Civilian Home Defense Forces
Civilian Home Defense Forces
Civilian Home Defense Forces
[55]
country at that time.
First Quarter Storm
April Major rallies and riots held, protesting oil prices and fare costs.
Rally held against the government and U.S. participation in Vietnam
May
War.
Pres. Marcos publicly endorses the Barrio Self-Defense Units, later
June 27 [109]
Civilian Home Defense Forces.
November
Elections for 315 members of a Constitutional Convention held.
17
Pope Paul VI makes his first papal visit in the Philippines, but
November
survived an assassination attempt by Benjamín Mendoza y Amor
27
Flores at Manila International Airport.
December Members of the New People's Army, led by Lt. Victor Corpuz, raid
[112]
29 the armory of the Philippine Military Academy.
1971 Moro National Liberation Front is established by Nur Misuari.
February Diliman commune [64]
June Manili massacre
The Constitutional Convention assembles to rewrite the 1935 [108]
June 1 Constitution. The Convention elects former Pres. Carlos Garcia as [verification
its head. needed]
Death of Carlos Garcia, former Philippine President; another former
June 14 Pres. Diosdado Macapagal succeeds as the president of the [55]
Constitutional Convention.
Plaza Miranda is bombed during the Liberal Party's election [26][64][108]
August 21
campaign, seriously injuring some opposition personalities. [113]
Pres. Marcos suspends the Writ of Habeas Corpus following the
August 22 [26]
Plaza Miranda bombing.
September U.S. operations in Sangley Point Naval Base terminated.
September Republic Act No. 6394 created the province of Quirino, separating
[50]
10 from Nueva Vizcaya.
September Republic Act No. 6398 created the province of Siquijor, separating [50]
17 from Negros Oriental
Leonardo “Nardong Putik” Manecio, one of the most notorious
October 10 gangsters and dubbed as Cavite’s Public Enemy No. 1 was killed in [101]
Imus in a highway shootout with NBI agents.
November Philippine Senate election, 1971
1972 Suspicious bombing incidents increase all over the country. The
MNLF launches its campaign for the independence of the Muslim
provinces.
Parliamentary form of government is approved by the Constitutional
[108]
Convention.
January Pres. Marcos restores the Writ of Habeas Corpus
Daily Express is established; Martial Law era newspaper later
June [29]
sequestered by Aquino government.
Philippine Constabulary confiscates arms and ammunition in a raid
July 5 in Digoyo Point, Isabela, implicating to the alleged Communist [64]
attacks.
Quasha decision: Supreme Court decides on American ownership
August
rights.
September Explosions rock Manila Electric Company main office.
September Sen. Ninoy Aquino exposes Oplan Sagittarius, a top-secret plan to [64][108]
13 place the capital under military control. [114]
[64][98][109]
September Pres. Marcos signs the Martial Law edict (Proclamation No. 1081)
[113][114]
21 to be imposed nationwide; at that time not publicly announced.
[115]
Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile survives a staged assassination [64][108]
attempt. [114]
Pres. Marcos announces that he had placed the entire country under [64][108]
September martial law, with the earlier "ambush" as a pretext. [114]
22 [29][64][98]
Media establishments and wire agencies are ordered to be closed.
[115]
[64][108]
Sen. Aquino arrested.
[114]
The implementation of martial law is officially announced. [64][114]
Public utilities as well as media outlets, except some including
newspaper Daily Express and television and radio stations of [29][64][98]
September
Kanlaon Broadcasting System, are shut down and seized by the [114]
23
government.
Media and opposition figures, including three other Senators, are [29][64][108]
arrested. [114][115]
The whole country is proclaimed a land reform area and an Agrarian
September Reform Program is decreed.
26 The first major armed defiance of martial law takes place in Lanao
del Sur
October Land reform program issued (Presidential Decree 27)
October 22 The battle between the MNLF and the government troops ends with
the latter regaining control of the city.
November The Constitutional Convention passes the new Constitution of the
29 Philippines.
December First Lady Imelda Marcos survives an assassination attempt.
1973 Misuari leaves The Country for Libya to solicit armed support from
Muslim countries for the war in Mindanao.
January 10– A plebiscite referendum is held among the citizens' assemblies to [64][108]
15 ratify the new Constitution, which would become effective. [112]
Chinese drug lord Lim Seng is executed by firing squad in public in
January 15 [112]
Fort Bonifacio for drug trafficking.
Pres. Marcos declares the approval of the 1973 Constitution, orders
January 17 [64][112]
Congress to be padlocked.
March 1 Philippine News Agency established [13]
March 31 Supreme Court upholds the validity of the 1973 Constitution. [64][108]
The National Democratic Front (NDF), the united front organization
April
of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is formally organized.
[29][78][98]
April Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) established
[100]
May Masagana 99 program launched
Miss Philippines Margarita Moran was crowned Miss Universe
July 21
1973.
Marcos' term as President extended by virtue of a referendum,
July 27
which was latter proven as a hoax
September Presidential Decree No. 341 created the province of Tawi-Tawi,
[50]
27 separating from Sulu.
Dissolved Empire Province of Cotabato is divided into the new
November
provinces of North Cotabato, Maguindanao, and Sultan Kudarat [50][116]
22
(Presidential Decree No. 341).
December
Presidential Decree No. 356 created the province of Basilan. [50]
27
1974 DWGT-TV, now People's Television, established [99]
February Jolo is occupied and burned by Muslim forces.
Presidential appointments to local elective positions declared legal
February 27
by virtue of another referendum
Japanese Lt. Hiroo Onoda formally surrenders in a ceremony held in
March 11 [112]
Malacañang Palace after staying for years in the Lubang Island.
June First Filipino All-Muslim Congress held in Marawi City.
Parity rights amendment as stated in 1955 Laurel–Langley Trade
July
Act expired.
[98]
July 21 Miss Universe 1974, its 23rd pageant, was held in Manila. [verification
needed]
August Jesuit Sacred Heart Novitiate in Novaliches is raided by the military
allegedly searching for Jose Maria Sison.
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines petitions Pres.
September
Marcos to end martial law.
September Jose Diokno is ordered by Pres. Marcos to be released.
Barangay status is reorganized and Sept. 21 is declared Barangay
September
Day (Presidential Decree 557).
September–
First Lady Imelda Marcos visits People's Republic of China.
October
September Supreme Court upholds the declaration of martial law and dismisses
[64]
17 petitions regarding habeas corpus.
Secretary-general of the old communist party Felicisimo Macapagal
October
signs a memorandum of cooperation with the President's efforts.
November Eugenio Lopez, Jr. stages a hunger strike while in detention.
Jose Sison's essay entitled Specific Characteristics of Our People's
December 1
War published
A classified wire revealing the so-called Rolex 12 is submitted by
December
the American Embassy in Manila to the Secretary of State in [109]
24
Washington, D.C.
Primitivo Mijares' book The Conjugal Dictatorship of Ferdinand
and Imelda Marcos published.
February Primitivo Mijares defects from the government.
Third referendum, asking for continuation of exercising the
February
Presidential powers, held.
Ninoy Aquino starts his hunger strike for his refusal to recognize
April 4 [65][112]
military court's jurisdiction on charges against him.
April 9 Philippine Basketball Association founded [112]
1975
June Diplomatic relations with People's Republic of China formalized.
Primitivo Mijares testifies in the U.S. Congress on the alleged
June
corruption and abuses of the government.
[98][112]
October 2 Thrilla in Manila [verification
needed]
President Ferdinand Marcos issued Presidential Decree 824 creating
November 1
the Metropolitan Manila Commission (MMC).
1976 January 4 New people's Army Spokesman Satur Ocampo arrested
July Lt. Victor Corpuz captured.
An earthquake of 7.8 magnitude and a following tsunami (flood
August 17 wave) hit Mindanao, killing an estimated 8,000 people on and off [26]
the coast.
[108]
August 26 Kumander Dante of the New People's Army arrested [verification
needed]
October Annual meeting of boards of governors of World Bank and
International Monetary Fund is held in the Philippine International
Convention Center.
October 16Martial Law allowed to extend by virtue of a plebiscite [64]
November First Lady Imelda Marcos visits Libya.
Tripoli Agreement, between the Philippine Government and the [59]
December
secessionist group Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), is [verification
23
signed. needed]
The Armed Forces of the Philippines enters into a ceasefire
January 20
agreement with the MNLF.
President Marcos issues a decree creating the autonomous
March 4
Bangsamoro Islamic Government
Pres. Marcos announces amnesty for persons found guilty of
August
subversion.
August 22 Imposition of curfew hours lifted [64]
September 2 Archimedes Trajano found dead, murdered [109][112]
Eugenio Lopez, Jr. and Sergio Osmeña III escaped from detention in
1977 October Fort Bonifacio and flee to the United States.
[64][108]
November
CPP head Jose Maria Sison arrested [verification
10
needed]
The military court finds Ninoy Aquino, Bernabe Buscayno and
November [65][108]
Victor Corpuz guilty of their charges and sentences them to death by
25 [112]
firing squad; but sentence never imposed.
A referendum is held, the result of which again empowers the
December
President to continue in office, and to become Prime Minister as
16
well.
1978 Rodolfo Salas takes over the leadership of the Communist Party of
the Philippines.
April 7 Members of the Interim Batasang Pambansa are elected. [64][108]
May U.S. Vice Pres. Walter Mondale visits the Philippines.
Inauguration of Interim Batasang Pambansa with Pres. Marcos as its
June
Prime Minister.
Jesus is Lord Church led by Eddie Villanueva, a former activist and
October 5
professor was established.
1979 January U.S. military bases agreement amended.
President Ferdinand Marcos issues Presidential Decree No. 1616
April 10 [117]
creating the Intramuros Administration
May Regional assembly elections held in Mindanao.
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development is held in the
May–June
Philippine International Convention Center.
Eat Bulaga!, the longest running noon-time variety show in the
July 30 Philippines, premiered on RPN. It was also aired on ABS-CBN
from 1989 to 1995 and on GMA Network since 1995.
August 13 Aurora province was established by Batas Pambansa Blg. 7.
October 31 Project Gintong Alay, a national sports program was commenced.
November Construction of a nuclear-power plant in Bataan is ordered to be
stopped.
Ninoy Aquino is released from detention for the first time after
December [108]
given a furlough.
Eduardo Olaguer is arrested by the military on his involvement in
December
the Light-a-Fire Movement.
1980 Philippine local elections, 1980, the first under the martial law era [108]
MV Don Juan and oil tanker MT Tacloban City collide in Tablas
April 22 [59][118]
Strait off Mindoro, killing 176.
May Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) organized
Pres. Marcos allows Ninoy Aquino to flee to the U.S. for his
May [108]
medical treatment.
Businessman Dewey Dee flees from the Philippines, leaving behind
January
debts.
[64][108]
January 17 Martial law lifted (Proclamation 2045)
[113]
[64][98]
February
Pope John Paul II visited the Philippines for his first papal visit. [verification
17–21
needed]
Executive Committee is created by a constitutional amendment as
April 7 [64]
1981 ratified in a plebiscite.
[64][108]
Philippine general election and referendum, 1981 (Ferdinand [113]
June 16
Marcos re-elected to a third term). [verification
needed]
Inauguration of Pres. Marcos; Finance Minister Cesar Virata is
June 30
elected Prime Minister by the Batasang Pambansa
November Accident during the construction of the Manila Film Center, 169
17 were killed.
1982 Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) formed [108]
Sportsman Tomas Manotoc is abducted and "rescued" by the
January government agents.
International Film Festival is held in the Manila Film Center.
At least 38 deaths resulted when Typhoon Nelson tore through the
March 30
central and southern areas of the country.
April United Nationalist Democratic Opposition formed.
May Barangay elections held for the first time.
Felixberto Olalia and Crispin Beltran of the KMU are ordered to be
August
arrested.
August 2 Alleged Marcos' fake medals exposed. [109]
September Pres. Marcos visits United States.
Newspapers We Forum and Malaya are shut down by the President
December
for engaging in "black propaganda."
1983 August 21 Benigno Aquino, Jr. is assassinated at then Manila International [13][26][29]
Airport. [64][98]
[108][109]
[113][115]
[119]
[120]
Approximately seven million people attends funeral procession of
August 31 Ninoy Aquino which turned into a rally, the longest and largest in [64][108]
history.
September National Day of Sorrow is held by opposition.
November
Martyrdom of Good Shepherd Sisters [109]
21
1984 Executive Committee is abolished and the Office of the Vice
January 27 President is restored through a constitutional amendment as ratified [64]
in a plebiscite.
"Tarlac to Tarmac" march is staged by opposition and coalition
February
groups.
May 14 Philippine parliamentary election, 1984 [108][119]
National Assembly covenes; Prime Minister Virata reconfirmed;
July
Nicanor Yniguez elected Speaker.
El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International, Inc. led
August 19 by Bro. Mike Z. Velarde, a geological engineer and movie producer
was established.
Typhoon Nitang struck the Philippines. It killed 1,492 people and
September 1 1,856 more were injured. Roughly 1.6 million people were affected
in the country.
November
Mayor Cesar Climaco assassinated [109]
14
December Convenor Group organized.
December 1 Manila LRT Line 1 opened as the Southeast Asia's first rail line.
1985 May 6 Death of Julie Vega [121]
June 12 New Design Banknotes Released
Pres. Marcos transfers the control of the Integrated National Police
July [108]
from Defense Ministry to the presidential control.
Opposition Parliament members file impeachment charges against
August [108][119]
Pres. Marcos.
September
A massacre in Escalante, Negros Occidental kills at least 20 people. [109][121]
20
Typhoon Dot (Saling) landfalls on the country, leaves at least 101
October 18 [121]
people dead.
Marchers joining the five-day Lakbayan rally are shot by the police
October 21 at Taft Avenue before reaching Liwasang Bonifacio, leaving a [109]
number of deaths.
Congressional and U.S. intelligence sources report that Pres. Marcos
October 28 [64]
was diagnosed with a fatal illness.
November 3 Pres. Marcos announces in a television interview that he would set a [64][113]
snap elections. [119][122]
AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Fabian Ver and 26 others accused of the [64][108]
December 2
assassination of Ninoy Aquino are acquitted by Sandiganbayan. [119][122]
[29][121]
December 9 Philippine Daily Inquirer is founded and publishes its first issue.
[123]
December
Death of Carlos Romulo, journalist; 1942 Pulitzer Prize recipient. [29][121]
15
1986 [64][108]
[113][115]
February 7 Philippine presidential election, 1986
[119]
[120][122]
[64][108]
Thirty-five COMELEC computer workers led by Linda Kapunan
February 9 [109][119]
walk out at PICC, protesting alleged cheating of election results.
[122]
Opposition Antique former Gov. Evelio Javier is assassinated during
February 11 [108][119]
the canvassing of election results.
Batasang Pambansa declares Marcos and Arturo Tolentino as re-
[64][108]
February 15 elected President and elected Vice-President, respectively. Twenty-
[113][122]
six Assembly members walk out before the proclamation.
Marcos' opponent Corazon Aquino, widow of Benigno Aquino, Jr.,
[64][108]
February 16 is proclaimed President in Tagumpay ng Bayan rally in Rizal Park
[122]
and calls for a civil disobedience campaign as a protest.
February EDSA I Revolution ousts Pres. Marcos; Corazon Cojuangco– [49][55][59]
22–25 Aquino becomes President. [64][98]
[108][109]
• February 22 – Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and [113][115]
Constabulary Chief Gen. Fidel Ramos withdraw from the [119]
Marcos administration. Crowd gather outside camps Crame [120][122]
and Aguinaldo. RAM joins with them as attempted coup [124][125]
prevented.
• February 23 – People flock to two camps, and Ortigas and
EDSA roads, to join with Enrile and Ramos and express
support for Cojuangco–Aquino as the real new president.
Marine forces targeting them are stopped.
• February 24 – Attacks occur in Camp Aguinaldo, Villamor
Airbase, and Malacañang; air force unit joins with rebels;
reformists take over government-owned MBS-4.
• February 25 – Cojuangco–Aquino is sworn in as President
by Senior Associate Justice Claudio Teehankee, and
Salvador Laurel as Vice-President by Justice Vicente Abad
Santos, at Club Filipino in San Juan. Aquino appoints Enrile
as Defense Secretary and Ramos as AFP Chief of Staff.
Marcos also holds his own inauguration as television stations
covering the ceremonies are destroyed by rebels, however at
evening, he and his family are transported by helicopters to
Clark Air Base.
From Clark Air Base, Marcoses finally leave the country aboard
February 26 [55][108]
U.S. planes to Guam and to Hawaii.
Presidential Commission on Good Government is formed by Pres. [verification
February 28
Aquino. needed]
Pres. Aquino declares a revolutionary government, abolishes
March 25 Interim Batasang Pambansa and the 1973 Constitution and adopts [122]
Freedom Constitution (Proclamation No. 3).
Former Vice Pres. Arturo Tolentino, with groups of armed military
officers and Marcos loyalists, occupies the Manila Hotel and
July 6 [59][126]
declares himself as "acting" President; they are forced to surrender
after the failure of the coup that lasted until the 8th.
DZMM of ABS–CBN is established as the first post-revolution AM
[127]
July 22 radio station.
DWKO established as the first post-revolution FM radio station.
July 28 The Philippine Star publishes its first issue. [59][128]
August 21 Bantayog ng mga Bayani founded [109]
The Mt. Data Peace Accord was signed between the Philippine
September
Government and the separatist Cordillera Bodong Administration-
13
Cordillera People's Liberation Army.
September [98][100]
ABS–CBN resumes its broadcast.
14 [104]
November KMU chairman Rolando Olalia was shot dead in Antipolo, Rizal by
13 attributing his party leaders within the military.
November A coup attempt called "God Save the Queen" is reportedly
[122][126]
22 discovered by the government.
1987 Mendiola massacre: Thirteen from the farmers are killed in clashes
January 22 with the forces of policemen and soldiers at Mendiola Bridge in [59][122]
Manila during their protest rally.
Pro-Marcos rebel soldiers, led by Col. Oscar Canlas, seize GMA
Network compound, for almost 3 days, and military bases in
January 27– [59][122]
Sangley Point, Cavite and in Pasay wherein an assault with
29 [126]
government military forces results in the death of a mutineer and 16
injuries.
The 1987 constitution, drafted by the Constitutional Commission, is
February 2 [122][129]
ratified in a plebiscite.
Eighteen people are killed in a clash between rebels of the New
February 10 [55]
People's Army and the military forces in Lupao, Nueva Ecija.
February 11 Manila Standard publishes its first issue. [55]
TV Patrol, the longest-running Filipino spoken evening newscast,
March 2
starts its broadcast on ABS-CBN.
April 18 A raid is staged by 56 rebel soldiers on Fort Bonifacio, a rebel [55][122]
soldier dies. [126]
[122]
May 11 Philippine legislative election, 1987 [verification
needed]
[55][106]
Philippine Airlines PR 206 crashes into Mt. Ugo in Benguet, killing
June 27 [107][130]
50 on board.
[131]
A plot to take over MIA discovered, with four military officers
July [122][126]
arrested.
A coup attempt, said to be the bloodiest of the attempts against Pres.
Aquino, is launched by rebel soldiers of RAM, led by Col. Gregorio
[26][55][59]
August 28– Honasan, with assaults on Malacañang Palace, Camp Aguinaldo,
[113][122]
29 Villamor Air Base, various television stations, and military camps in
[126]
Pampanga and Cebu resulting in 53 fatalities and over 200 injuries;
prevented on the 29th as Honasan evades arrest.
October 18 Canonization of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint [55]
November
Super Typhoon Sisang slammed into Luzon, killing 1,063 people.
25
Interisland passenger ferry MV Doña Paz, said to be overloaded,
[49][55][59]
and oil tanker MT Vector collide and sink at Tablas Strait between
December [118][132]
Marinduque and Oriental Mindoro provinces and Tablas Island;
20 [133][134]
death toll later estimated to be 4,386; the deadliest maritime disaster
[135]
in peacetime world history.
1988 Local elections were held under the 1987 Constitution of the
January 18
Philippines.
Military reports that Col. Honasan, who led the August 1987 coup
April 2 [55]
attempt, escapes from his prison ship in Manila Bay.
Pres. Cojuangco–Aquino signs the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
June 10 Program (CARP) into law, providing land reform for farmers; to be [59]
effective within 20 years.
Interior Bases Agreement was signed by the Philippines and United
October 17
States.
October 23–
Typhoon Unsang struck into Luzon.
24
Interisland ferry MV Doña Marilyn sinks off Leyte during a [59][118]
October 24
typhoon, killing 389. [132][133]
1989 Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism founded [13]
Camp Cawa-Cawa in Zamboanga City is seized by some soldiers
January 5 following the hostage crisis wherein seven people were taken [55][59]
hostage by Rizal Alih and killed in an air strike.
The famous alleged Marian apparition in the town of Agoo, La
March 31
Union to Judiel Nieva.
Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao region was first created
August 1
through Republic Act No. 6734 (the Organic Act).
August 13– Davao hostage crisis: Felipe Pugoy and Mohammad Nasser [59]
15 Samparini, perpetrators of an earlier hostage-taking incident in
Davao Penal Colony on April, lead the prisoners who take five
people hostage in Davao Metrodiscom; ending in gunfights with the
authorities resulting in the death of the hostages as well as some
hostage takers.
September Lea Salonga begins her performance in the West End production of
20 Miss Saigon in London, for the leading role of Kim.
September
Death of Ferdinand Marcos, former Philippine President [55][64]
28
Typhoons Angela (Rubing), Dan (Saling), and Elsie (Tasing) impact
the country in two weeks.