When the nation marked the 31st anniversary of Edsa 1, several questions came up. What triggered the imposition of Martial Law by the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos? Was it really just to perpetuate himself in power?
If Martial Law were not imposed in 1972, what would have happened to us? Would we have continued to live in a democratic space?
Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, now in retirement, recalled the events surrounding Martial Law at a recent speech. He is now 93. I am truly amazed at his sharp memory.
Enrile was first appointed as undersecretary at the Finance Ministry, tasked to supervise the revenue-raising activities of the government. He was also named chairman of the Philippine National Bank. Concurrently he was also acting commissioner of Insurance and of Customs.
Enrile stayed there until December 1968. He then moved to the Justice Ministry. There he became acquainted with the law and order problem in the country, specifically the ideological activities of the militant groups.
In 1969, Marcos won a second term as President. Around this time, political opposition, activists, Leftists and plain opportunists exploited every event and issue to bring down Marcos.
Communism and a lot of other “isms” were the wave of the future.
Another incident triggered by the so-called Parliament of the Streets was the Agrifina Circle incident. Enrile recalled that at this time, he first encountered the machinations, the ire and the arrogance of street parliamentarians. “It was there I initially pitted my mind and will against people who espoused the ‘isms’ that cause so much personal and social pain, bloodshed, destruction and suffering in the world and in our country.”
Marcos and Enrile were the real targets in the Agrifina incident.
Another incident was the massacre on Oct. 8, 1963 on a deserted road between Capas, Tarlac and the US naval radio station at Camp O’Donnell in Pampanga. The victims were civilian security guards, and the Liberals blamed the military. The following day, Ninoy Aquino demanded the arresr of Geronimo Foronda, who was allegedly responsible for flagging down the massacre victims .
Enrile eventually became Defense Minister. Marcos asked him to study the limits of his power under the 1935 Constitution. Marcos had foreseen the escalation of violence and disorder. “The study must be done discreetly and confidentially,” Marcos supposedly told Enrile, and allowed the latter to enlist whomever he needed.
The next day, Enrile asked Efren Plana, his brilliant assistant at the Justice Ministry, to help him. Plana also suggested they ask Minerva Gonzaga Reyes to help them. Plana and Reyes were both magna cum laude from the UP College of Law.
Only one copy of the research was prepared.
Soon, Enrile was called to the Palace. Marcos them asked him to draft the necessary implementing documents to install martial law.
Enrile recalls he had to work alone, mostly at night and at home. “The only one who joined me, with the knowledge and consent of the President, was Simplicio Taguiam, my private secretary.”
At that time, law and order had completely deteriorated. Local police forces were overstretched. The capacity of government was just 60,000 men —most of whom were deployed in Central Luzon to fight communist insurgents. Communists have infiltrated not only Congress but media, the academe, labor, the Church.
Another incident took place in Congress, when Marcos was set to deliver his State-of-the-Nation Address. Members of the so-called Parliament of the Street threw a cardboard coffin at the President.
Indeed violence was so widespread, in Metro Manila and elsewhere.
In effect, the government was waging battle on two fronts: The communists and the Muslim rebels.
And then there was the Plaza Miranda bombing.
But what broke the camel’s back was when ammunition came from China. This was discovered by government forces in a deserted ship. Marcos was alarmed at the entry of war material into the country. The subversives had succeeded in opening a supply line!
Marcos then called a command conference where he said he would not allow the problem tp get out of hand. “I will nip it in the bud,” he said. Enrile said: “The thought in my mind was that Martial Law was nigh.”
Anarchy became a daily experience. In Mindanao, violence among Muslims, Christians and indigenous tribes rose to a high.
Thus, Marcos proclaimed Martial Law.
Martial Law broke the back of the communist insurgency. No wonder the communists hate Marcos and Enrile.
The rest is history.
