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By definition, Martial Law is the temporary superimposition of military government over civil government. This military-run government is put into place in the event of war or serious national emergencies.

During such times, the military and its accompanying superiors take over the executive, legislative and judicial functions normally delegated to the civil government by virtue of its constitution. As a consequence, the writ habeas corpus, or the right of an individual in custody to be brought to court to determine whether such incarceration is lawful, may be suspended indefinitely. This suspension of individual rights denies the person due process of law.

Many reasons can be brought forward to explain why a government can bring forth such a Draconian system on its populace. The are cases when civil unrest, such as this case of civil war, threaten to unravel a peaceful and productive soviety. In such cases, maybe the imposition of Martial Law can be justified.

However, there are situations in which such measures are taken in order to cater to selfish and corrupt desires to remain in power.

September 21 1972, President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos, President of the Republic of the Philippines signed Proclamation No. 1081, placing the entire country under his firm grasp. On that fateful day, the course of Philippine history would be changed forever, signaling the start of a new fight for freedom, not against a foreign invader, but a mad dictator blinded by absolute power.

Under the guise of insurrection and by staging of several bogus "ambushes" on members of the cabinet, Marcos manipulated, ever tailored events to justify the imposition of Martial Law. He cited rebel factions, seditious Communist elements and Muslim extremists as reasons for his decision. In truth, many of the said elements were disgruntled citizens who were fed up with the corruption of the Marcos government, decided to take matters into their own hands.

Anyone who lived during that period of Martial Law will tell you that those times were the darkest times in Philippine history. The common citizens were at the mercy of a man who had every intention of holding on to power as if it was life itself.

Those were dark times indeed. As the write of habeas corpus was suspended, the military picked up and incarcerated many innocent civilians on trumped up charges of sedition. More often than not, these people were convicted without trial, and denied the due process of law. Curfew was imposed leaving many stranded in their offices, unable to return to the refuge of their homes.

The right to assembly was also withheld, prompting many student and labor organizations to disband amidst threats of arrest. The government controlled media and all its related resources; the successive right to freedom of speech was non-existent. The law as it was intended to be simply ceased to be, all that existed was the whim of a dictator who sat with the entire nation in his grasp.

It was during these hard times that the patriotic spirit of the Filipinos rekindled, many brave souls faced the darkness and denounced the abuses being performed on the Filipino people under the guise of Martial Law.

However, the power of the dictator and his cronies were too great, slowly the corruption and greed overwhelmed the new heroes. Many of these patriots "mysteriously" disappeared only to reappear as corpses. Many were incarcerated for many years, denied the right to defend themselves in court. Those who were too influential such as the case of Ninoy Aquino, were simply sent away, exiled to foreign lands and denied the chance to better their country’s state.

The Philippine Republic simply ceased to exist in that one dark moment of history. The shadow of Martial Law will always be remembered, as one of the truly tragic events that gripped this gallant nation.