21/09/2026
READ: Statement of the Ateneo Project for Asian and International Relations (APAIR) on the 54th Anniversary of the Declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines
The Ateneo Project for Asian and International Relations (APAIR) joins the Filipino people in memorializing the 54th anniversary of the proclamation of Martial Law in the Republic of the Philippines.
We remember the lives lost and the victims subjected to torture, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and other culminations of grave human rights abuses perpetrated under the regime of Marcos Sr. during the period of Martial Law. We recall the suppression of civil liberties and press freedom, which were curtailed through censorship and state violence against dissenters. As we commemorate this history, we also recognize the continuing importance of institutional trust amid prolonged and contested accountability processes today. Recent arrest warrants and proceedings involving public officials have placed democratic institutions under public scrutiny, raising broader concerns over their capacity to uphold due process, transparency, and the rule of law. In remembering Martial Law, we are reminded that safeguarding democracy also requires fortifying the institutions entrusted to uphold public confidence, in their ability to serve the nation’s interest.
In 1972, President Ferdinand E. Marcos, signed and declared the Philippines to be placed under Martial Law through Proclamation No. 1081, on September 21, 1972. Upon its implementation on September 23, 1972, the Philippines fell under the subjugation and control of authoritarian executive power. This declaration was preceded by an earlier attempt to expand executive authority via Proclamation No. 889, or the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus on August 21, 1971. Although the suspension was lifted in January 1972, its prior use reflected the increasingly rampant exercise of repressive control solely by the President. This concentration of executive power increasingly became more pronounced with the declaration of Martial Law, facilitating the suppression of political opposition and freedom of expression. Congress was abolished, while the Judiciary was subordinated to executive authority. Governance was instead operated through presidential decrees, eroding the institutional checks-and-balances meant to protect the public from abuses of power.
Formally recognized by virtue of Republic Act No. 10368, otherwise known as the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013, these aforementioned atrocities were documented as: arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, kidnapping, and sexual offenses. In relation, the continued distortion, denial, and revision of this history threaten to obscure the realities of the exploitation that transpired during the period of Martial Law under the Marcos Sr. regime. The passage of time does not diminish our responsibility to remember the lives affected and abuses committed during Martial Law. As efforts to distort or deny this history continue, remembering remains essential to preserving historical truth and ensuring that the failures of the past are not repeated.
The implications and lessons drawn from the Martial Law period go far beyond our national borders and continue to inform present-day foreign relations of the Philippines, particularly as one of several countries that has experienced detrimental authoritarianism across Southeast Asia. The legacy of Martial Law underscores the continuing need to strengthen democratic safeguards and prevent the abuse of political power in the Philippines. Likewise, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Charter commits its Member States to upholding the principles of democracy, the rule of law, good governance, and respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights. APAIR calls for these commitments to be reflected in the protection of people and democratic institutions across the region, ensuring that these principles remain grounded in the lived realities of those they seek to serve. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has similarly reinforced the aforementioned principles as foundational values that inform the country’s foreign policy affairs, notably including self-determination and the protection of human rights. By fulfilling these obligations domestically, the Philippines can effectively pursue the strengthening of a rules-based international order while contributing constructively to regional security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Respect for human rights is a fundamental responsibility in itself. APAIR affirms the importance of protecting these rights and promoting accountable governance at home, consistent with the Philippines’ adherence to international law, democratic principles, and human dignity. Upholding these responsibilities additionally bolsters the Philippines’ credibility in advancing the same principles in its engagement with the international community.
As part of our commitment to global awareness, proactive engagement, evidence-based discourse, and the protection of human rights, APAIR reiterates its resolve to safeguard historical record from distortion and maintain vigilant defense against authoritarianism that deteriorates checks-and-balances of democratic institutions, both domestically and internationally, including any attempts to stifle legitimate dissent under pretexts of patriotism. APAIR calls upon students and academic institutions to critically examine historical records, listen actively to survivors’ testimonies, and support research and education that preserve the memory of the Martial Law era. Remembering this grim era is not an exercise in remaining bound to the past; it is a responsibility to pay a tribute to those who suffered through the thorough examination of past failures and by recognizing the warning signs of institutional erosion. We remember so that the sacrifices of those came before us are not erased, and so that the horrors they endured are never again allowed to recur. We remember because history shows us what can happen when institutional checks and balances, civil liberties, and accountability are taken for granted. As an organization dedicated to the national interest of safeguarding public welfare alongside the study and practice of international relations, APAIR believes that recollecting these lessons are essential in upholding the dignity and rights of people who represent democracy.
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