Contemporary Implications

The contemporary implications of Martial Law in the Philippines are multifaceted and can be examined through the lenses of human rights, economy, politics, and social impact.

A study published in the Journal of Southeast Asian Human Rights found to understand how people remember past abuses of their human rights, how important these memories are to improving the state of human rights in society, and how to prevent the same mistakes from being made in the future. According to Human Rights Violations Victims Memorial Commission, The regime in the Philippines, during the early eighties, allegedly violated human rights, leading to severe economic downturns and victims' deaths.

Human Rights

The period of Martial Law was marked by extensive human rights abuses, including political killings, disappearances, torture, incommunicado detention, arbitrary arrests, and prolonged preventive detention. The report by the Lawyers Committee for International Human Rights highlights the continuation of these abuses even after the lifting of Martial Law in 1981[2].

Economy

The Marcos regime during Martial Law was characterized by a boom in infrastructure and economic growth, but this came at a cost. The period saw a significant increase in poverty levels, with about 6 out of 10 families below the poverty line by the end of Marcos' rule[3]. Additionally, the country's external debt skyrocketed to an egregious figure of $28.26 billion in 1986[3]. Marcos' political and economic control during martial law led to disillusionment, resulting in a drop in workers' real income, limited land reform, and confusion in the industry.

Politics

Martial Law brought an abrupt halt to constitutional democracy, with Congress being shut down and elections suspended[6]. The regime was marked by a concentration of power in the hands of the President, with the dismantling of checks and balances and the reordering of the Philippine government to ensure one-man rule by military force[2].

Social Impact

The period of Martial Law saw increased social unrest, with protests sometimes becoming violent. The government blamed this on the Communist Party of the Philippines, which had been established the year before[7]. The era was also marked by a series of bombings, beginning with the Plaza Miranda bombing and continuing for a year as the 1972 Manila bombings[7].

International Relations

The imposition of martial law within a country can have diplomatic implications and affect its relationships with other nations. It may lead to criticism from the international community, particularly if there are concerns about human rights abuses.

In conclusion, the contemporary implications of Martial Law in the Philippines are complex and far-reaching, affecting various aspects of society, including human rights, economy, politics, and social impact.

Citations:

[1] https://typeset.io/questions/effects-of-martial-law-in-the-philippines-1s2zdgldu6

[2] https://digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2728&context=facsch_lawrev

[3] https://martiallawmuseum.ph/magaral/martial-law-in-data/

[4] https://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P4964.html

[5] https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266061/1/1780719590.pdf

[6] https://polisci.upd.edu.ph/up-dps-martial-law-anniversary-statement/

[7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_history_of_the_Philippines

[8] https://th.boell.org/en/2022/09/23/martial-law-50

[9] https://countrystudies.us/philippines/57.htm

[10] https://www.nber.org/system/files/chapters/c9047/c9047.pdf

[11] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_law_under_Ferdinand_Marcos

[12] https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/philippines

[13] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/04/five-things-to-know-about-martial-law-in-the-philippines/

[14] https://www.ibon.org/golden-years-the-real-long-lasting-economic-damage-wrought-by-marcos/

[15] https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/countries/ph/2022-09-14/Philippines-Human-Rights-2020-2022.pdf

[16] https://www.reportingasean.net/philippines-conflicting-social-memories-of-martial-law-50-years-on-why/

[17] https://www.rappler.com/voices/imho/opinion-time-move-on-martial-law/

[18] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/18681034231186632

[19] https://www.britannica.com/place/Philippines/Martial-law

[20] https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/asia-and-the-pacific/south-east-asia-and-the-pacific/philippines/report-philippines/

https://jurnal.unej.ac.id/index.php/JSEAHR/article/download/8411/6805/

https://hrvvmemcom.gov.ph/was-martial-law-good-for-the-philippine-economy-2/

https://www.britannica.com/place/Philippines/Martial-law

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/04/five-things-to-know-about-martial-law-in-the-philippines/