LEGAL HISTORY
This Day in 1972

This day in history Pres. Ferdinand Marcos issued Proclamation 1081 placing the entire Philippine archipelago on a state of Martial Law. Within twenty-four hours from the declaration, thousands of persons perceived as enemies of Marcos were rounded up and jailed, including incumbent senators, big businessmen, politicians, journalists, clerics, union leaders and students. To pave the way for a dictatorial regime, Ms. Marcos then called for the organization of people's assemblies to ratify the 1973 Constitution by mere show of hands. Martial rule then became a way of life among Filipinos until it was lifted in 1981 as a concession to Pope John Paul II who visited the Philippines that same year. With mounting pressure from local and foreign political forces, Mr. Marcos convened the Batasang Pambansa, the legislative branch of government as provided in the 1973 Constitution. The opposition gained more momentum when Ninoy Aquino got assassinated on August 21, 1983. From then on, anti-Marcos political assemblies and rallies became more frequent until Mr. Marcos was forced to call a presidential election on February 7, 1986. On February 25 1986, a civilian-backed military uprising overthrew Marcos thus ending the dictatorial regime that began on September 21, 1972.