SCRIPT
Good day everyone! So last year we already discussed the first 3 sub topics
of the Evolution of the Philippine Constitution including the 1897:
Constitution of Biak-na-Bato, the 1899: Malolos Constitution, and 1935: The
Commonwealth Constitution, so we’re now here for the continuation part of
our report. Again, we are the group one and I am Cristina Namuag who will
be discussing first the 1973 Constitutional Authorianism, next is Ms. Aaliyah
Tablang who will be reporting the 1987: Constitution after Martial Law,
followed by the last reporter Ms. Remelyn Domingo for the Attempts to
Amend or Change the 1987 Constitution.
So to continue, let’s open it with the constitution during the late president
Ferdinand Marcos’ term. The 1973 Constitutional Authorianism.
Why is it called Constitutional Authorianism?
Because this constitution became the act of suppressing the free press and
executing the authority to change the 1935 constitution which leads to a
constitutional convention.
Constitutional Convention
If you were to ask me about the content of the 1935 constitution for you to
understand it better, it speaks of our nation’s decision to establish a political
order based on democratic principles of representation, accountability, and
the rule of law. It defines the institutions of government and how power is
distributed to co-equal branches of the executive, the legislative and the
judicial branches.
Before the convention finished its work, the Martial Law was declared.
Cited Reason for martial law
Marcos cited a growing communist insurgency as reason for declaring
Martial Law, which was provided for in the 1935 constitution.
Some delegates of the Constitutional Convention were placed behind bars,
and others went into hiding.
What Marcos did to manipulate the document
As he declared the martial law, he became a dictator who had all the power
and superiority, ang alam natin na rason why martial law is to organize the
people of the country and under control the nation for better future as he
stated pero it’s his way to manipulate the document.
He was elected as a symbolic and ceremonial head of state chosen from the
members of the National Assembly so he would serve a six year term and he
could be re-elected to an unlimited number of terms.
o So noong November 29, 1972, the convention approved its
proposed constitution.
Plebiscite to ratify the proposed constitution
But then it was postponed later on since Marcos feared that the public
might vote to reject the constitution.
Instead of a plebiscite, Citizen Assemblies were held, from January 10-15,
1973, where the citizens coming together and voting by hand, decided on
whether to ratify the constitution, suspend the convening of the Interim
National Assembly, continue Martial Law, or place a moratorium on
elections for a period of at least several years.
The President, on January 17, 1973, issued a proclamation announcing that
the proposed constitution had been ratified by an overwhelming vote of the
members of the highly irregular Citizen Assemblies.
In 1976, Citizen Assemblies, once again, decided to allow the continuation of
Martial Law, as well as approved the amendments:
An Interim Batasang Pambansa to substitute for the Interim National
Assembly, the president to also become the Prime Minister and continue to
exercise legislative powers until Martial Law was lifted and authorized the
President to legislate on his own on an emergency basis.
Purpose of amending the constitution
At the end, iyon pala ang real puspose of amending the constitution, with all
the real power concentrated in the hands of the president, with the backing
of this constitution.
The situation in the 1980’s had been very turbulent.
Nashift lang yung momentum when Benigno Aquino, Jr. opposition leader
and regarded as the most credible alternative to President Marcos, was
assassinated while under military escort immediately after his return from
exile in the United States in August 1983
This event caused the coming together of the non-violent opposition against
the Marcos authoritarian regime.
Snap elections in 1986 and EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986
With the contribution of those events, Marcos was then forced to hold
“snap” elections a year early, and said elections were marred by widespread
fraud.
Marcos declared himself winner despite international condemnation and
nationwide protests.
So idineklara niyang panalo ang kanyang sarili sa re-elections na naganap
and that caused a small group of military rebels attempted to stage a coup,
but failed; however, this triggered what came to be known as the EDSA
People Power Revolution of 1986, as people from all walks of life spilled into
the streets.
This EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986 is what we also called EDSA
UNO
Under pressure from the United States of America, who used to support
Marcos and his Martial Law, the Marcos family fled into exile. So pumunta
sila sa Hawaii to put into exile.
The next event is when his opponent in the snap elections, Benigno Aquino,
Jr’s widow, Corazon Aquino, was installed as president on February 25,
1986. Our first woman president.
So this constitution really showed and explained to us na hindi lang yung
document ang minanipulate ng ating yumaong president na si Ferdinand
Marcos during his term, but also the people, including us since we’re are
living for our ancestors in the past. May mga nagawa ang Presidente na
hanggang ngayon ay issue pa rin sa loob at labas ng bansa. It talks about
the discipline in economics, we are affected in all aspects especially our
economy, we are affected in a way that we are suffering from the history
kasi their power didn’t stop there when Aquino replaced the Presidential
position. Kung pinili niyo ang letter B sa supplementary task sa Module 3
about the interview session of the two journalists about the marcos diary,
in that diary it is stated there na hindi natatapos ang history ng mga
marcos sa termino lang ni Ferdinand E. Marcos, and it is true. We are again
under the Marcos administration.