MARTIAL LAW (Positive&negative)
MARTIAL LAW (Positive&negative)
MARTIAL LAW (Positive&negative)
Hudaya
BSMT-1
TIME SCHEDULE: MTH (1:00-2:30)
MARTIAL LAW
POSITIVE EFFECTS
NEGATIVE EFFECTS
PROS
Infrastructures
During the time of Marcos, infrastructures in the country had bloomed. As
written by Max Sangil in SunStar, Marcos administration was able to build the Cultural
Center of the Philippines, Kidney Center, Philippine Heart Center, Folk Arts Center. Marcos
also put up the Lung Center, San Juanico Bridge, and the Manila Film Center.
Criminal activities
According to Sangil as well, the criminality lowered during the time of Marcos
due to the curfew imposed as part of martial law. The corruption also lessened in government
agencies like Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue to the point that they
brought their own “baon” for lunch when they used to eat at the Manila Hotel before.
Transportation and Geothermal power
Marcos was the man behind the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) as well as
the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). During his regime, Manila Light Rail Transit (LRT) was
also built. All these are still being used by the Filipinos up until now. According to Lopez Link,
in 1983, Philippines became the world’s second largest producer of geothermal power.
CONS
Philippines’ external debt
In a report by ABS-CBN News, Marcos went on a ‘borrowing spree’ in
between the 70’s to early 80’s. In 1975, the external debt reached from $4.1 billion to $8.2
billon. In 1982, it went higher up to $24.4 billion. The debt exceeded more than the exports at
that time.
Freedom of Expression and of the Press
When Marcos declared martial law, the media was shut down. As written by
Jose Santos and Melanie Pinlac in Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR)’s
website, media practitioner as well as the opposition personalities who criticized Marcos were
brought to military camps for detention. As per Department of Public Information (DPI)
mandated, all media publications must seek permission from them first. Marcos also issued a
Presidential Decree to penalize anyone who would “undermine the integrity if the
government” through print or even just possessing leaflets about it. Everything went through
censorship.
Human rights violation
As reported by The Manila Times, around 3, 257 were killed during the martial
law. The data was written by American historian Alfred McCoy who authored A Question of
Torture and Policing America’s Empire.