History Batas Militar Reflection
History Batas Militar Reflection
History Batas Militar Reflection
1
Rumors about Ferdinand Marcos' ambitions for power in the Philippines began in 1970 after he was re-
elected to a second term as President of the Philippines. His plan A: Change the government structure
from legislative to presidential; if he is unable to serve as president, he will serve as prime minister. Plan
B, according to rumors, is to declare martial law. Protests against the government erupted early in 1970,
with a wide range of topics at stake. Philippine political and economic crises deteriorated, the peso was
devalued, unemployment increased, and agriculture and industry stalled. The government's answer was
not reform, but violence. On August 21, 1971, in front of the church in downtown Manila, at Plaza
Miranda, a grenade blast killed nine people and wounded almost a hundred more. Until today, the Plaza
Miranda event remains a mystery. Marcos is accused of being the mastermind of the blast. Marcos
suspended the writ of habeas corpus in the aftermath of Plaza Miranda. Anyone can now be arrested
without being sent to court. Massive protests compel Marcos to reinstate the writ of habeas corpus.
However, the writ suspension was already a dress rehearsal for martial law. More bombs occurred the
next year. The purpose of the moment appears to be to spread dread rather than to kill. It is noteworthy
that in the first year of Marcos' term, the spread of people who did not want his operation in our
country spread rapidly. Many protested because I think they were experiencing hardship under Marcos'
leadership. There are many who do not want him to run despite the repairs of our town or country.
Many people lost their lives there in Plaza Miranda which I regret to the people there because they are
unaware that in that area someone will throw a bomb that will cause grief to their families. This was one
of the most horrible events for me because at that time the government's answer was not reform, but
violence.