So here we are ladies and gentlemen, just a few more weeks before election day. In my neighborhood alone, just about everyone from 8 to 80 are discussing the upcoming election and who has the best chance of actually winning it. While I’ve always been the skeptical type, especially when it comes to the future of the Philippines, I cannot help but feel at least a little hope that things may yet change for the better. However, even with that mind, the odds of that actually happening are rather remote at least based on my own observations. You see, the biggest obstacle to progress in the Philippines aren’t their politics, foreign influence or poverty but the dysfunctional nature of Filipino culture itself.
As I write this, I cannot help but notice the way allies of the Liberal Party (LP) in the media go out of their way to vilify and demonize the Marcos regime and all that took place all those years ago. They constantly insist that President Ferdinand Marcos was a tyrant who oppressed the people and robbed the people of their hard-earned money through corruption. Of course, I’m willing to admit that I wasn’t around then and I don’t have any actual evidence to prove anything. Still, it’s kind of strange how the LP is trying to scare the common voter into thinking that if Senator Marcos wins the vice-presidency, he will bring about “Martial Law 2”.
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Now, I have to ask: What’s wrong with “Martial Law” in the first place?
Okay, like I said, I wasn’t really around back then and have very little knowledge of what actually transpired all those years ago. However, I will have to say that considering the kind of attitude that typical Pinoys have, perhaps it would be a good idea to cut back on some of the more questionable freedoms that we possess. For instance, notice how so many Pinoys lack the discipline to dispose of their trash properly which eventually leads to devastating floods.
Worse yet, our lack of discipline isn’t the only thing that’s destroying us as a people. Truth be told, Pinoys are some of the most apathetic people in the world. As long as something has little to do with them one way or another, they’re not going to care one bit. It doesn’t matter to them if some poor kid gets gang-raped by drug junkies out in the streets as long as it isn’t their kid and they won’t even raise a brow if some old man is shot by some thug.
I remember writing an article about “Daisy”, a little girl who was victimized by a sexual predator from Australia. Once again, typical Pinoy behavior played out and nothing was done to prevent the incident and there was very little media exposure on the subject. Indeed Peter Scully, the human monster responsible for the brutal death of the 18-month-old girl, managed to avoid the law for roughly four years before he was captured. I don’t know about the rest of you and I don’t really care because I am more than willing to sacrifice a few of my freedoms in order to keep the children of my country safe.
I HAVE RETURNED TO LAY WASTE TO OUR ENEMIES!
Ummmm no
As long as sensible laws are introduced and enforced the way they are then there’s no need for martial law.
There’s no need to bring back Martial Law saying that is an insult to those that were tortured and brutally murdered during that regime.
You’re missing the point. It seems that you’re trying to say that there are no killings and tortures after Martial Law? Nice thinking.
What he said.
If the Philippines actually had a functioning legal system and police force, martial law (or Duterte-style law) would be necessary.
The corollary is that a society unable to manage that simple task is likely to make a right mess of martial law. Which indeed is what happened under F.Marcos. And which happens under almost every instance of martial law ever recorded in history.
Fortunately Filipinos are not taught history in school, so they are completely unburdened by such knowledge and continue to re-invent things that other people have (repeatedly) tried and failed at.
>> It seems that you’re trying to say that there are no killings and tortures after Martial Law? Nice thinking.
So there are killings during martial law and killings after martial law. Therefore it’s OK to bring back martial law. Nice thinking.
Typo: … would not be necessary.
First part with what you said, I agree Duterte is using his alleged goons and killings to skirt the broken police and justice system that gives too much leeway to criminals because of the weak law enforcement and judicial process. Well it kinda worked and he’s running to make the necessary reforms so it’ll no longer be necessary for him or anyone else to do that again.
One thing about martial law is that many stable states in the world have the power to declare it especially in times of urgency when the state is in dire need to protect and preserve it’s integrity. It will be declared when needed be, it should have been declared in Tacloban during Yolanda for example. Abuses happen regardless if we have that law in place or not remember Palparan?
The military and police use these to extract information. JPE and FVR had the authority to approve or disapprove of these methods during those years to extract info from CPP NPA NDF members and politicians with connections to them, we should go after them. As a people, We need to reform the provisions of the conditions to declare martial law and the limit some powers of martial law to check abuse.
Necessary reforms have to be in place like for example changing our political system and legalizing the CPP to bring them to cooperate in a new political system which they themselves can participate like in many developed countries, this solves the problem of communist insurgency.
Martial Law can’t just be placed just because the president wants to.
SECTION 18. The President shall be the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the Philippines and whenever it becomes necessary, he may call out such armed forces to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion. In case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it, he may, for a period not exceeding sixty days, suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or place the Philippines or any part thereof under martial law. Within forty-eight hours from the proclamation of martial law or the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, the President shall submit a report in person or in writing to the Congress. The Congress, voting jointly, by a vote of at least a majority of all its Members in regular or special session, may revoke such proclamation or suspension, which revocation shall not be set aside by the President. Upon the initiative of the President, the Congress may, in the same manner, extend such proclamation or suspension for a period to be determined by the Congress, if the invasion or rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.
http://www.gov.ph/constitutions/1987-constitution/#article-vii
Emm, the faulty and messed up 1987 constitution stipulates that Martial Law can be implemented by the president himself. ” In case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it, he may, for a period not exceeding sixty days, suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or place the Philippines or any part thereof under martial law. Within forty-eight hours from the proclamation of martial law or the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, the President shall submit a report in person or in writing to the Congress. The Congress, voting jointly, by a vote of at least a majority of all its Members in regular or special session, may revoke such proclamation or suspension, which revocation shall not be set aside by the President. Upon the initiative of the President, the Congress may, in the same manner, extend such proclamation or suspension for a period to be determined by the Congress, if the invasion or rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.
The Congress, if not in session, shall, within twenty-four hours following such proclamation or suspension, convene in accordance with its rules without need of a call.
The Supreme Court may review, in an appropriate proceeding filed by any citizen, the sufficiency of the factual basis of the proclamation of martial law or the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or the extension thereof, and must promulgate its decision thereon within thirty days from its filing.
A state of martial law does not suspend the operation of the Constitution, nor supplant the functioning of the civil courts or legislative assemblies, nor authorize the conferment of jurisdiction on military courts and agencies over civilians where civil courts are able to function, nor automatically suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.
Hey purol shooter, The suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall apply only to persons judicially charged for rebellion or offenses inherent in, or directly connected with, invasion.
During the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, any person thus arrested or detained shall be judicially charged within three days, otherwise he shall be released.” (1.18). There is a need. GYFS, DOLT! Palibhasa nagpapasarap ka lang sa bahay mong de-aircon kang Manilenyong Konyo ka! You should go to Marawi instead in order to feel the situation.
A “Little Martial Law” won’t help the Failippines put our arrogant and self-serving people in line to think and act as one nation; a Big Martial Law’ might. Failipinos simply don’t have it in them to make the personal sacrifices needed to rebuild their nation; they’re too much into pursuing self-serving (Crab Mentality) goals, and are too hung up on their aristocratic (Colonial Mentality) “Pinoy Pride,” to even realize that they–from the president down to the poorest person in the country–have all contributed to the ‘fucked-up-ness’ of their own society.
Another country (perhaps the United States or China) is the only governing body qualified to put our primitive-thinking and country-destructive people in line, by holding them by the hands and showing them how to live as one nation with one culture and language; instead of as tribesmen from different tribes (provinces) with varying indigenous cultures and dialects, who think they’re ‘world class’ material; just because they’ve kissed the asses of people from other countries as OFWs and expats, Failipinos think they can came back to the Failippines as ‘hot shit’ Balikbayans or offsprings of inter-racial marriages (mestizos).
Aeta
Filipinos left to their own devices have absolutely ruined one of the most beautiful places on Earth…., shame on every last one of you, disgusting polluted waterways, deplorable living conditions, trash everywhere, lawlessness on the roads, raping your environment on land and sea. These and all the other problems you are experiencing are symptoms of very poor thinking and a cluttered consciousness. Bring on the strongman ,bring on martial law for it is the only way out of this mess that you have created… nobody’s going to hold your hand anymore… Bring It On !!!
there’s no ordinary citizens becomes victims of martial law during marcos era except those communist lean factions who wants kill democracy in the Philippines.
There is no such thing as “a little Martial Law” in the Philippine setting. Filipinos recognize only the two extremes of a spectrum because getting the right mix of disciplne and freedom simply does not compute for a lazy people like the Filipinos.
In martial law, this site will be first to be shutdown and the authors/writer hunted down.
First of all, if that means having disciplined fellow countrymen and being generally safe from countless petty crimes, I don’t think any of the people here will mind. I’m willing to give up social media just to have a taste of real security.
Secondly, to have the same kind of censorship from the Martial Law 30 years ago be brought to this day and age.. it’s not gonna happen. The people will revolt against the president long before they can even be censored.. Having “a little Martial Law” doesn’t necessary mean everything that happened 30 years ago will happen again. Kaya nga “little” lang diba?
You are correct in that assumption and I applaud you because someone else finally got it…
But who’s to say that the president who enforced it will not abuse it?
The early years of Martial Law is justified, since the national threats (communists, Moro rebels) there. But Macoy being a human, become drunk with the power he had and decided to not let go of it.
For me, no need for a “little” Martial Law. Sane, dedicated law enforcers will do the trick.
Naka “hunted down” ka naman agad. If the president hunts down every one of his critics, he’ll have zero people to rule. Filipinos are world-class complainers. Everyone will have something to criticize about the government.
Martial Law ni tandang Marcos ang naging tamang solusyon laban sa mga Komunista kaya damay tayong lahat na Pilipino. Kung walang Martial Law noon, at naging Komunista ang Pilipinas ngayon, buhay pa ba kaya tayo? Alam na nating lahat ang nangyari sa Martial Law na yan, pero, lingid sa kaalaman ng lahat at kadalasan na hindi binabanggit lalo na ang mga media, ang partisipasyon ng mga Komunista. Matanong ko lang, alin ba ang gusto nyo sa Pilipinas – KOMUNISTA o MARTIAL LAW?
You’re missing the point, son.
Singapore still have internet and social media.
Your point?
Like “Red” up there is saying, if the Philippines was a prosperous and peaceful nation, do you think I’d be writing anything here?
Heck no!
I’d rather be writing science fantasy stories and spoof articles for Blood Bowl!
Filipinos, with inflated egos, do not like the rules imposed on them, so they claim rules being implemented is dictatorial or iron-handed. In the end, they just want to do what they want without being considerate of others.
I was not exactly a fan of the bureauracy laid down by macoy but when I joined the government under martial law my impressions changed. Found out that he surrounded himself with the best. He professionalized career execs in the govt by setting up a dedicated school of learning thru the UP academic system and DAP. It helped enable and plot the career path of deserving and potential govt workers. The road was filled with bumps but the effort to upgrade the workforce was slowly being realized. I left the govt before martial law was lifted and those whose careers were lined up got stalled by the new powers to this day.
You’re simply pointing out that whatever good came from the Marcos administration (and there were some good things, at least in the early years) came from the pursuit of excellence, NOT from martial law per se.
Martial Law was imposed when Ferdy’s ego had already got the better of him and things had started to turn to crap.
Still accusing marcos as the mastermind of martial law when it was enrile and ramos who made that, do you?
It doesn’t really matter who “masterminded” it. Ferdy was the president and therefore ultimately responsible for whatever happened under his watch. Or are you suggesting that Enrile managed to take control of the state without anyone noticing?
Anyway, the point is that expecting Filipinos to achieve anything good with martial law is like expecting mildly retarded child to sculpt a dolphin with a chainsaw.
This “So what’s wrong with a little “Martial Law”?” sounds very much like as if a woman can be a little bit pregnant. In that case, I have news for you. You either are pregnant or not.
My general impression during those martial law years was that people were “behaved” and there was a sense of direction as a nation – similar to my impression when I visited Singapore lately.
Now we have descended into an “anything goes” society; so about a little martial law? Why not? The police force should get as much help from the military to curb crime and disorder in civil society. I think it would be a good use of dormant resources (many of which are just doing naval exercises and jumping out of helicopters for practice).
If we can impose martial law selectively by region – I think Basilan should get the full force of it to rid ourselves of this Abu Sayyaf menace once and for all.
Some basic rights like “freedom to air stupid TV shows” should be suspended. Ph will not die even if congress is closed for a few years. We already have too many laws – what we need to focus on is enforcement. A little martial law – good idea Grimwald.
>> If we can impose martial law selectively by region – I think Basilan should get the full force of it to rid ourselves of this Abu Sayyaf menace once and for all.
Zaxx, that isn’t “martial law”. It’s simply a military operation.
Martial Law is simply a sorry excuse for a dictatorship. There is rarely if any a sensible excuse for it. Wartime is usually the only valid reason.
What the Philippines needs is Law. The “Martial” bit is irrelevant. Why on earth does anyone here think that Martial Law is any easier to operate correctly than the ordinary kind? If anything, it requires a much greater level of integrity and moral awareness than usual – something which Filipinos repeatedly demonstrate they do not have.
It’s total war in Basilan nowadays marius
18 soldiers killed
Calling it just an “operation” will only embolden the enemies of the state. How we label things matter. Image projection can alter the psychology of lawless elements.
If martial law is implemented in Basilan, the entire island can be swept clean of illegal firearms. Remember, ASG look like ordinary civilians – they likely just keep their AK47s under their beds.
Don’t worry Basilan is so far from Manila, I’m sure most Filipinos wouldn’t give a damn about what goes on in this remote God-forsaken shithole.
Peace and order wise – Basilan is under a state of calamity. Full martial law is more than needed in that place.
Martial law is bad that go really bad, but I think another dose of Martial law would create discipline in our society who are lazy and lack decency, democracy has led us to believe that peeing in public is a privilege and that government can’t do anything about it and the government is entitled to steal from the treasury because its their right.
Marcos Martial Law, is the “Bogeyman”, that Mar Roxas, Aquino and the Liberal Party use to distract voters, of their Failures in governing the Philippines.
It is the “Politics of Fear”…they cover the true issues , thru this diversionary tactic of the : ” The Fear of Martial Law”.
I have talked to many Filipino Old timers here in California, who lived thru the Marcos Martial law days. They told me: “it was not as fearful, as Aquino , Mar Roxas and the Liberal Party are portraying”…
“We were self sufficient in rice. The NPA threat was contained. Marcos was fighting the Muslim insurgents. Of course, there was graft and corruption. But, not as widespread and as glaring as today…”
“Land Reform program was enacted by Marcos. This was the reason, the Haciendero Political Oligarchs and the Roman Catholic Church were against Marcos”…
“Sa ikauunlad ng bayan…disiplina ang kailangan”…was the slogan…
When the Aquinos were in power. Land Reform Program was stopped. This was to protect their Hacienda Luisita. Massive graft and corruption were the call of the day. Massacres and killings were rampant. Filipinos were dazzled by :teleseryas; wowoowee shows; idiotic antics of Kris Aquino, Boy Abunbdia, Vice Ganda, etc…
Filipinos became dumber and dumber…
This paved way to the Presidency of NoyNoy Aquino, who is dumb, depressive and mentally retarded. It was the deliberate plan of Cory Aquino, who was the clueless housewife, who became President; to make the Philippine Presidency, be lowered in its level of quality. Even mediocre and mentally retarded people , like her son, Noynoy Aquino ,can become President.
Martial Law is Past. It is a useless and a nonsense issue, used by Aquino, Mar Roxas, Robredo and the Liberal Party. It is no longer a valid issue.
We look at the present, and the future of our country. Whoever candidate can show us, how to solve our problems. And can present good and realistic platform…we can consider to vote for them…it is that as simple…
I have so much gratitude for this website. Thank you for opening my eyes to the real situation of the Philippines. I hope that both du30 and BBM win this coming May….
… so that…
our country will be great again. TSK TSK TSK.
We encourage every Filipino to participate in the discussions of the issues. Of course, you have something to speak up and say…
Do not be afraid to speak up…you can use a Pen Name…nobody will know you and bother you…
Nakakalula katalinuhan, pag aanalisa at pakikipagtalo ng mga taga getrealphilippines. Grabe intelektwal talaga… Kaso… biased po eh. Sorry ha! I don’t buy anything you say. Just because you are good in the english language and articulate doesnt mean you can impose your views on me or that your statements and declarations are apodictic.
“Little martial law” he/she/it says. Naman! Pano gagawin yun? I am sure there are more practical ways.
You have the right to speak up your mind and disagree…this is the beauty of a sensible discussion…
Who says anything about “imposing” anything. As always, it’s up to you to decide what you want to believe.
By the power vested in me by GRP, i place the Philippines under “LITTLE MARTIAL LAW.” You guys are funny.
What I’m trying to say is similar to the way one might say a “little” rain…
Just reword the title to “discipline” and we can have the best of both worlds.
Good suggestion.
The Failipinos in the Failippines, has lost his soul, his dignity, and his courage.
We have come upon a phase of our history when ideals are only a veneer for greed and power, (in public and private affairs) when devotion to duty and dedication to a public trust are to be weighted at all times against private advantages and personal gain, and when loyalties can be traded.
No matter how strong and dedicated a leader may be, he must find root and strength amongst the people. He alone cannot save a nation. He may guide, he may set the tone, he may dedicate himself and risk his life, but only the people may save themselves.
Reforming the legal profession and the tedious expensive and excruciatingly slow justice system is a thousand times better than a little Martial Law.
I am a Filipino and surely I have not lost my soul. Whoever calls me losing my soul must be a stupid foreigner.
discipline = martial law?
we do give up some of our freedom for safety go to the airport there are things we cant do there in the name of safety. thing is when people talk about discipline its as if there is a leader that can give that to us. talk about discipline like its an easy thing to do.
poverty makes us apathetic. we take care of your family then other things.
Now about the kid being raped and the man killed oh common we are not that bad. try to point out that there are things that make us that way even though we dont to.
I dont think that our culture is not that bad, we are what we are because of the people that colonized our country. Our culture is dynamic it changes from to time. People in other countries act the same way like in the story you mentioned they are called assholes every country has one. It just so happen that our country is over populated so you tend to see those kind of people regularly.
Its not all of us that does things like you mentioned well not anymore for me, and im a filipino that is not what i do.
Your article points out our flaws and dont say why we like that and talk about discipline as the simple solution to everything. Its not as simple as that.
In North Korea people are very disciplined. Im not saying that the Phils is gonna be like North Korea im just saying its not just discipline that we need.
What part of the article did the author said that discipline = martial law? Specifics or you just said that to make yourself look cool.
im sorry i was busy with life. im sure you have read the whole article. though the author didnt exactly said it like that but is it not the implied message in the article? do i look cool now?