I have not come across reading materials, videos, or lectures comparing and contrasting Marcos Sr. Martial Law Years (1972 to 1986), and Duterte EJK (Extrajudicial Killing) Times (2016 to 2022), so I venture to write this one. How’s Life? Were you born already during the Martial Law Years? Or a teen-ager, or an adult to observe, experience, or analyze? Or you were definitely around during the EJK Times?
Let’s start with their announced goals. Marcos Sr. Martia Law was declared to save the Republic of the Philippines from communist threat which allegedly could topple the democratic government. Certain information was given including the 1971 Plaza Miranda Liberal Party Rally Bombing which caused the death and injuries of opposition leaders and civilians. To save the Republic, and added to form a New Society (Bagong Lipunan), reformed and better disciplined than the existing one.
The Duterte EJK Times goal was anti-illegal drug war. It’s goal was to eliminate Illegal drugs (leading “shabu” [ poor man’s cocaine] and for the rich, the real cocaine).
Real goals: History has proved that Pres. Marcos Sr. real goal in declaring Martial Law was to extend his term of office ending in December 1973. The 1935 Philippine Constitution barred him in seeking a third term. The other goal was to seize political power and install himself as a Dictator.
While Pres. Duterte’s goal to eliminate illegal drugs especially in the streets, it went further by also “eliminating” or killing the drug addicts, peddlers, sources, and drug lords. Though the government insisted these victims fought back (“nanlaban”), thus, they were shot dead.
Methodology: Marcos Sr. Martial Law Years saw mass arrests of opposition leaders, critics, dissenters, prominent of whom was Senator Ninoy Aquino Jr. Mass detentions, solitary confinements, tortures, and killing of persons took place. Even the religious were not spared including Sister Mariani Dimaranan, SFIC. Meantime, cronyism and monopolies became the economic order under One Man – Rule.
Duterte EJK Times saw mass killings of suspected drug drug addicts and peddlers, and some innocent civilians, on the ground that they fought back the police.
Aftermath: Marcos Sr. Martial Years resulted in the killing of more than Two Thousand (2,000) persons, or disappearance (desaparecidos) Torture victims or illegally detained prisoners were more. Prominent among those killed were Ninoy Aquino Jr., and Evelio Javier of Antique. The economy was in shambles Constitutional rights especially political rights were suppressed.
Duterte EJK Times had more killings or persons dead than Marcos Sr. Martial Law Years. While Martial Law Years was almost Fourteen (14) year, the death casualty of persons was more than Two Thousand (2,000). The EJK Times had more than Six Thousand (6,000) death casualty as admitted by Police agencies but the United Nations Humanity Committee estimated the EJK death casualty to Thirty Thousand (30,000) victims.
Backlash: Pres. Marcos Sr. was deposed to Hawaii, USA as a result of the 1986 EDSA Revolution, and where he died in 1989. Human rights victims were partially compensated from the stolen wealth of Marcos Sr. taken from government funds. Democracy restored in the Philippines thru Pres. Cory Aquino.
Meantime, Pres. Duterte has been arrested by the ICC (International Criminal Court) at Hague, Netherlands where Duterte is detained in Jail awaiting trial. Three (3) EJK policemen were convicted by local court and the decision is still on appeal.
Moral Lesson: Never in the history of mankind that Might is Right. It always takes due process and justice to make things right. Neither abuse of power is forever.
*Former Palawan State Scholar
