On September 23, 1972, at around 7:15 pm, President Marcos went live on national television and announced that he had placed the entire Philippines under a state of Martial Law by virtue of Proclamation No. 1081, s. 1972.
President Marcos repeatedly said: "The proclamation of martial law is not a military takeover. It had to be done to protect the Philippines and our democracy… I repeat, this is not a military takeover… the Government of the Republic of the Philippines which was established by our people in 1946 continues. Again, I repeat. This is the same Government that you and the people established in 1946 under the Constitution of the Philippines."
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| Source: gov.ph |
Here’s a look back, by the numbers, at the day when Marcos proclaimed martial law based on the infographic from the Official Gazette.
7: Public utilities were closed including the Manila Electric Company, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, National Waterworks and Sewerage Authority, Philippine National Railway, Philippine Airlines, Air Manila, and Filipinas Orient Airways.292: Radio stations were closed all over the country
66: Community newspapers were closed
11: English weekly magazines were closed
7: Major English dailies were closed
7: Television stations were closed
4: Chinese dailies were closed
3: Filipino dailies were closed
1: English-Filipino daily was closed
1: Spanish daily was closed
But… 3: Media outlets were exempt from martial law - newspaper Daily Express; television station TV Channel 9 and radio station Kanlaon Broadcasting System.
Around 60,000: estimated personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines were alerted. 25,000: of which were from the Philippine Constabulary
17,600: Estimated strength of the Philippine Army
9,000: Estimated strength of the Philippine Air Force
8,000: Estimated strength of the Philippine Navy
4: Senators were arrested which include Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., Jose “Pepe” Diokno, Ramon Mitra Jr. and Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo.
Approximately 8,000: Individuals were also arrested. Among these are the 1971 Constitutional Convention delegates, journalists, students, labor leaders and a few members of the elite families.
12: Iglesia Ni Cristo security guards were killed.
All of these numbers happened in one day according to reports.
Read more about the last days of democracy and the declaration of Martial Law at http://www.gov.ph/featured/declaration-of-martial-law/.
In 2015, the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office published a comprehensive timeline of events leading up to Martial Law, up to the downfall of the Marcos dictatorship. Read at http://www.gov.ph/featured/martial-law-timeline/.
Do you remember? Where you there in the Philippines on September 23, 1972? If so, please share your memories and comment below.
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