Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
The leaders of the SEATO nations in front of the Congress Building in Manila,
hosted by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos on October 24, 1966. (L-R:)
Prime Minister Nguyen Cao Ky (South Vietnam), Prime Minister Harold Holt
(Australia), President Park Chung-hee (South Korea), President Ferdinand
Marcos (Philippines), Prime Minister Keith Holyoake (New Zealand), Lt. Gen.
Nguyn Vn Thiu (South Vietnam), Prime Minister Thanom Kittikachorn
(Thailand), President Lyndon B. Johnson (United States)
Macapagal ran for re-election in 1965, but was defeated by his former partymate, Senate President Ferdinand Marcos, who had switched to the
Nacionalista Party. Early in his presidency, Marcos initiated ambitious public
works projects and intensified tax collection which brought the country
economic prosperity throughout the 1970s. His administration built more
roads (including a substantial portion of the Pan-Philippine Highway) than all
his predecessors combined, and more schools than any previous
administration.[166] Marcos was re-elected president in 1969, becoming the
first president of the Philippines to achieve a second term. Opponents of
Marcos, however, blocked the necessary legislation to further implement his
expansive agenda. Because of this, optimism faded early in his second term
and economic growth slowed.[167] Crime and civil disobedience increased.
The Communist Party of the Philippines formed the New People's Army in
response to his shaky hold over the nation and the Moro National Liberation
Front continued to fight for an independent Muslim nation in Mindanao. An
explosion during the proclamation rally of the senatorial slate of the Liberal
Party on August 21, 1971 prompted Marcos to suspend the writ of habeas
corpus, which he restored on January 11, 1972 after public protests.
Martial law[edit]
Amidst the rising wave of lawlessness and the conveniently timed threat of a
looming Communist insurgency, Marcos declared martial law on September
21, 1972 by virtue of Proclamation No. 1081. The Nacionalista president,
ruling by decree, curtailed press freedom and other civil liberties, abolished
Congress, closed down major media establishments, ordered the arrest of
opposition leaders and militant activists, including his staunchest critics:
senators Benigno Aquino, Jr., Jovito Salonga and Jose Diokno.[168] The
declaration of martial law was initially well received, given the social turmoil
the Philippines was experiencing.[169] Crime rates plunged dramatically after
a curfew was implemented.[170] Many political opponents were forced to go
into exile.[citation needed]
A constitutional convention, which had been called for in 1970 to replace the
colonial 1935 Constitution, continued the work of framing a new constitution
after the declaration of martial law. The new constitution went into effect in
early 1973, changing the form of government from presidential to
parliamentary and allowing Marcos to stay in power beyond 1973. Marcos
claimed that martial law was the prelude to creating a "New Society" based
on new social and political values.[171] The economy during the 1970s was
robust, with budgetary and trade surpluses. The Gross National Product rose
from P55 billion in 1972 to P193 billion in 1980. Tourism rose, contributing to
the economy's growth. However, Marcos, his cronies, and his wife, Imelda
Romualdez-Marcos, willfully engaged in rampant corruption.[172]
Fourth Republic[edit]
Marcos officially lifted martial law on January 17, 1981. However, he retained
much of the government's power for arrest and detention. Corruption and
nepotism as well as civil unrest contributed to a serious decline in economic
growth and development under Marcos, whose own health faced obstacles
due to lupus. The political opposition decided to boycotted the 1981
presidential elections, which pitted Marcos against retired general Alejo
Santos, in protest over his control over the results.[168] Marcos won by a
margin of over 16 million votes, which constitutionally allowed him to have
another six-year term. Finance Minister Cesar Virata was evetually appointed
to succeed Marcos as Prime Minister.[173]
In 1983, opposition leader Benigno Aquino, Jr. was assassinated at the Manila
International Airport upon his return to the Philippines after a long period of
exile. This coalesced popular dissatisfaction with Marcos and began a
succession of events, including pressure from the United States, that
culminated in a snap presidential election in February 1986.[174] The
opposition united under Aquino's widow, Corazon Aquino. The official election
canvasser, the Commission on Elections (Comelec), declared Marcos the
winner of the election. However, there was a large discrepancy between the