcoming elections The unexplained Marcos wealth
The unexpected happened, a bomb exploded on the stage where election candidates delivered speeches. Marcos quickly blamed the communists for the plaza Miranda bombing. He suspended the writ of habeas corpus to enable the government to frustrate communist design to wage destructive guerilla warfare in the greater Manila area and in other areas of the countryside.
The President declared that the nation was in crisis. The threat of martial law filled the airwaves and newspapers. However Manuel T. Yan, who was AFP Chief Staff, declared that there was no crisis to justify the declaration of martial law, to which independent observers agreed. There was nothing in the Philippine situation that would constitute invasion, insurrection or rebellion and thus justify martial rule.
DECLARATION OF MARTIAL LAW MARTIAL LAW - Called Proclamation 1081 - Proclaimed in September 21, 1972 (but was actually signed 4 days earlier). - The formal declaration triggered after the fake ambush of Sec. Enrile (Sec. of National Defense) - Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. was the first arrested. - Pres. Marcos took holds of all the powers in the government. - The declaration took by silence and calmness with the Filipinos. - Marcos said that the Martial law would just be in limited period but it already took how many years.
